Jan Herremans
Evil Eye
The evil eye is a curse believed to be cast by a malevolent glare, usually given to a person when they are unaware. Many cultures believe that receiving the evil eye will cause misfortune or injury. Talismans created to protect against the evil eye are also frequently called "evil eyes".
The idea expressed by the term causes many different cultures to pursue protective measures against it. The concept and its significance vary widely among different cultures, primarily in West Asia. The idea appears several times in translations of the Old Testament.It was a widely extended belief among many Mediterranean and Asian tribes and cultures. Charms and decorations with eye-like symbols known as nazars, which are used to repel the evil eye are a common sight across Greece, Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Morocco, Southern Italy (Naples), the Levant, and Afghanistan and have become a popular choice of souvenir with tourists.
The "evil eye" is also known in Arabic as ʿayn al-ḥasūd (عين الحسود eye of the envious), in Hebrew as ʿáyin hā-ráʿ (עַיִן הָרַע), in Aramaic as "ayna bisha" (ܒܝܼܫܵܐ ܥܲܝܢܵܐ), in Kurdish çaw e zar (eye of evil/sickness), in Persian as chashm zakhm (چشم زخم eye-caused injury) or chashm e bad (bad eye), in Turkish as kem göz (evil eye, usually used in plural form as kem gözler, evil eyes) or Nazar (nazar is from Arabic نَظَر Nadhar, which means eye vision or eyesight), similarly in Urdu the word Nazar (نَظَر) or "Nazar-é bad/ Chashm-é bad""or Boori Nazar (bad look) is used. In Punjabi the words "pehri nazar" are used. In Sanskrit the concept of evil eye is referred to as “Drishti”. In Amharic buda, in Pashto Bado Stergo, and also "Nazar", in Greek as το μάτι (to máti), in Albanian as syni keq (or "syri i keq"), in Romanian as "deochi", in Spanish as mal de ojo, in Italian as il malocchio, in Neapolitan/nNapulatane as 'o mma'uocchje , in Portuguese mau-olhado ("act of giving an evil/sick look"), and in Swedish as "ge onda ögat" (to give an evil look).
Belief in the evil eye is strongest in West Asia, Latin America, East and West Africa, Central America, Central Asia, and Europe, especially the Mediterranean region; it has also spread to areas, including northern Europe, particularly in the Celtic regions, and the Americas, where it was brought by European colonists and West Asian immigrants.[citation needed]
Belief in the evil eye is found in the Islamic doctrine, based upon the statement of Prophet Muhammad, "The influence of an evil eye is a fact..." [Sahih Muslim, Book 26, Number 5427]. Authentic practices of warding off the evil eye are also commonly practiced by Muslims: rather than directly expressing appreciation of, for example, a child's beauty, it is customary to say Masha'Allah, that is, "God has willed it", or invoking God's blessings upon the object or person that is being admired.A number of beliefs about the evil eye are also found in folk religion, typically revolving around the use of amulets or talismans as a means of protection.
In the Aegean Region and other areas where light-colored eyes are relatively rare, people with green eyes, and especially blue eyes, are thought to bestow the curse, intentionally or unintentionally.Thus, in Greece and Turkey amulets against the evil eye take the form of blue eyes, and in the painting by John Phillip, below, we witness the culture-clash experienced by a woman who suspects that the artist's gaze implies that he is looking at her with the evil eye.
Among those who do not take the evil eye literally, either by reason of the culture in which they were raised or because they simply do not believe it, the phrase, "to give someone the evil eye" usually means simply to glare at the person in anger or disgust. The term has entered into common usage within the English language. Within the broadcasting industry it refers to when a presenter signals to the interviewee or co-presenter to stop talking due to a shortage of time.
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Evil Eye
The evil eye is a curse believed to be cast by a malevolent glare, usually given to a person when they are unaware. Many cultures believe that receiving the evil eye will cause misfortune or injury. Talismans created to protect against the evil eye are also frequently called "evil eyes".
The idea expressed by the term causes many different cultures to pursue protective measures against it. The concept and its significance vary widely among different cultures, primarily in West Asia. The idea appears several times in translations of the Old Testament.It was a widely extended belief among many Mediterranean and Asian tribes and cultures. Charms and decorations with eye-like symbols known as nazars, which are used to repel the evil eye are a common sight across Greece, Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Morocco, Southern Italy (Naples), the Levant, and Afghanistan and have become a popular choice of souvenir with tourists.
The "evil eye" is also known in Arabic as ʿayn al-ḥasūd (عين الحسود eye of the envious), in Hebrew as ʿáyin hā-ráʿ (עַיִן הָרַע), in Aramaic as "ayna bisha" (ܒܝܼܫܵܐ ܥܲܝܢܵܐ), in Kurdish çaw e zar (eye of evil/sickness), in Persian as chashm zakhm (چشم زخم eye-caused injury) or chashm e bad (bad eye), in Turkish as kem göz (evil eye, usually used in plural form as kem gözler, evil eyes) or Nazar (nazar is from Arabic نَظَر Nadhar, which means eye vision or eyesight), similarly in Urdu the word Nazar (نَظَر) or "Nazar-é bad/ Chashm-é bad""or Boori Nazar (bad look) is used. In Punjabi the words "pehri nazar" are used. In Sanskrit the concept of evil eye is referred to as “Drishti”. In Amharic buda, in Pashto Bado Stergo, and also "Nazar", in Greek as το μάτι (to máti), in Albanian as syni keq (or "syri i keq"), in Romanian as "deochi", in Spanish as mal de ojo, in Italian as il malocchio, in Neapolitan/nNapulatane as 'o mma'uocchje , in Portuguese mau-olhado ("act of giving an evil/sick look"), and in Swedish as "ge onda ögat" (to give an evil look).
Belief in the evil eye is strongest in West Asia, Latin America, East and West Africa, Central America, Central Asia, and Europe, especially the Mediterranean region; it has also spread to areas, including northern Europe, particularly in the Celtic regions, and the Americas, where it was brought by European colonists and West Asian immigrants.[citation needed]
Belief in the evil eye is found in the Islamic doctrine, based upon the statement of Prophet Muhammad, "The influence of an evil eye is a fact..." [Sahih Muslim, Book 26, Number 5427]. Authentic practices of warding off the evil eye are also commonly practiced by Muslims: rather than directly expressing appreciation of, for example, a child's beauty, it is customary to say Masha'Allah, that is, "God has willed it", or invoking God's blessings upon the object or person that is being admired.A number of beliefs about the evil eye are also found in folk religion, typically revolving around the use of amulets or talismans as a means of protection.
In the Aegean Region and other areas where light-colored eyes are relatively rare, people with green eyes, and especially blue eyes, are thought to bestow the curse, intentionally or unintentionally.Thus, in Greece and Turkey amulets against the evil eye take the form of blue eyes, and in the painting by John Phillip, below, we witness the culture-clash experienced by a woman who suspects that the artist's gaze implies that he is looking at her with the evil eye.
Among those who do not take the evil eye literally, either by reason of the culture in which they were raised or because they simply do not believe it, the phrase, "to give someone the evil eye" usually means simply to glare at the person in anger or disgust. The term has entered into common usage within the English language. Within the broadcasting industry it refers to when a presenter signals to the interviewee or co-presenter to stop talking due to a shortage of time.
More Antwerp here
www.flickr.com/photos/23502939@N02/albums/72157623956089399
More candids here