The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

METHOD OF CURE

IF A PERSON OR BABY HAS BEEN ADMIRED (HAIR, LOOKS, DRESS, ETC.), THE
ADMIRER MUST TOUCH THAT WHICH THEY ADMIRED OR ELSE IF THE BABY (OR
OTHER) DEVELOPS A FEVER, THEY WILL CALL THE MEDICINE MAN OR WOMAN TO
CURE THEIR BABY. THE CURE IS A FRESH EGG DRAWN IN A CROSS OVER THE
PERSON WHILE SAYING THE SIGN OF THE CROSS, AND A HAIL MARY, OUR
FATHER OR AN ACT OF CONTRITION. THEY THEN DREW A CROSS OVER THE SICK
PERSON'S EYES, NOSE, MOUTH, HEAD, FOREHEAD, BODY, AND LEGS WHILE
SAYING 2 MORE PRAYERS(3 IN ALL), THE HAIL MARY , OUR FATHER OR ACT OF
CONTRITION. THEY THEN BROKE THE EGG INTO A DISH WHILE SAYING THE
CREED. FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, AS THEY BROKE THE EGG, AN EYE
APPEARED IN THE CENTER OF THE YOLK. THE YOLK SOMETIMES APPEARED TO BE
PARTIALLY COOKED. I KNOW IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT I SAW IT MYSELF.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS WHEN SHE WAS A LITTLE GIRL IN TEXAS.
SHE WAS TAUGHT THIS BY HER MOTHER OR GRANDPARENTS, PRIMARILY HER
GRANDMOTHER. THE INFORMANT DIDN'T SEEM TO COMPLETELY BELIEVE THE
SUPERSTITION, BUT SHE SAID SHE HAD SEEN IT HAPPEN. AND SHE SAID SHE
SAW THE METHOD WORK ON A LITTLE GIRL. SHE DIDN'T WHOLEHEARTEDLY
BELIEVE IN THE SUPERSTITION, THOUGH.
THIS IS ACTUALLY A CURE FOR THE EVIL EYE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK

Date learned: 01-10-1973