L'Italo-Americano

n i e c e , u n c l e t o n e p h e w , c o u s i n t o cousin, or any pairing that will ensure the efficacy of the rite. This is generally – though not always – done on Christ- mas Eve. But that mysterious and elusive prayer isn't the only w a y t o h e a l a b a d c a s e o f malocchio. Sometimes stat- ues of saints are placed on windowsills, a mixture of salt and herbs is sprinkled over doorsteps, and red ribbons are carefully knotted and hung out of sight. Amulets are also effective in combat- ing malocchio. The mano cornuta is a hand in which the thumb encloses the mid- dle and ring fingers while the index and little fingers are extended to form a pair of horns. The cornetto is a sin- gle small horn, usually made o f r e d c o r a l . M e d a l s o f saints are particularly pow- erful in repelling the Evil Eye; among the most popu- l a r a r e S a i n t A n t h o n y o f P a d u a , S a i n t F r a n c i s o f Assisi, Saint Rosalia, Saint Rita, and Padre Pio. Don these amulets and you have a coat of armor against the malevolent forces that give malocchio its potency. All of these tools to deflect the evil eye were generally thought of as "the things of the family." We kept it to ourselves and helped those who quietly asked for it, like the woman at my friend's span of a few hours, consider yourself cursed. A baby who c r i e s i n c e s s a n t l y a n d i s unable to be soothed by their mother's touch should raise suspicions. How many times have you misplaced your car keys this week? Have you e v e r w a t c h e d a f r i e n d o r loved one withdraw from the world in sadness or fear? Per- haps you've experienced a bout of fear yourself—vivid nightmares and inexplicable panic attacks are indications of malocchio. If your new car gets a flat tire, think back to the last person who compli- m e n t e d y o u r r i d e ; t h e i r seemingly innocent admira- tion might have been a sugar- coated case of coveting. Yes, malocchio can mani- fest in countless ways, but that doesn't mean everyone is out to get you, nor does it suggest that you should live in a constant state of suspi- cion and anxiety. Every cul- ture has its magic and, fortu- n a t e l y , w e I t a l i a n s a r e well-equipped when it comes to protecting ourselves and our families. My grandmoth- e r u s e d o i l , w a t e r , a n d a secret prayer to both detect and dispel malocchio. My grandfather knew the power of hand gestures and how intricate symbols can neu- tralize negative energy. These methods are alive housewarming party or the worried neighbor who made a late-night phone call to my g r a n d m o t h e r . B u t s o m e - thing has shifted culturally, and now these family secrets are slowly slipping into the m a i n - s t r e a m , especial- l y i n r e c e n t y e a r s . F r o m a hysterical conversation Sebastian Maniscalco and J i m m y K i m m e l s h a r e d a b o u t t h e e v i l e y e o n J i m m y Kimmel Live, to t h e e a s e w i t h which Italian pro- t e c t i o n a m u l e t s c a n b e purchased online, malocchio is no longer a whisper at the dinner table. In my forth- coming book, I explore the history and practices around t h e e v i l e y e a n d h o w t h e worlds of fashion, retail, and c e l e b r i t y h a v e t o d a y embraced the belief, embla- z o n i n g t - s h i r t s , h i g h - e n d jewelry, and backsplash tiles with its symbols. This trend captures the spirit of the moment, when it feels like the ills of the world are delivered to our doorsteps. In this time of disillusionment, as we des- perately seek a "return to normal," more people are s e a r c h i n g – n o t j u s t f o r deeper meaning, but for a means to deflect the things that cannot be controlled by rational thinking or science. L u c k i l y , w e I t a l i a n s h a v e always been trendsetters. In this case, we are armed with a timeless recipe for protec- tion, an understanding that the unseen can wreak havoc, and that we have the power to banish it. I am fond of saying that there was more than a pot of sugo simmer- i n g i n m y g r a n d m o t h e r ' s kitchen. When she went to work against malocchio, she manifested hope, healing, and the enduring power of generations past. Antonio Pagliarulo is the author of The Evil Eye: the History, Mystery and Magic of the Quiet Curse ( W e i s e r B o o k s , 2 0 2 3 ) , which is available on Ama- zon. and well in