Evil Eye - Nazar Boncuk

"Nazar Boncuğu" is a little stone that is believed to protect one from the “Evil Eye”. This is a typical item, a characteristic of this region that you should take home as a souvenir.The force of the evil eye (or Nazar) is an accepted and feared element in the Turkish culture since earliest times.

The word "Nazar" denotes seeing or looking and is often used in literally translated phrases such as "Nazar touched her" in reference to someone who mysteriously gets very ill. Compliments made to a specific body part can result in Nazar as well. That's why nearly every Turkish mother fixes with a safety pin a small ”Boncuk” on her child's clothes. Once a Boncuk is found cracked, it means it has done his job and immediately a new one has to replace it.