09/10/2026
The Portuguese mau-olhado, or “evil eye,” is an old folk belief that a person’s gaze could bring bad luck, weakness, illness, or misfortune to another person, animal, household, or even crops. It was closely connected to quebranto, a condition traditionally associated with sudden weakness or unexplained illness. The most common cause was believed to be inveja, or envy, though the person causing the harm was not always thought to be doing it intentionally.
Children, babies, animals, and people seen as especially healthy, beautiful, or fortunate were often considered more vulnerable. Even excessive compliments could make people uneasy, since strong admiration was sometimes believed to attract mau-olhado. Traditional symptoms included tiredness, headaches, dizziness, trembling, feeling cold, restlessness in babies, or unexplained sickness in people and animals.
One of the best-known traditions involved a benzedeira or curandeira, a folk healer who used prayers and rituals to remove the evil eye. In some regions, an olive-oil-and-water test was used to determine whether someone had been affected. The healer might recite prayers, make the sign of the cross, and use rosemary during the ritual. These customs often blended Catholic beliefs with older folk traditions.
Protection methods varied by region and could include rosemary, arruda (rue), garlic, salt, crosses, rosaries, holy objects, and the f**a hand symbol. Some families placed protective herbs near doorways, used salt in the home, or carried amulets to guard against envy and harmful gazes. These beliefs were passed down through generations and became an important part of Portuguese folk culture.
