Repost for Liz C at lizcarm24 at hotmail dot com: Hi all,
My parents are from Pico. I know people from various islands, the mainland and Brazil who use the 'figa' charm. It is indeed used to keep away 'bad things'. It is usually on a loop along with the horn, crescent moon and what looks like the Star of David (Star of David has 6 points). When I was a kid people would ask me if I was Jewish because they thought it was a Jewish symbol. Apparently it is a version of the Seal of Solomon but it's actually a pentagram (five points). The five-pointed star is enclosed in a circle, with one point up while standing on two points. The Pentagram was originally used by the Gnostics who called it the Blazing Star. Christians knew it as a symbol of the Five Wounds of Christ during the Middle Ages. The half moon was worn by ancients to safeguard against danger or evil eye. The horn has evolved in looking like a pepper but it was supposed to emulate the horn of an African elephant (someone mentioned lucky elephants). The crescent moon is an ancient symbol that was also used against evil eye. It was a common religious symbol of ancient Egypt but also of Assyria and India. The Hebrew maidens in the time of the prophet Isaiah wore crescent-shaped ornaments on their head. It is still used in various parts of Europe an England. This collection of 'good luck charms' is usually given to an infant as a gift and pinned to their underclothes or put on a bracelet. I live in Toronto and all the Portuguese jewellery stores carry this item. I asked my aunt who just came back from Pico and she says they still sell them there too. I have attached a picture in case anyone wants to see what it looks like – it might jog some memories. I have also attached a couple of web sites that give the explanation of the evil eye and it's origin – I am glad I had the chance to explore. Enjoy .... *http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_eye*<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_eye> *http://www.luckymojo.com/evileye.html*<http://www.luckymojo.com/evileye.html> --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Follow the confirmation directions when they arrive. For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership." -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
