Can You Give an Evil Eye as a Gift? What a Nazar Means in a Turkish Home

Can you give an evil eye as a gift? Yes. In Turkish families a nazar boncuğu, the blue evil eye bead, is a common present for a new baby, a new home or a new business. A few questions still come up. Does it have to be a gift? Can you buy one for yourself? Should you ask first? Here is what people often say, where the sources disagree, and some gift ideas for people who do not want jewelry.

The short answer

Yes, you can give one. People in Türkiye often bring a nazar when something good happens to someone they care about. The gift says, "I am happy for you, and I hope this good thing stays." It is a folk custom, so there is no single right way to do it.

What a nazar means in a Turkish home

Nazar means a look or a glance, and boncuk means bead. In folk belief, a look full of envy, or even too much admiration, can bring bad luck, and the blue eye is meant to catch that look first. The bead is usually glass, in rings of dark blue, white, light blue and black. Our guide What Is a Nazar Boncuğu? explains more, including how to talk about it with a child.

Not everyone takes the belief seriously. Some people keep a bead because it is a well-loved tradition, and some do not keep one at all. Both are normal in Türkiye.

Does an evil eye have to be gifted?

You may read that an evil eye only counts if someone gives it to you. That is a saying, not a rule, and sources do not agree. One travel guide to Türkiye says a bead from someone else is considered stronger. Another suggests nazar beads for yourself as well as for others.

In practice, nazar beads are a common souvenir in Türkiye, and plenty of people buy their own. If you like the idea of a gift, give one. If you want one for your own door, buy one.

Is it bad to gift an evil eye? When to ask first

A nazar is usually seen as a kind gift, so the real question is whether it suits the person. Ask first in these cases:

• The person has strong views. Some people see it as superstition, and some feel it does not fit their own beliefs. A quiet word with a partner or a friend saves an awkward moment.
• You are meeting the family for the first time. Something sweet is the safer first gift.
• There is a baby or a toddler at home. Real beads are glass. Glass can break, small parts can be swallowed, and cords are not safe near a crib.
• The person has never heard of it. In everyday English, "giving someone the evil eye" means glaring at them, so add a short note that explains the symbol.

Who gets one

People often choose a nazar for moments like these:

• A new baby. Guides often mention this one first. Some families pin a small bead to the baby's clothes, but a loose bead or a pin is not safe around a baby, so we suggest a printed design instead. See our guide to gifts for a new baby and new parents.
• A new home. People often hang one near the door. Our guide to Turkish housewarming gift ideas also covers what to say when you arrive.
• A wedding. A small keepsake next to the other gifts.
• A new job or a new shop. Some people hang one above the shop door on opening day.
• A new car. In Türkiye you often see one hanging from a car mirror.

What "Nazar değmesin" means, and how to write it on a card

Nazar değmesin means "may the evil eye not touch it". People often say it after a compliment, about a child, a home or a new car. It sounds roughly like nah-ZAHR day-meh-seen, and it makes a warm line for a card.

Write the Turkish first and the English under it, so everyone can read it. Here are three lines you can borrow:

• Nazar değmesin. May the evil eye not touch you.
• Hoş geldin bebek, nazar değmesin. Welcome, baby. May the evil eye not touch you.
• Yeni eviniz hayırlı olsun, nazar değmesin. May your new home be for the best, and may the evil eye not touch it.

Evil eye gifts that are not jewelry

Most pages on this question are about bracelets and necklaces. We do not sell jewelry or glass beads. Nazar Değmesin is our own Turkish design: a smiling blue bead with raised hands, tulips, a crescent and a star, above the words "Nazar değmesin". Here are four ways to give it:

• For a shelf or a tree. The Nazar Değmesin ceramic ornament is glossy ceramic with a gold-colored string, in a circle, heart, star or snowflake shape. Keep it out of reach of small children.
• For your own words. The Nazar Değmesin greeting cards are a pack of 10 folded cards with the design on the front. Envelopes are not included.
• For every morning. The Nazar Değmesin 11 oz mug is white ceramic, safe in the dishwasher and the microwave.
• For a new baby. The Nazar Değmesin soft fleece baby blanket measures 30 × 40 in (76.2 × 101.6 cm), with one large picture on the front.

You can see the rest in the Nazar Değmesin collection. Think of any of these as a keepsake and a kind wish, not a promise.

FAQ

Can you buy an evil eye for yourself?

Yes. Some people say a bead should come from someone else, but that is a saying, and sources disagree. Beads are sold in bazaars and souvenir shops across Türkiye, and people buy them for their own homes too.

What should you do if someone gives you an evil eye?

Say thank you and keep it where you like. People often hang one near the door, on a wall or in the car. There is no ritual you need to follow.

What if an evil eye you were given breaks?

In folk belief, a cracked bead is said to have caught a strong look, so it is not usually read as a bad sign. People often replace it with a new one, and some say the new one is best given by someone else. Broken glass is still broken glass, so clear it up before a child or a pet finds it.