Counter-magic and uncrossing
Matiasma and ftou ftou
The Greek evil eye, and the little mock spit, ftou ftou, said to turn aside a compliment that might harm.
Presented by ClearTrust Customs described as customs, free to read.
Greeks speak of the matiasma, the eye cast by envy or by admiration alone. People make a mock spit sound, ftou ftou ftou, over a baby or a person praised, and say skase, shut up, to the eye. Blue glass eye beads, mati, are hung in homes and pinned on children's clothes.
This is an outline of a custom, said as belief and practice. It is not instruction, it does not say that the rite works, and it is not medical advice.
What goes into it
- Blue glass eyeObjectA mati bead worn or hung.
- Spit soundGestureFtou ftou ftou made three times.
- Oil and waterSubstanceUsed for reading the eye.
- Garlic or incensePlantSometimes used as an aid.
- Whispered prayerWordPassed from relative to relative.
- Object
- Gesture
- Substance
- Plant
- Word
Each part has an equal wedge. The ring shows what goes into the rite, not how much. Colour is the part's role.
The steps, drawn
Each drawing shows the kind of act in that step. Details differ from place to place, family to family and practitioner to practitioner.
Step 1: Speak Someone praises a child or good fortune. Step 2: Cast Ftou ftou is made over the child to turn the compliment aside. Step 3: Gather If a person feels the eye, a relative who knows the prayer is called. Step 4: Read Oil is dropped on water and read for signs. Step 5: Close The water is discarded and the person is blessed.
Why spit
The spit is said to show the speaker does not mean harm and drives off any envy. Many cultures use spitting as protection, and the Greek habit is often done when someone says a child is pretty.
Priests and grandmothers
A person who has caught the eye may feel tired or have a headache, according to belief. A woman in the family, or a priest or village specialist, can read oil in water and say a prayer. The words are often passed on by an older relative on Christmas Eve.
Church attitudes
The Greek Orthodox Church allows a prayer against the eye and criticises the folk rite, which shows how tolerance and rejection can coexist.
What it is for
- Protection from envy
- Protection of children
- Easing the effects of the eye
Who does it
Related entries
Also part of it, and being written: Mati (Greek blue eye charm.), Nazar (The Turkish eye bead.).
More on EveryJaadu
No entries here yet. New pages are added every day.
Sources and further reading
Original text and drawings by the EveryJaadu desk, written with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Closed or sacred detail is left out. If we have something wrong, tell us.
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Evil eye: FocalPoint, CC BY-SA 3.0, source