Decoded: The sudden rise and rise of evil eye

Do you often use the evil eye emoji on social media or are obsessed with evil eye bracelets and neckpieces? If yes, then you are not alone!

But what is it exactly, and does this Nazar thing even work? According to Folklorist John Roberts, around 40% of the cultures in the world believe in the evil eye myth. It is believed that the evil eye protects you from people’s vicious glares and envy. It can be worn, added to jewellery or amulets.

The origin of the evil eye dates back to ancient Greece and Rome, around 3,000 years ago.

Do you know the evil eye is not the only symbol that people use to thwart the effects of envious eyes? The two other widely-used tokens are the tiger’s eye and hamsa hand.

The evil eye has been a popular motif in jewellery for centuries and it’s now making a comeback in the fashion world and among celebrities. You might have seen A-listers like Kim Kardashian, Meghan Markle and Rihanna wearing evil eye jewellery on many occasions. And who can forget Gigi Hadid’s Eyelove shoes designed for Stuart Weitzman!

But why is this symbol so appealing? Well, people love it because of the comforting sense that someone is looking out for them. And when people are feeling vulnerable or insecure, they often turn to superstitions for comfort. Even people who don’t believe in the myth wear these ornaments for decorative and aesthetic purposes.

Lately, the nazar amulet emoji has taken over the digital world as well, where it is frequently seen in messages, captions, WhatsApp stories and IG reels, thanks to its frequent use by millennials.

Trends come and go but the OG evil eye symbol is here to stay. In fact, you’ve probably used it yourself without even knowing!

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