The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

CONJURATION

I WAS TOLD SOME YEARS AGO THAT WHEN
I WAS AROUND A YEAR OLD. I GOT TO CRYING AND
WOULD NOT STOP. I WOULD NOT STOP FOR ANYONE OR
ANYTHING.
MY GRANDMOTHER TOLD MY MOTHER THAT SOMEONE HAD GIVEN ME
THE EVIL EYE AND THAT WAS WHY I CRIED SO. SHE WANTED TO
TRY SOME "ITALIAN WITCHCRAFT" ON ME TO REMOVE THE EVIL EYE.
AT FIRST MY MOTHER WOULD NOT LET HER, BUT GRANDMA KEPT ASKING
UNTIL SHE DID. GRANDMA TOOK A BOWL OF WATER AND DROPPED
SOME WHEAT IN IT, SHE WATCHED THE GRAIN SINK AND COME
BACK TO THE SURFACE WITH SOME AIR BUBBLES. THE BUBBLES MEANT THAT
INDEED, SOMEONE HAD GIVEN ME THE EVIL EYE. TO REMOVE IT SHE
WENT THROUGH A RITUAL WHICH COMBINED
WITCHCRAFT AND CHRISTIANITY. FIRST,
MADE THE SIGN OF THE CROSS TO HERSELF AND TO ME. THEN SHE
BROKE THE BUBBLES, DIPPED HER FINGER IN THE WATER, MADE A
SIGN OF THE CROSS ON MY FOREHEAD AND SAID THE FOLLOWING VERSES;
OCCHI E MALOCCHI
CORNICELLI A L'OCCHI
SQUATA LE INVIDIA
E CREPA IL MALOCCHIA.
WHICH IN ENGLISH IS:
EYE OF EVIL
GIVEN TO THEE
SQUASH THE ENVY
AND BURST THE EVIL.
AS SOON AS SHE FINISHED ALL THIS , I STOPPED CRYING, TO THE
JOY OF ALL WHO HAD PUT UP WITH MY WAILING FOR A WEEK STRAIGHT.
MY MOTHER SAID THAT THERE WAS NO REASON WHY I WAS CRYING.
THE DOCTOR COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH ME. AS I HAVE SAID,
I CRIED FOR A WEEK STRAIGHT AND DID NOT STOP UNTIL IMMEDIATELY
AFTER GRANDMA HAD FINISHED.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Keyword(s): INCANTATION

Date learned: NOT GIVEN