Objects and gestures against the evil eye

But one cannot be expected to submit to these consequences, so the Neapolitan people have come up with several remedies to ward off the evil eye, which have now become habitual gestures in everyday life.

The Neapolitan horn

Perhaps the most famous, even symbolically, is "'o curniciello": tradition dictates that the classic horn from the characteristic red color o coral, should be given as a gift in order to fully fulfill its function. Specifically, the giver should prick the palm of the hand Of those who received it with the tip of the horn.

The horn's origins go back a long way: let's take a trip back in time to theNeolithic age, when at the entrance of the sheds horns were already being displayed as a sign of power and fertility, and then moved on to theRoman era, in which were offered to the goddess Isis in exchange for protection towards the animals. The horn also appears in the Greco-Roman mythology, when it is reported that Jupiter donated a prodigious horn to his nurse to say thank you. Walking through the streets of the city, it is impossible not to notice this small object in the windows of stores and workshops, especially if you go to San Gregorio Armeno.

Touching your genitals 

Not really from etiquette, but surely the most common one is the typical gesture of touching one's male genitalia; yes, you read that correctly! There are few who are not familiar with this superstitious method, which even dates back to the ancient Romans, for whom the male member, a symbol of prosperity and fertility, was almost sacred in its auspicious and protective value, and for this reason they were also posted of its depictions at theentry of a home.

The horseshoe

Another object that metaphorically relates to this context is the horseshoe, strictly facing upward. At first glance you might not think so, but according to many this form refers to thefemale genital apparatus; it would then serve as temptation towards the malignant, who, in order not to be distracted, would avoid the houses that use it. This ideology relates to the history of San Dunstano, an English saint who made a pact with devil: he would disassemble the iron on his clogs only if he kept his promise not to enter homes that would use this "amulet“.

Of historical derivation, however, is the idea that iron for the Romans was a lucky charm because, when the officers on horseback lost a hoof during the march, all thearmy, at the end of his strength, would finally rest.

As early as the eighteenth century, it was customary to make gestures to deflect negative influences such as a wary glance, as spit three times on the ground (I know, not very polite, but it was said to be a purifying act), or make the horns downward (the pointed horns indicate the defense), touching his genitals or wearing a tooth by pig (sacred animal for many cultures).

Friday the 17th

Numbers and days can also have a negative connotation: in the neapolitan smorfia the number 17 symbolizes the misfortune, while the Friday Is the day he died Jesus; consequently, the combination of Friday and the 17th is tragic for Neapolitans, who always feel on this day that something negative can happen.

The broken mirror

It can happen to anyone to break a mirror, right? Here, try not to make it happen. Breaking a mirror corresponds to 7 years of bad luck: since ancient times, especially in East, it is strongly rooted in the idea that mirrors can capture thesoul of a person; their breaking so it would cause a damage to our side sacred. According to a'optics plus practice, on the other hand, the ancient Romans associated the number 7 with bad luck because, as mirrors were worked with fine materials, to recover the money lost would have taken a good 7 years of work and sacrifice!

The upside-down bread

If you are at the table with Neapolitans, don't flip never the bread! Bread in the Christian faith represents the body of Christ, so to overturn it would be a strong disrespect.

The black cat

A great classic is that of the poor black cat running through the road before our passage, pointed out as a great sign of ill omen. This belief dates back to the days when people traveled in carriage by night: the horses, frightened by the two yellow eyes which suddenly appeared along the dark route, became agitated, causing trouble for passengers.

Sometimes we perform acts without asking why or how they came about.

As you can well see, there are endless stories behind every belief, and these you have just read are just a few!

What about you, are you superstitious or are you just pretending not to be?