Christmas and the tradition of the evil eye in Corsica
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Among traditions and customs to discover during your stay in Corsica, there's the "Ochju" or the conjuration of the evil eye. Focus on this unique island tradition!
"L'Ochju" or the evil eye
Present under various names in many Mediterranean countries, " L'Ochju " - or the eye - is defined as an evil spell or demonic occult forces. A person afflicted by the evil eye is called annuchjatu.
To cast out or break the spell, the ochju must be signed. Only initiated people can do this. They're called signadora or signadoru (but men are rare in this kind of activity). A kind of Corsican shaman :) Note that there are several types of ochju, and therefore several methods of unblinding.
The transmission only takes place on Christmas Eve, at the risk of losing all power, and can last until the New Year. Techniques and learning methods vary from region to region, but the effectiveness is linked to the prayers. Each event has its own specific prigantula (prayer) and protection.
In Corsica, to protect against the evil eye, people used to throw a few drops of saliva and make horns. More discreetly today, we end every compliment with a "Chi Dio ti benedica" - literally "May God bless you!
To protect children, necklaces are made with magical protections to be worn around the neck, usually consisting of salt, coral or pieces of blessed candles.
Signadori, evil eye hunters
A family tradition once passed down from generation to generation, today the people who hold the secrets of the Ochju can pass them on to others (even outside the family) whom they deem worthy of continuing the tradition in their turn. To be "eligible", a practising Catholic is required. In fact, although Ochju originates from a pagan tradition, in Corsica the vast majority of rites and traditions are closely linked to religion. To ward off the evil eye, initiates practice rites of Sumerian origin, dating back several millennia. Amulets, oil, grains of wheat, horns, salt, saliva, etc. are used in the fight against demons. It is essential for initiates to believe in this gift for it to work. It's not always easy to explain these traditions, which are very present in Corsica, even if they are quite mysterious. Ochju is the manifestation of a harmful influence, stemming from harmful admiration or strong jealousy, resulting in repeated bad luck, nausea, severe headaches, unusual tiredness or even mal de vivre.
The magic of the oil test
To find out if you have the Evil Eye, the signadora places a hollow white plate, water and olive oil, and lights a candle in the presence of the sufferer. If the afflicted person is not present, simply place an object belonging to him or her under the plate (a lock of hair, for example). With the fingers of one hand resting on the plate half-filled with water, the little finger of the other hand dips into the olive oil and drops 3 drops onto the plate. The number 3 is sacred: above, middle (earth) and below, i.e. future, present and past. If thedrops of oil remain small and round, you don't have the "evil eye" , but if they multiply, fall, deform or dilute, the "evil eye" has been cast. Secret prayers and signs of the cross can help, relieve and liberate.
Prayer against the evil eye for animals
The prayers learned on Christmas Eve apply to both humans and animals. In the case of parasite infestations or insect bites, this ancient practice is often used. The tactic is to "sign the worms" and the burns. Many people don't really believe in it, but nobody in Corsica is insensitive to this heritage belief, since even skeptics have their doubts. They've often heard the anecdotes of the ancients: when animals, which represented the major part of the Corsican economy, were ill, they were treated with this ritual, and sometimes a radical change could be observed.