Welcome to Pomegranate & Eye. I was fortunate enough to grow up Armenian American in California. My jewelry has that eclectic mix, coming from both traditions and cultures. Saturday mornings as a child, I'd go with my mom to the middle eastern grocery store. It was filled with all kinds of things, but what really stood out in my mind were the Eye beads and charms. They are worn to give protection and good luck or ward off the evil that comes from someone who is jealous of you. I remember finding them oddly "creepy" when I was young, but loving them when I was older.
So it's not the bead that's the "evil eye". The eye bead (typically blue) is worn as a protection against the evil eye. Wikipedia explains it like this: "The evil eye is a folk belief that the envy elicited by the good luck of fortunate people may result in their misfortune, whether it is envy of material possessions including livestock, or of beauty, health, or offspring. The perception of the nature of the phenomenon, its causes, and possible protective measures, varies between different cultures."
So you ask, "Yes, but is it really true?" And to that I'll say, Are fortune tellers true? Reading coffee cups or tea leaves? Realistically, most people wear these popular bracelets for their colorful beads and their fun quality (and because it's part of their tradition...or they'd like it to be!) And many, many cultures have their own versions of eye beads and eye lore including Greek, African, Turkish, and some Hispanic cultures as well. And me, I just think they're beautiful and a great conversation starter.
I don't mass produce, so each bracelet is a little different from the next. I'm happy to size a bracelet up or down for you at no additional charge. The site is evolving, so please stop by from time to time to see what's new. You can also check out my special projects on my web page: http://www.pomegranate-n-eye.com
Thank you for shopping by! Have a Pomegranate Day!
Oh, and CA residents are subjec to sales tax...sorry.
