The Nazar Boncugu has a beautiful sight when we look at it as a matter of adornment and beauty, despite the development that the world is witnessing, the Nazar Boncugu in all its forms is still present in the hearts of the Turks, as a shield. For envy, and for good luck!
The Turks, in particular, use the Nazar Boncugu in all the details of their lives, as the Turks believe to this day, that it repels the eye, envy and jinx, as they use their creativity in its manufacture, shape and color. It has a high value for all groups of people, starting from the random people, up to the rich ones!.
The Turks prefer the blue glass bead, and consider it better than the plastic one, due to its beauty – and in their opinion – because it breaks and shatters, then the person realizes that he has defeated the envious eye.
As for the secret of the blue color, it is due to the belief of the ancients in three colors, which are the colors that were prevalent in their jewelry, red, green and blue, and each color symbolized something. It provides the bounties of the earth and nature, such as grains, fruits and vegetables, and the blue color is associated with the blue of the sky, in which the sun swims, the “gods” live in it to protect and bless its holder.
The Turks do not believe in the Nazar Boncugu from a religious point of view, but consider that this Nazar Boncugu, or one eye, works to attract attention, thus distracting the focus of the evil eye, and getting rid of its bad influence.
People in the past believed that jewelry has magical powers and effects, in addition to its function of adornment, so they made amulets from jewelry that they attached to various parts of their bodies.
There is no specific date for the origin of the blue bead. Some say that it dates back to the sixth century BC. Before converting to Islam, the belief in the effect of envy differed according to social status. The rich used jewelry made of gold and precious stones, while the common people used polished Nazar Boncugu.
In the year 2014, Turkey was able to include what is considered a set of cultural and heritage values to the UNESCO list with regard to the intangible cultural heritage, and at the top of these cultural and heritage values were the “Turkish coffee culture and traditions”, and the culture of the “folk narrator”, And “Mulaviya”, “Kara Koz performances”, “Hajj Awad”, “Turkish oil wrestling”, and “Nazar Boncugu Culture”, which constitutes for the Turks a heritage and cultural value.
The Nazar Boncugu has become an obsession with the Turkish people, who believe that most of their children are able to protect them from envy and ward off the evils from them, and they have made it a basis in their lives, as you can hardly find a home without it. As for the markets and shops, especially those that sell (accessories). It is keen to include it in everything, due to the great demand for it by customers.
Because the Turks are so fond of this “Nazar Boncugu” myth, sellers introduce it in most of their goods, and they did not limit it to the blue color only, but also took other colors such as red, yellow, green, and others, so that the buyer finds it penetrates all his needs.
It occupies an important place in the popular culture of Turkish societies, even when some of them give gifts to someone. The Nazar Boncugu must have a place in it, as there is hardly a house, car, or store devoid of it, and it is usually hung like a necklace around the neck. It has magical powers that fortify the bearer from dangers, protect him from the envious eye, or ward off accidents while driving a vehicle. The Turks use the Nazar Boncugu in the details of their entire lives.
The Nazar Boncugu is present in every Turkish home, in shops and offices, on clothes of newborns, and on towels and sheets. If it is not hung somewhere in the house or work, it is present in the utensils they use, or that they like to own.
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It’s also known by different names in the world, especially in some Arab and Islamic countries. The name “Five and Khamisa” is referred to in the Egyptian dialect, and it has other, less well-known names, as it is known to Islamic societies as “The Hand of Fatima”, a reference to Fatima. Al-Zahra, peace be upon her, is the daughter of the Profit Mohammed.
The Nazar Boncugu is one of the Turkish folk beliefs, and they confirm that it has nothing to do with religion, neither from near nor from afar. Some belief in it, and others reject it and do not believe in it. The Nazar Boncugu is dear to the hearts of most Turks, and although the Islamic religion confirms that such matters are not true in reality, it is not expected that it will disappear from the lives of Turks.