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Have you ever noticed that most airlines do not have a row 13 on their planes?

A number of cultures worldwide believe that the No. 13 is unlucky, so that is why row 13 is not usually included on some aircraft.

In times like these, I believe that any extra help you can get from beyond planet Earth couldn’t hurt. In fact, I need to replace my protective Evil Eye bracelet with the ocular amulets that broke a few months ago. Yup, the “mati” (“the eye” in Greek) is one of the grandest superstitions of all and deeply embedded in many cultures and generations.

The Evil Eye is even mentioned in the Bible during Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:22-23: “If, however, your Eye is Evil, your entire body will be full of darkness.”

I am no scholar of the Good Book, and there are several interpretations and translations of the verse, but it presents an interesting perspective.

The Evil Eye has been a part of Greek culture since the 6th century BC, and I grew up hearing my mother and her sisters talking about “the mati.” It’s a curse that comes via a malicious glare usually inspired by jealousy.

But the Evil Eye can also be wrapped in a compliment such as admiring a newborn or someone telling you how healthy you look, etc.

To repel the Evil Eye, some Greek people I know, including my blue-eyed cousin Paula, will make the spitting sound of “ftou, ftou, ftou” after giving you a compliment. In effect, what she is saying in part, is this: “I’ll spit on you so I don’t put the Evil Eye on you.”

I know, it sounds strange, but hey …

That is why Evil Eye jewelry and tattoos are popular in offering universal protection against the “malicious glare.” And during these global pandemic times of uncertainty, “the mati” is trending. I recently observed a man with a few tattoos on his forearm, including one of the Evil Eye as I walked into a store that he was coming out of.

I also noticed a woman wearing a pendant with a blue Evil Eye amulet ahead of me in a store checkout aisle.

Did you know that blue-eyed people are believed to be masters at delivering the curse?

According to ancient history, blue eyes are considered a genetic rarity in the Mediterranean region, and that is why you’ll notice that most Evil Eye amulets are made in blue-eyed symbols. These are designed to dispel the curse.

You can visit your local jewelry store or head to any shopping mall in New Hampshire and find Evil Eye symbols in bracelets, anklets, rings, charms, necklaces, earrings and even placed into the faces of watches.

I started wearing my Evil Eye bracelet for protection back in March 2020 when the coronavirus began making headlines in New Hampshire. I rarely took it off except for a few medical procedures where jewelry removal was required. The bracelet was made of sterling silver and featured 11 black “matis” or charms. It’s now busted, and I plan on purchasing a new one. Call me superstitious; I don’t mind.

And that’s the peculiar power of the Evil Eye from the Granite State to points far beyond.