The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

EVIL EYE

IF WE GOT SICK OR NAUSEATED DURING THE DAY, MOTHER WOULD
SAY "SOME ONE HAS CAST THE EVIL EYE ON YOU." SHE WOULD
GET A PAN FILLED WITH WATER. THEN SHE WOULD TRY TO
REMEMBER WHO WAS THERE DURING THE DAY. SHE WOULD SAY
THE NAME OF A PERSON WHO HAD BEEN VISITING AND DROP A
CINDER IN THE WATER. SHE WOULD SAY, "NOW THAT WAS
SO AND SO THAT WAS HERE, WAS HE GUILTY?" IF THE CINDER
FLOATED, HE WAS INNOCENT, IF IT SUNK, HE WAS GUILTY.
WHOEVER'S NAME IT SUNK ON, MOTHER WOULD SAY "HE'S
THE GUILTY ONE." TO RID US OF THE EVIL EYE, SHE WOULD
TAKE THE WATER AND SPLASH IT ON OUR FOREHEADS AND SAY
SOME HOCUS POCUS. SHE SAID, "HOCUS POCUS IN THE NAME
OF SO AND SO, I PASS THAT PAIN OUT."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: NOT GIVEN