Property in Turkey | Evil Eye

Wherever you go you will see the nazar boncuki, a charm to ward off the ‘evil eye’, which is sometimes made into jewellery of used in designs for material or painted on to pottery, china and tiles. The charms are usually made out of blue glass with a stylised eye design and can be of any size – large ones for the home or office, smaller to hang in a car or a tiny one to pin on a child’s back with a safety pin.

According to the tradition, when someone praises something or someone they run the risk of attracting the ‘evil eye’ to whatever is being praised, by arousing envy in others. The nazar boncuk deflects this. Few Turks have blue eyes, so it was probably mistrust of foreigners which gave rise to the traditional blue colour of the charms. It is said that the design is the basis for the paisley pattern. Take them home as gifts when visiting your property in Turkey.