my family today. I n f a c t , h a n d i n g d o w n a prayer, incantation, or ritual to diagnose and cure maloc- chio is a tradition in many Italian families. A prayer may be passed from mother to daughter, aunt to spiritual. In addition to the aforementioned headache, symptoms can include exces- sive yawning or tearing, sud- den stomach upset, tremors, a rash, dizziness, and unex- plained bruising. If you've tripped or cut yourself more than once i n t h e Eye can also be found in the l i t e r a t u r e o f t h e a n c i e n t Greeks and Romans, and archeological evidence is rich with eye symbolism. I grew up in a home where the threat of malocchio was always present. My siblings and I learned early on to be mindful of what we shared with our friends, so expen- sive toys were unveiled slow- ly to other kids in the neigh- b o r h o o d , a n d n e w s o f academic achievements was kept to a whisper. We didn't celebrate an imminent birth; we celebrated after a baby w a s b o r n . W e d i d n ' t t a l k a b o u t a p a r e n t ' s n e w j o b until the first paycheck came through the door. Silence is a powerful weapon against malocchio. What you keep to yourself can't be envied (and cursed), and staying quiet ensures that you aren't being boastful about the good things in your life. Flaunting your happi- n e s s i s a s u r e f i r e w a y t o attract malocchio because it tempts fate to swoop in and smite what you hold dear. Here, the evil eye isn't inten- tional but ambiguous – an o t h e r w o r l d l y f o r c e t o b e feared. And fear it you should. Malocchio can cause nearly every manner of misfortune, from the corporeal to the THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2023 www.italoamericano.org 18 L'Italo-Americano A few years ago, at a f r i e n d ' s housewarming party, a woman pulled me aside a n d q u i e t l y a s k e d m e i f I would read her cards. The request took me by surprise. She and I had never met, and very few people other than the host knew that I always carried a deck of tarocchi, or tarot cards, with me. After a l l , t h e d i v i n a t i o n t o o l – believed to have been devel- oped in northern Italy in the 1 5 t h c e n t u r y – w a s n o t a topic of conversation. But the woman told me she was try- ing to understand why so much bad luck had sudden- ly invaded her life. Financial h i c c u p s , m i n o r i l l n e s s e s , petty arguments with her husband—the list was long. Only a couple of months ago, she explained, her corner of the world had been perfect. Now she felt pursued by mis- fortune. What was happen- ing? To some people, the occa- sional spate of bad luck is i n e v i t a b l e a n d i n c u r a b l e . When it strikes, you simply have to take a deep breath and soldier on. To those of us who are Italian and Italian- American, however, a sudden surge of negativity is any- thing but random. In fact, that bad thing – be it a per- sistent headache or a series of unfortunate events – has a very clear source: the evil e y e , or i l m a l o c c h i o . A m a l e f i c e n e r g y c a s t v i a a glance, malocchio is rooted in the most devious of emo- tions: envy. While anger, resentment, and greed can also disperse the curse, envy is what truly fuels malocchio. That's pre- cisely why the evil eye is so ubiquitous. We have all expe- rienced the fiery rush of jeal- ousy when coveting another's success or happiness. Most of us have also felt the sting of a loved one's bitter stare. Envy – whether we want to admit it or not – is a facet of the human condition, and an immensely powerful one at that. As a belief, malocchio is p e r v a s i v e b e c a u s e i t c a n strike anyone at any time. Infants, children, and preg- nant women are particularly susceptible to it. Personal achievements, milestones, and the objects that illustrate an individual's success are also fodder for envy. I f i t s o u n d s l i k e m e r e superstition, consider the Evil Eye's history. While some scholars believe it has roots in Mesopotamia, most agree that it can be traced b a c k a t l e a s t 5 , 0 0 0 y e a r s BCE. The ancient Egyptians painted numerous symbols on coffins, tombs, boats, and structures to deflect danger a n d i l l w i l l . T h e ANTONIO PAGLIARULO LA VITA ITALIANA TRADITIONS HISTORY CULTURE Finding an Italian folk tradition in a global trend

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