BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front): The Evil Eye, or Mati, is not just a souvenir you buy at the airport. It is a deeply ingrained belief in Greek society that a person can harm you through jealousy or excessive praise. To the Greeks, this is as real as the flu, and they have very specific rituals to cure it.
In my 15 years of planning trips to the Mediterranean, nothing confuses my clients more than the paradox of the Evil Eye. Greece is a devoutly religious country, with the Orthodox Church playing a massive role in daily life. Yet, the belief in the Mati (the Eye) feels incredibly pagan. You would expect the priest to tell the grandmother to stop doing magic spells, but in Greece, they coexist. In fact, they are intertwined.
Here is how it works: Greeks believe that negative energy—usually born from jealousy, envy, or even excessive admiration—can cause physical harm to another person. This is called Matiasma. It isn’t always malicious. A mother looking at her child with overwhelming love can accidentally “give them the eye.” This is why you will see babies in Greece pinned with a small turquoise charm before they even leave the hospital.
I remember a trip I took to Naxos a few years back. I had a terrible, splitting headache that aspirin wouldn’t touch. My local guide, Maria, looked at me and said, “You have the eye. You posted that photo of the sunset, and too many people were jealous.” She wasn’t joking. She took me to a local “Yiayia” (grandmother) who performed the Xematiasma. This is the ritual to remove the curse.
The ritual is fascinating. The healer usually recites the Lord’s Prayer (Pater Nimon) while making the sign of the cross over a cup of water. Then, she drops olive oil into the water. If the oil floats in a nice, round circle (as physics says it should), you are fine. But if the oil disperses, sinks, or forms weird shapes, you are “Matiazmenos” (cursed). The craziest part? As she performed the ritual, she started yawning uncontrollably—a sign she was pulling the negative energy out of me. Within 10 minutes, my headache was gone. Placebo? Maybe. But to the Greeks, this is spiritual mechanics.
The Greek Orthodox Church officially recognizes this phenomenon. They don’t call it magic; they view it as the “baskania,” the influence of the devil or negative energy through the eyes of another. There are actual prayers in the official church books intended to exorcise this energy. So, when you see a local crossing themselves after a headache clears, it’s not superstition to them. It is faith.
For travelers, this means you need to treat the subject with respect. Don’t mock it. If you tell a local you feel suddenly tired or dizzy for no reason, don’t be surprised if they offer to “do the oil” for you. It is a gesture of care. It’s their way of saying, [LINK TO INTERNAL POST: Dealing with Illness Abroad].
Walk down any street in Plaka, Athens, or the narrow alleys of Mykonos, and you will be drowning in blue glass. The “Mati” charm—a blue circle with a white and black dot in the center—is the most ubiquitous symbol in Greece. But please, don’t just buy it because it matches your swimsuit. Understand what you are wearing.
The classic design is a blue glass bead. Why blue? The tradition dates back to ancient times when people with blue or green eyes were rare in the Mediterranean region. It was believed that people with light-colored eyes were more prone to casting the curse, often because they were seen as different or mysterious. The blue charm acts as an apotropaic magic—it turns the “evil look” back on the sender. It’s essentially a spiritual mirror.
In the world of fashion, the Mati has evolved. It used to be a simple glass bead pinned to a baby’s shirt. Now, it is high fashion. I have had clients buy 18k gold Mati bracelets encrusted with diamonds and sapphires in Athens for thousands of Euros. It has transcended superstition to become a symbol of Greek identity. But the function remains the same: protection.
You will see the Mati everywhere, not just on people. It hangs from the rearview mirrors of taxis (vital for surviving Athens traffic). It is embedded in the concrete above the front door of houses to protect the home from envious neighbors. I’ve even seen it painted on the tails of donkeys in Santorini. It is an all-purpose shield against bad vibes.
When I advise clients on shopping in Greece, I always suggest buying a high-quality Mati piece as a souvenir. It’s authentic. Unlike the cheap plastic magnets made in China, a glass or silver Mati has cultural weight. Plus, it’s a great conversation starter. If you break your Mati charm, don’t worry. The superstition says that if the glass cracks or breaks, it has done its job—it absorbed a massive curse that was meant for you. You simply throw it away and buy a new one.
One thing to note is the color variation. While Cobalt Blue is the classic, you will now see them in turquoise, white, and even red. Turquoise is for health, white is for clarity. But if you want to be traditional, stick to the deep blue. It’s the color of the Aegean, and it’s the color that has protected Greeks for thousands of years. Just like we advise for [LINK TO INTERNAL POST: Italian Gold Shopping], look for a stamp of authenticity if you are buying silver or gold.
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The belief in the Evil Eye dictates social behavior in Greece in ways that can seem rude to outsiders. Have you ever complimented a Greek baby, only to have the mother make a spitting sound at the child? “Ftou, ftou, ftou!”
