[AZORES-Genealogy] Re: Azorean Customs/ Jewelry
Yes, this is an old Portuguese superstion. But I choose to believe the the thumb postion on our babies is the sign of the cross. and not for the evil eye doer's. Although I know for a fact that there are benzedaria all around the Azores islands... that's how they make their money. Bibi On Sep 10, 2:44�pm, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a message dated 9/10/2008 5:15:32 PM Eastern Daylight Time,[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Attached (I hope) is a picture Liz C was trying to send through of the jewelry. Cheri Yep; that's it. My grandmother gave rach of her grandchildren a complete set at birth. John � --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Follow the confirmation directions when they arrive. For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says Join this group and it will take you to Edit my membership. -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[AZORES-Genealogy] Re: Azorean Customs/ Jewelry
Repost for Liz C at lizcarm24 at hotmail dot com: Hi all, My parents are from Pico. I know people from various islands, the mainland and Brazil who use the 'figa' charm. It is indeed used to keep away 'bad things'. It is usually on a loop along with the horn, crescent moon and what looks like the Star of David (Star of David has 6 points). When I was a kid people would ask me if I was Jewish because they thought it was a Jewish symbol. Apparently it is a version of the Seal of Solomon but it's actually a pentagram (five points). The five-pointed star is enclosed in a circle, with one point up while standing on two points. The Pentagram was originally used by the Gnostics who called it the Blazing Star. Christians knew it as a symbol of the Five Wounds of Christ during the Middle Ages. The half moon was worn by ancients to safeguard against danger or evil eye. The horn has evolved in looking like a pepper but it was supposed to emulate the horn of an African elephant (someone mentioned lucky elephants). The crescent moon is an ancient symbol that was also used against evil eye. It was a common religious symbol of ancient Egypt but also of Assyria and India. The Hebrew maidens in the time of the prophet Isaiah wore crescent-shaped ornaments on their head. It is still used in various parts of Europe an England. This collection of 'good luck charms' is usually given to an infant as a gift and pinned to their underclothes or put on a bracelet. I live in Toronto and all the Portuguese jewellery stores carry this item. I asked my aunt who just came back from Pico and she says they still sell them there too. I have attached a picture in case anyone wants to see what it looks like – it might jog some memories. I have also attached a couple of web sites that give the explanation of the evil eye and it's origin – I am glad I had the chance to explore. Enjoy *http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_eye*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_eye *http://www.luckymojo.com/evileye.html*http://www.luckymojo.com/evileye.html --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Follow the confirmation directions when they arrive. For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says Join this group and it will take you to Edit my membership. -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[AZORES-Genealogy] Re: Azorean Customs/ Jewelry
In a message dated 9/10/2008 5:15:32 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Attached (I hope) is a picture Liz C was trying to send through of the jewelry. Cheri Yep; that's it. My grandmother gave rach of her grandchildren a complete set at birth. John --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Follow the confirmation directions when they arrive. For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says Join this group and it will take you to Edit my membership. -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[AZORES-Genealogy] Re: Azorean Customs/ Jewelry
Re: Figa I have a charm bracelet from the 1930's -1950's of my Jewish mother in laws. It has a gold figa on it along with other things, like my father in laws faternity pin, and a Jewish star. My Portuguese mother had one in her jewelery box, that I now have. I remember as a child seeing it in her drawer, but was not allowed to touch it. It seemed to have some sort of a secretive meaning at that time.Theresa - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Azores@googlegroups.com Sent: Thursday, September 04, 2008 11:58 PM Subject: [AZORES-Genealogy] Re: Azorean Customs/ Jewelry Hi Sharon, I was always told the hand was given to children to ward away evil spirits. I have had one since childhood as do my daughters and grandaughters. The set that I have has a star and a moon also. The story goes that most newborns are born with their thumb between their first two fingers to ward away any curses that might befall them. I bought my latest set in Sao Miguel when I visited last year although most Ouriversarios (Portuguese jewelry shops) will have them. There are several sizes and they are not very expensive. Joanne -- Original message -- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] My grandmother, born on Graciosa Island, always wore around her neck a gold Lady of Fatima holy medal, and a gold replica of a human forearm, (left hand as I recall) with a fisted hand showing the thumb tucked between the index and middle fingers. Can any of the Azores listers tell me what the Portuguese call that amulet? What is the significance of such an item in the Portuguese culture? Is it unique to the islanders? Thanks! Sharon --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Follow the confirmation directions when they arrive. For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says Join this group and it will take you to Edit my membership. -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[AZORES-Genealogy] Re: Azorean Customs/ Jewelry
On Sep 4, 2008, at 7:25 PM, augustae wrote:Sharon... the Spanish have a version of that hand (not forearm, though, justfrom the wrist down), but holding a round ball... it's called the hand ofFatima (mano de Fatima). It's usually made of cast bronze or iron and isused as a door knocker.I took this photo of the door knocker in Guimarães or Braga (mainland Portugal). I know we were talking about jewelry, but someone mentioned the door knocker. I didn't realize the connection with Fatima. Interesting!Mary BordiDoor knocker in Portugal
[AZORES-Genealogy] Re: Azorean Customs/ Jewelry
Mary, that's JUST like the one on our house in southern Spain, except that ours is brass; however the older houses do sometimes have painted ones... Augusta - Original Message - From: Mary Bordi To: azores@googlegroups.com Sent: Friday, 05 September, 2008 13:24 Subject: [AZORES-Genealogy] Re: Azorean Customs/ Jewelry On Sep 4, 2008, at 7:25 PM, augustae wrote: Sharon... the Spanish have a version of that hand (not forearm, though, just from the wrist down), but holding a round ball... it's called the hand of Fatima (mano de Fatima). It's usually made of cast bronze or iron and is used as a door knocker. I took this photo of the door knocker in Guimarães or Braga (mainland Portugal). I know we were talking about jewelry, but someone mentioned the door knocker. I didn't realize the connection with Fatima. Interesting! Mary Bordi --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Follow the confirmation directions when they arrive. For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says Join this group and it will take you to Edit my membership. -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[AZORES-Genealogy] Re: Azorean Customs/ Jewelry
My children who have azorean godparents were all given the little hand when they were babies. I was told it was called a figa (that is a phonetic spelling). It is to ward of the evil eye and those who would try to put a curse on you. Anyone who has relatives born in the Azores knows that there were and are a lot of superstitions. It is believed that there are people who will go up to a baby and say how beautiful they are and at same time place a curse on them that can only be removed some woman in the village with a special power. This figa is somehow supposed to protect them from that. I guess it is supposed to work the same way for adults also. In a nutshell it is to keep a person safe from curses. Mary Ann **It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel deal here. (http://information.travel.aol.com/deals?ncid=aoltrv000547) --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Follow the confirmation directions when they arrive. For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says Join this group and it will take you to Edit my membership. -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
