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Good Luck, Bad Luck and the Evil Eye

We all know of lucky objects or sayings and use them without thinking. We have horseshoes on the outside doors, upside down of course as we don’t want the luck to run out. And with unlucky things and sayings, a single magpie is momentarily alarming! In this country we are not so aware of the evil eye fortunately.

Luck, good or bad, is a matter of chance. Various items are said to help with receiving good luck, receiving good luck, such as carrying a such as carrying a four-leaved clover, four-leaved clover, a rabbit’s foot, a rabbit’s foot, horseshoe etc. horseshoe etc. The horseshoe The horseshoe must be open must be open end up, so that end up, so that the luck does not run out. Knocking on the luck does not run out. Knocking on wood when hoping for something is also wood when hoping for something is also widespread. Horse brasses, still used at widespread. Horse brasses, still used at country shows etc, help ensure good country shows etc, help ensure good luck. Similar beliefs are held in many luck. Similar beliefs are held in many countries. countries. Bad luck can be caused by many things, such as: getting into bed on the things, such as: getting into bed on the wrong side, opening an umbrella indoors, wrong side, opening an umbrella indoors, seeing magpies, (one for sorrow, two seeing magpies, (one for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl, four for a boy), for joy, three for a girl, four for a boy), breaking a mirror brings seven years bad breaking a mirror brings seven years bad luck, numbers such as thirteen, or four luck, numbers such as thirteen, or four in China, Japan and Korea, walking under a in China, Japan and Korea, walking under a ladder, putting shoes on a table. There are many other regional suspicions – putting your clothes on inside out for example. The Evil Eye is a belief from several parts of the world, particularly the Middle East, Mediterranean and IndoEurope, and was unknown in much of the Southern Hemisphere until brought in by European cultures. It originated in Mesopotamia around 5,000 years ago, although it may have existed in the Palaeolithic era.

The real ‘evil’ done by the Evil Eye is that it causes living things to ‘dry up’, notably babies, lactating animals, nursing mothers, young fruit trees, withering of fruit in orchards and loss of potency in men.

It is believed to have originated in Sumer, in ancient times, acknowledged by Arabs, Jews and Christians. It spread to India, then west to Spain and Portugal, north to Scandinavia and Britain and eventually south into North Africa. The Evil Eye is mentioned in the Old Testament. In Proverbs 23 v6. ‘Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thee his dainty meat.’ Possibly the 10th Commandment is referring to the Evil Eye when it says ‘Covet not your neighbour’s ox, nor his ass etc;’

The early Jewish Christians believed in ‘ayin ha’ra’ or the evil eye, and protected babies, the colour red being commonly used for this purpose. Referring to the belief that the evil eye is related to dryness or loss of fluids, Jewish folk belief says that fish are immune to the evil eye as they are covered in water.

The results of the evil eye are, almost everywhere it exists, said to occur as an accidental side-effect of envy, or praise. In old English it is known as ‘overlooking’ (implying that the gaze has remained focussed on the object for too long). If a woman with no children praises another woman’s child, that child is likely to fall ill with vomiting and diarrhoea, caused by envy on the childless woman’s part. Mothers will often put a mark on the baby’s face, so that it cannot be said to be perfect.

It is said that Socrates may have possessed the evil eye, as his disciples remarked on his glaring eyes.

There are, of course, protective talismans and cures. In Turkey there are concentric circles of blue and white, found on Turkish aircraft, on vehicles and houses, or worn as beads. Horses and donkeys wear turquoise beads, especially in the Sub Continent. Blue eyes are also found on the Hamsa hand, a hand shaped amulet, known as the Hand of Fatimah by Muslims and the hand of Miriam by Jews. Ann Dekkers

Foxton Scarecrow Festival

Saturday 9 October from 12.00 We will be holding our popular, well-loved Scarecrow Festival once again this year on Saturday 9 October, to raise funds for St Laurence Church, Foxton. Please put this date in your diary so you can come along and join us for some scarecrow fun! As in previous years, you’ll be able to wander through Foxton village from one scarecrow to another and join in with the various fundraising activities along the way, including a children’s quiz and ‘Where’s Wally?’ Will you be able to find this special scarecrow, hidden somewhere in the village? We welcome you to stop at various venues around the village for refreshments such as bacon butties, home-made soup or tea and cakes. This fun event for all ages will finish in the Church with prize giving, raffle draw and a performance by Foxton Singers. Programmes will be available on the day from the Church, the Village Hall and the Village Shop, Foxton. More details will be available nearer the time, but for further information, contact us at foxtonscarecrow@gmail.com.

In Life Change Will Come Change at hand Whether we will or no Can come in life A zephyr breeze Or a blow. A thick ear From the blue Mind your tongue It gets you into trouble A lesson in life. Early at school To meet and handle The playground bully With guile Not fist Duck and weave Dodge the blows of life Time on your side Change will come. by Ray Pritchard The BBC programme ‘The Great British Sewing Bee available’ on BBC iPlayer has had a huge impact on Creations Store UK a local shop next to Philimore Garden Centre in Melbourn.

For those who have not seen it the programme follows a group of contestants who undergo a pattern challenge, a reworking garment challenge and finally making up a personal design challenge to the weekly theme, alongside the comic chat from Joe Lycett and the slightly more acerbic critique of the judges.

The owner Heidi Clark was particularly intrigued when she was asked for fabric suitable for Paperbag shorts six times over two days having never been asked before. It is no coincidence that they were featured the previous evening. Only yesterday inspired by the sewing bee a young girl came into the shop to show the staff a fabulous pair of dungarees she has made. The show is inspiring new generations of talented dressmakers. The youngest to date has been a seven-year-old boy who is making scrunchies for his friends. The staff all get quite excited when they see a fabric being used by a contestant on the show that we sell. Creations Store UK has been extending the range massively since opening increasing dress and quilting fabrics along with haberdashery and yarn.

During lockdown lots of customers were contacting Heidi, desperate to have something to keep themselves occupied and so she started posting and delivering fabric, wools, embroidery silks etc. She quickly realised that despite the damage lockdown was inflicting on retail she had something that had potential to help people cope with isolation and loneliness. The other interesting development was that many people took the opportunity to significantly improve their surroundings with the use of the amazing Frenchic paint, as decisions were taken to upcycle kitchens, gardens, and various furniture pieces. I think one benefit of lockdown is that people have found time to discover the joy in creation be it sewing, knitting, macrame, diy etc..

Programs like the Sewing Bee highlight just how many incredibly talented people there are, it seems to be inspiring a new generation of sewing talent! In the current climate of stress and anxiety we feel that Creations Store UK offers our customers some respite. The opportunity to be truly immersed in a project to rediscover old skills and develop new ones, to make new friends together sharing the magic of creativity; Creations Store UK has become a ‘go to’ destination. Creations Store UK is at Phillimore Garden Centre and open between 10am and 4pm. Telephone 01763 268686