Don’t be offended. She isn’t actually spitting on the baby (usually). She is spitting at the bad energy. The custom dictates that whenever you give a compliment—”What a beautiful baby,” “I love your dress,” “You look so healthy”—you must immediately follow it with “Ftou, ftou, ftou.” This neutralizes the compliment. It acknowledges that the praise might attract the jealousy of the universe, and the spitting chases the devil away.
If you don’t do it, the local might do it for you. I was once at a wedding in Crete, and the bride looked stunning. I told her mother, “She looks like an angel.” The mother immediately grabbed my arm, tapped wood three times, and pretended to spit over her shoulder. I had forgotten the protocol. By giving a “naked” compliment, I was practically inviting disaster on the wedding day.
This also impacts how Greeks stare. In many cultures, staring is rude. In Greece, staring is dangerous. If you catch someone staring at you intensely, they might not be flirting; they might be wondering if they are accidentally cursing you, or they might be jealous. If you feel uncomfortable, you can discreetly make a hand gesture or touch your own Mati charm. It’s a silent language of energy management.
There is also the “wood” element. Similar to the Western “knock on wood,” Greeks tap wood (kounia xilo) to prevent the Evil Eye when talking about good fortune. If you are discussing your upcoming promotion or your healthy family, you tap the table. It’s about staying humble. The Evil Eye targets the proud and the boastful. This is why you will rarely hear a Greek brag without qualifying it with “Doxa to Theo” (Glory to God) or a superstitious gesture.
Understanding this psychology changes how you interact with locals. It makes you realize that their erratic behavior—spitting, tapping, touching beads—is actually a form of social politeness. They are trying to keep the vibe safe for everyone. When I plan itineraries through krbooking.com, I always include a small “Cultural Etiquette” guide, and the “Ftou, ftou” rule is number one on the list.
The symptoms of Matiasma usually hit you out of nowhere. You might be feeling perfectly fine one minute, and the next, you are overcome by a crushing headache, usually centered behind the eyes or at the temples. It is not a slow build; it is instant.
Other common signs include sudden, extreme lethargy or weakness. You might feel like your batteries have been pulled out. Uncontrollable yawning is a major giveaway—especially if you aren’t tired. In children, it often manifests as unprovoked crying or fussiness that doesn’t stop with food or sleep.
Some people also report a general string of “bad luck” immediately following a moment of success or praise. For example, you buy a new car, someone says “Wow, nice car,” and ten minutes later you get a flat tire. That is classic Mati. It’s the universe balancing out the envy.
If you are in Greece, ask a local. Almost every Greek over the age of 40 knows the ritual or knows someone who does. The process is called Xematiasma. It can be done in person or even over the phone.
The most common method uses a glass of water and olive oil. The healer dips their finger in oil and lets a drop fall into the water while reciting a secret prayer (often passed down from grandparent to grandchild of the opposite sex). If the oil spreads, you are cured. The healer and the victim often start yawning as the negative energy leaves.
If you are alone, you can try to “wash” it away. Wash your face with Holy Water if you have it, or simply salt water. Some people burn a clove or olive leaves and wave the smoke over themselves. But generally, you need a second person to perform the “exorcism” of the bad energy effectively.
This is a complex area. To a strict theologian, reliance on amulets and oil readings borders on superstition, which the Church generally frowns upon. However, because the Orthodox Church accepts the existence of “envy as a demonic force,” the concept of the Evil Eye is religiously valid.
The prayers used to cure it are often canonical prayers invoking Jesus or the Virgin Mary. Therefore, most Greeks do not see it as witchcraft or paganism; they see it as a folk-religious practice. It sits in a gray area. You will see icons of Saints next to Evil Eye charms in almost every Greek taxi. They cover all their bases.
However, paying a “witch” or a psychic for a cure is frowned upon. The true Xematiasma must be done for free. If someone asks you for money to cure your Evil Eye, it is a scam. A true healer does it out of duty to help a fellow human.
Absolutely. There is no “closed culture” rule here. Greeks are generally very happy when foreigners embrace their customs. In fact, if you wear one, you might find that locals are warmer to you because it shows you respect their culture (and that you are protected).
It makes for a fantastic gift as well. Just remember the intention behind it. It is not just jewelry; it is a shield. If you buy one, treat it with that level of respect. And if it breaks, don’t try to glue it back together. Throw it away—it died saving you from a headache!
You can find them made of everything from cheap plastic (1 Euro) to solid gold and diamonds. For a nice middle ground, look for hand-blown glass set in sterling silver. It’s durable, beautiful, and authentic.
While the traditional Deep Blue (Cobalt) is for general protection and karma protection, you will see many colors in tourist shops. Here is a quick guide to what they supposedly represent:
Light Blue (Turquoise): Often associated with health and general safety. It is the color of the healing sky.
White: Represents purity and focus. It is often used to clear a cluttered mind and start fresh.
Red: This is for courage and energy. It’s less about protection and more about strength.
Green: Associated with success and happiness. You might see this used for businesses or new ventures.
But if in doubt, go with the classic Dark Blue. It is the original, and in my experience, it works the best.
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