Greek Superstitions

As you maybe know, the Greeks are very superstitious and have a lot of rules to protect themselves from bad luck and Evil. Now I will tell you many superstitions, that you will not wonder if you are coming to Greece one time.

One of the most important superstition is the Evil Eye. Many other Greek superstitions are also connected to this Eye. It can strike every time and is taken very seriously. The orthodox Church as well as the educated Greeks belive in it and wear it as a talisman every time with them. The Evil Eye can take care of your children, your family, your animals as well as your fruit trees. It "has a eye" one everything and protects it from everything bad.

To keep old bat bones are considered good but if a Greek would kill one bat it means very bad luck for him.

Not only the Evil Eye protects one from bad look, also garlic does. Many Greeks have a piece of garlic (skorda) with them, for example in their bag, which should protect them. Also in combination with onions it seems to have a healthy effect.

Also if somebody gives you a bad compliment, like: "You will fall down the stairs soon!", the Greeks are do a kind of spitting on themselves and say the word skorda (garlic). Of course three times, the Greeks are always doing everything three times.


If a Greek should ask you for a knife, never give it directly to him. Leave it at the table and wait until he takes it.

An omen for very bad luck and even for your death is to leave your shoe soles up. If this should happen nevertheless, no problem: You should directly spit three times and say skorda.

In front of a Greek house you will also find often a cactus, which stands directly next to the door. It also should protect the people in the house of danger and bad luck.

Before they come into a new house, Greeks sprinkle salt around to protect it from bad luck. You can also protect yourself from "unwanted human presence" if you sprinkle salt behind you.

Greeks also would never leave their purse, pocket or bank account without money because they think money attracts money, so they really afraid of being poor after.

Another reason for very bad luck is when two people say the same in one moment. Than they have directly look for something red around them and touch it. When they touched it they say: "piase kokkino" (touch red).


For Greeks not Friday the 13th is the worse and unlucky day, for them Tuesday the 13th is very bad! They are really afraid and more superstitious than before at this day.

 
The Greek inhabitants also believe that it is very bad to see a black cat and a priest on the same day.