People's belief in the evil eye is almost as old as human history and today still continue widely. This belief which is continuing at most in Mediterranean countries and it is also possible to see in Southern European immigrants of America. Greek Americans are deeply familiar to the concept of matiasma evil eye or matia μάτι ματάκι eye. Almost all the Greeks who migrated to the United States knows and believes the Greek evil eye matiasma.
According to the belief, matiasma that brings bad luck can result from many different causes; jealousy, envy, coveting, transferring the negative energy to a material with the eye,
instant impact resulting from malevolence and perfidy and like else. But the main reason is the excessive compliment and begrudge. This praise may be with want oneness or insincere but the people without malicious can cause some one misfortune for the evil eye. So anyone can expose the evil eye to another person unintentionally.
It is thought that most affected people, women and the children from matiasma.
Evil eye can be fall on involuntary and too easy. But it is believed that on most the blue-eyed peoples gaze caused evil eye.
There are different prevention of Greek Americans taken to protect them from the evil eye and they use talismans.
- For example, hiding scissors is a very common tradition of the Greek brides, in order to protect themselves against matiasma.
- Putting caldron black behind the ears is another measure to protect against the evil.
- Pinning the blue evil eye beads to children is one of the most valuable and most effective ways that applied by mothers to protect their children from the matiasma. This eye-shaped blue beads are talismans which used for centuries to be protected from the evil eye.
Ancient Greek drinking bowls are the oldest objects made in the form of eye with black-figure pottery in 6th century B.C. Also there is a common belief that blue color has got a protective power.
What is Greek Mati Evil Eye?
Greek evil eye called as matisama in Greece. Matiasma is an evil force born of feelings such as envy and jealousy.
So why the Greek people sincerely believed to matiasma evil eye?
Since ancient times, according to the Greek traditional beliefs matiasma evil eye continues in a steady manner. It is believed that the evil eye falls on mostly defenseless children.That's why greek matia or mataki μάτι ματάκι immediately pinned to babies after birth. Evil eye bracelet is put around the wrist of a little older children.
Greek mataki is a charm, believed that protect from evil forces all the negativity.
What are the Signs of Matiasma Evil Eye for Greek People?
A sudden feeling of discomfort,
To fall into the emptiness as consciousness,
Suddenly emerged unwanted accidents,
Unreasonable negativity in job or home life,
Stress and tension,
Intense desire to sleep.
If you get caught without cause one of these instant impacts, the reason for this is evil eye or according to the Greek belief matiasma evil eye.
How do we protect from the matiasma evil eye?
To protect ourselves evil eye, bad luck or matiasma; we can use, mataki, Greek mati bracelet, Greek blue eye charm, evil eye necklace,evil eye bracelet, evil eye ring or any jewelry with blue evil eye beads on it.
The person carrying on any object with evil eye bead or mataki keeps away matiasma or evil eye from him or herself.
Also, in accordance with an ancient Greek belief, referred to the healers as well, except mataki. Firstly, the healer prays with the name of the person who suffered from evil eye. Then fills a deep bowl with water, drops olive oil into the water. Healer, makes the sign of the cross three times.Finally, three times takes a piece of the water with his hand and spills on the air.
Did Greek Church Recognize the Matiasma?
The Greek Church acknowledges the matiasma evil eye entitle it as a vaskania. There is a special prayer in the church, for the people suffering from Matiasma. But the evil eye exorcism must be done by someone within the Greek people not by a priest.
What is Evil Eye?
The evil eye faith, that originated by ancient Greek, is very common in Mediterranean countries. Matiasma or Greek evil eye is striking power and killing force on the eye. It is believed to cause damage to people, especially women and children, home, possessions, even inanimate objects.
Voodoo and evil eye are the notions feared since human existence. Using the eye symbol against the matiasma directly arise from the thought of make use of eye to eye to destroy evil glance.
Among the Greeks the use of the eye depiction against matiasma likes to fight fire with fire. The reason of the wearing Greek matia is to neutralize the evil eye forces. Naturally, it is a distinct advantage, providing elegance of this jewels.
So why is this blue eye so prevalent in Greek culture, so much so that it has become a popular souvenir? In Greek, it is called the mati, and it is the most common ancient superstition or belief. The evil eye is brought upon someone by a person who is envious or jealous. In other words, your good fortune is affected by someone’s jealousy so some sort of bad luck may happen to you as a result, like feeling bad physically or psychologically.
The Greeks call this the “Evil Eye” (to kako mati). The evil eye is not always evil. The mountains, the sun and the sky do not intend any harm for the new mother or child, but all that envy and energy can be overwhelming for a person.
How to be Protected from the Evil Eye:
The mother and child should stay in the house for the first 40 days of the child’s life. When they finally make their first walk outside, both the mother and the child should wear a blue eye – that is a little blue bead hidden under the clothes to protect them from the evil eye.
The Greeks also use a small talisman to warn off the evil eye. This is a little blue bead with a black dot inside of it, assembling an eye – the mati.
Some people will hang a blue bead or a mati with their cross or other religious icons.
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