Turkish souvenirs
 

Does anyone know the story or history behind those ubiquitous blue/white &quot;evil eye&quot; souvenirs (key chains, necklace, plates, etc)?<BR><BR>I absolutely adore them and wonder if there's a story behind them.<BR><BR>Thanks.

<BR>I believe their purpose is to protect you from someone putting the 'evil eye' on you - or just from evil in general.

There is a book about this precious blue glass beats &quot; nazar boncugu &quot;. I have a copy of it but cant get hold of it at the moment. I can try to get you a copy and mail it.

Yes, I too have understood them to be used to protect the owner from evil. What a shame, my initial thought was that they were an offensive rather than defensive weapon. One way of the other they make great key chains, christmas tree ornaments and work cubicle adornments.

The evil eye is used to protect you from someone giving you the &quot;evil eye&quot;. In Greece I was told the theory is the evil look (or thought) will go into the eye on one side and pass out on the other without stopping to harm you. This is why the eyes are double sided.

Turkish delight is a good souvenir. It is a sweet confection.