Greek superstitions

The evil eye (“Vaskania”):

The evil eye, or what the Greek Orthodox Church calls “Vaskania”, is a Greek superstition that says that just by looking at someone with envy, a person can harm you, your house, your children, your cattle or any other personal belongings. To ward off the evil eye, the Greeks wear small blue-eyed trinkets as necklaces and bracelets. Blue stones can also protect you from the evil eye, because in Greece the color blue is considered a protective color. In addition, the Greeks place a cactus at the entrance of their house to protect themselves from the evil eye.

Garlic (σκÏŒρδο / “Skorda”):

Garlic not only defends itself against the evil eye, but also keeps evil spirits and demons away. It is not uncommon to carry a head of garlic in your bag or see it hanging in restaurants, shops, and homes. Also, it is considered a healing power and when someone is sick, they are advised to eat garlic.

“Piase Kokkino”:

If two Greeks say the phrase “Piase Kokkino” (which means “red touch” in English) at the same time, they have to immediately touch any red element around them. Saying the same thing at the same time is an omen in Greece, and they believe that if they don’t immediately touch something red, the two of them will end up fighting or arguing.

Sneezing

Sneezing, in Greece, means that someone is talking about you. They have even created a mathematical formula that allows you to calculate who is talking about you.

Tuesday 13:

In Greece, it is not Friday the 13th that is considered bad luck, but Tuesday the 13th.

Spit:

To prevent bad things from happening to you, spitting (three times) prevents it. Spitting away evil and also prevents misfortune.

Crows:

Crows are considered harbingers of misfortune and death in Greece. If you ever see a crow or hear them squawking, you should say “Sto Kalo, Sto Kalo, Kala Nea na me Feris”, which means “go and bring me good news.”

Salt:

Salt can help you get rid of any unwanted guests in your home. Sprinkle salt behind the person because it contains powers that will drive them away. The Greeks also sprinkle a new house with salt, as it will drive away evil spirits and demons.

Shoes:

It is considered bad luck and even an omen of death to leave your shoes inside out, with the soles facing up. If you notice your shoes backwards, immediately turn them over and say “Skorda” (garlic), to ward off evil spirits.

Try translating these superstitions into Greek and practice your Greek language skills. Do you know other Greek superstitions? Tell us about your superstition by leaving a comment below.