Superstitions and my thoughts.

Hello world!!! Look, what I discovered today while checking all the stats, etc, of this blog. A very interesting questions that asks for an answer. So let’s go for it!!

As I have mentioned in previous posts, I am originally from a very sunny country of Europe also known as Greece. Some of the countries surrounding mine have, and people in, superstitions of all kinds. Maybe you have heard some of them, maybe not. But let’s talk about them.

There are no rules when it comes to love and luck. And anything goes when it comes to love and luck. But in some cultures, like the Greek one, you can kind of so something to sway things your way. It’s also like the ability to manipulate your fate or your destiny. However, you are not playing Destiny here. No, it’s more or less guaranteeing that the stars are aligning in your favor. For example, you can carry a charm with you wherever you go if you want this luck, or you can place a treat under your cushions so you can dream a spoiler of the person you are to marry. Here are some more:

* Mati.

Some Greeks believe that if someone stares at you with envy or jealousy, you could catch the evil eye or the matiasma or mati as it is in the Greek language. And if you catch that evil eye, you are going to feel sick or have some pain or misfortune. There are various way to ward off the ”mati” and one of them is by wearing a charm or an amulet in the shape of an eye. These eyes are known to be made our of blue glass and they come in different sizes, either to be pocket size, worn as a necklace or hung on the walls of the house

* Never give someone a knife.

To give someone a knife is considered bad luck. Instead of giving it by hand, just place it on the table and let them pick it up.

* Never give perfume as a gift.

In Greece, gifting a bottle of perfume is a big no no. Of course, giving a perfume as a gift is one of the best gifts one can think of, but not in my culture. That’s because gifting a bottle of perfume is believed to ruin relationships and bring bad luck. However, if you find yourself in the position of accepting a perfume as a gift, you can simple give the giver a coin in return.

* Piase kokkino – touch red!

Another famous way for the English speaking readers to say this is ”jinx”. However, in Greece, when you and another person end up saying the same thing at the same time, you immediately have to touch something red. And so you prevent some kind of fight or arguments or issues that many Greeks think will appear soon after.

* Spitting for good luck.

This is just another way to chase away the ”evil” eye or any bad luck. The Greeks would essentially spit on the person. Though, the spittin is more of like a barely-salive-spit, not a raining-salive-spit! So you are safe!

* Always enter with the right foot in a new house.

The most famous time to see this happening is during New Year’s Even at midnight when the day changes and the New Year is finally official for all. During that time, the family that resides in the house, or a friend, will leave the house and enter again as the clock ticks midnight and always step in with the right foot for good luck and good fortune.

These are some of the things people of my country believe in. Some are also very famous in my own home and my family, especially my mother, has always been very strict about how certain things are done or otherwise.

Since I can remember myself, I have always been touching something red when I told something at the same time with my mother or father. I was never allowed to buy someone perfume as a gift and nobody ever handed me a knife or a pair of scissors even!! And yes, deep down I believe in the famous ”mati”!