Superstitions

[aya*abouelnasr 0]

We all have our superstitions here: Don't walk under a ladder, it's bad luck if a black cat craosses your path, don't sew your clothes while you are wearing them...the list goes on and on. I am curious as to what superstitions may be prominent in the ME society. Can anyone think of any right off the bat?

[caybee 21]

The biggest thing I noticed that is not a commonly-held belief where I grew up is about the eyes. My husband explained it something like this: People walk around, say in the street, in their own little world, mostly oblivious to you. But if something happens to cause several people to notice you specifically, it can harm you or make someone in your family ill, especially if they are thinking any negative thoughts (and there's no way to know what people are thinking). My oldest brother-in-law has advised the younger siblings in the family not to spend too much time walking around in the city, and when I was there, he advised my husband that we should take the taxi as close to home as possible to avoid catching the eyes in the street.

Another practice is touching wood after saying anything about the possibility of injury, illness, death, or another misfortune. But that's not limited to MENA by any means.

[ya falaha! 0]

MENA ppl are way superstitious. Haven't you noticed the evil eye or khamsa everywhere?

A couples others are....

No crying in the bathroom, the jinn have easier access to you there and you're vulnerable when crying (this may be Egyptian only).

Black animals of any kind esp. cats could be jinn in disguise.

Edited July 13, 2007 by moody

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

MENA ppl are way superstitious. Haven't you noticed the evil eye or khamsa everywhere?

A couples others are....

No crying in the bathroom, the jinn have easier access to you there and you're vulnerable when crying (this may be Egyptian only).

Black animals of any kind esp. cats could be jinn in disguise.

Ashtatan ashtoot.

*cough cough*

[Marry American 0]

I heard about the evil eye superstition too. I believe it!

[kerewin21 2]

Every time I say something positive, like "We're so lucky" or "Thank goodness we're healthy" my husband says "hamza" (five) and puts his open hand over my face. He says that saying positive things like that invite the evil eye. Kind of drives me a little nuts sometimes.

[Marry American 0]

Every time I say something positive, like "We're so lucky" or "Thank goodness we're healthy" my husband says "hamza" (five) and puts his open hand over my face. He says that saying positive things like that invite the evil eye. Kind of drives me a little nuts sometimes.

that is funny although it will look as if he is being rude...you know when some people do that and tell you 'to talk to the hand'

[Jenn! 918]

Wadi freaks out if I pour boiling water in the sink because it will anger the jinns in the basement.

[doodlebug 3]

The evil eye is a big one with him.

Also black cats, of which I have one. She's looking at me right now and kinda looks like she's giving me the evil eye.

[Ban Hammer 13,545]

Wadi freaks out if I pour boiling water in the sink because it will anger the jinns in the basement.

there's more of you in the basement?

[ya falaha! 0]

My last cat was a black one who would freak out at night. Moh would tell me she was listening to the deceased. They believe animals can hear dead ppl talking. Either that or she was a jinn in disguise.

The evil eye is a big one with him.

Also black cats, of which I have one. She's looking at me right now and kinda looks like she's giving me the evil eye.

[Jenn! 918]

He thinks it's bad luck when your left eye (not your right) does that involuntary twitch thing.

[aya*abouelnasr 0]

WOM, I just wanted to say that I have always apprectiated your photographs you post on vj. The one of the man in front of the wall, he looks so reflective. Makes me wonder what he is thinking about.

It's cool to hear the superstitions the ME people have, my husband and I have never really discussed anything along these lines. Thanks!

[StupidJourney 0]

Every time I say something positive, like "We're so lucky" or "Thank goodness we're healthy" my husband says "hamza" (five) and puts his open hand over my face. He says that saying positive things like that invite the evil eye. Kind of drives me a little nuts sometimes.

That's funny. If I say something like that, my husband just makes me say "lhamdullilah"

[palilover 1]

I have heard about the evil eye. But what is it exactly? Jealousy or if someone literally gives you a dirty look?

As for people getting bad luck when someone looks at them on the street....from my own personal experience I'd be messed up then:) I cannot imagie going to the middle east and men not looking at me which is why I will have my husband ith me always there. Because even here...when I was in NYC, there is this part of NY that has a high arab population. And if I walked into a coffee shop (even I had hijab on)...all the men would stop what they were doing and stare at me in unison! It was soooo freaky that I had to run away.

Is that the evil eye? I hope the rest of the men in my husban'd family are not that obnoxious, lol (my husband is not alhumdoolillah!)