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Albanians Use Teddy Bears to Ward Off 'evil Eye'

by Tanya Thomas on September 02, 2010 at 11:47 AM Lifestyle News

A weather-beaten teddy bear hangs from the front of Izet Sina's home. But this tattered old toy is no abandoned play thing. It is designed to protect the family from misfortune and ward off the "evil eye".

Albanians Use Teddy Bears to Ward Off 'evil Eye'

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The 51-year old farmer believes all the woes that have befallen him -- his wife's death, property disputes, and the flooding of his land by torrential rains -- were caused by the ill will of his relatives and neighbours.

In his search for good luck, Sina, like thousands of his compatriots, has turned back to the superstitious traditions that largely disappeared under communism, but which have now made a come-back.

"It will preserve my house from "Syri i keq" (the evil eye) and chase away any evil which will not dare now to touch my family," he says of the teddy bear.

Sina, who lives in Kuc, a tiny village some 30 kilometres (18 miles) northwest of the capital Tirana, strongly believes in the power of the soft toy.

He says misfortune came his way after his relatives and neighbours effectively cursed him out of envy for the house he built.

Now the father of seven believes the teddy bear will protect both the house and the family from any new catastrophe.

In the 20 years since the fall of communism, superstitious practices have thrived in Albania.

Besides new fads such as the stuffed toys, traditional amulets have also reappeared: horseshoes, red flags, garlic are often seen on homes and even luxury apartments in Tirana's posh neighbourhoods.

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Albanians Use Teddy Bears to Ward Off 'evil Eye'

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