Azorean Customs/ Jewelry

[mcsha...@hotmail.com]

My grandmother, born on Graciosa Island, always wore around her neck a
gold Lady of Fatima holy medal, and a gold replica of a human forearm,
(left hand as I recall) with a fisted hand showing the thumb tucked
between the index and middle fingers. Can any of the Azores listers
tell me what the Portuguese call that amulet? What is the
significance of such an item in the Portuguese culture? Is it unique
to the islanders?
Thanks!
Sharon

[Cheri Mello]

Sharon,

I don't know about the forearm one.

Fatima is in Portugal the Virgin Mary appeared there in the 19teens.  I know many Portuguese halls have a festa in honor of our Lady of Fatima.

--
Cheri Mello
Listowner, Azores-Gen
Researching: Vila Franca, Ponta Garca, Ribeira Quente, R. das Tainhas, Achada

[augustae]

Sharon... the Spanish have a version of that hand (not forearm, though, just
from the wrist down), but holding a round ball... it's called the hand of
Fatima (mano de Fatima). It's usually made of cast bronze or iron and is
used as a door knocker.

I'd be curious about any responses you get as my gggrandfather (b. 1816)
came from Graciosa too (1840s).

Augusta

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6:54 PM

[Cakem...@aol.com]

My children who have azorean godparents were all given the little hand when they were babies.  I was told it was called a "figa"  (that is a phonetic spelling).  It is to ward of the evil eye and those who would try to put a curse on you.  Anyone who has relatives born in the Azores knows that there were and are a lot of superstitions.  It is believed that there are people who will go up to a baby and say  how beautiful they are and at same time place a curse on them that can only be removed  some woman in the village with a special power.  This figa is somehow supposed to protect them from that.  I guess it is supposed to work the same way for adults also.  In a nutshell it is to keep a person safe from curses.

 

Mary Ann

---

It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel deal here.

[jojo...@comcast.net]

Hi Sharon,

 

I was always told the hand was given to children to ward away evil spirits.   I have had one since childhood  as do my daughters and grandaughters. The set that I have has a star and a moon also. The story goes that most newborns are born with their thumb between their first two fingers to  ward   away any curses that might befall them. I bought my latest set in Sao Miguel when I visited last year although most Ouriversarios (Portuguese jewelry shops) will have them. There are several sizes and they are not very expensive.

                                                                                                   Joanne

[Theresa Entin]

Re: Figa

 

I have a charm bracelet from the 1930's -1950's of my Jewish mother in laws.  It has a gold figa on it along with other things, like my father in laws faternity pin, and a Jewish star. 

 

My Portuguese mother had one in her jewelery box, that I now have.  I remember as a child seeing it in her drawer, but was not allowed to touch it.  It seemed to have some sort of a secretive meaning at that time.    Theresa

[Jason Fraga]

Although I'm the third generation born in the US since our family came over (it was all of my great grandparents that came from the Azores 100+ years ago, I guess old customs and superstitions die hard.  I remember my Mother talking about things like the "quebranto" and how you didn't mess around with things like that.  My parents don't speak Portuguese, and things like the quebranto and the evil eye were still things that they were aware of from the old timers. I guess it's not surprising that the jewelery to protect against things like that are still around.

 

Jay

 

 

 

 

 

 

----- Original Message -----

[Jason Fraga]

This was interesting.... I just found the following here:

 

http://bestofbahia.talkspot.com/aspx/templates/tuleSunset.aspx?msgid=76099

 

"The Figa (fee-gah) is a symbol of one of the age-old myths of Africa, this clenched-fist good-luck charm came to Brazil with its XVII century slave trade. As its memories paled over generations, belief in its powers to increase warriors' fertility also faded, but until nowadays it is prized by brazilians for luck, prosperity, and protection. Ranging from delicate earrings to meter-tall sculptures, Brazil's attractive figa may be carved from wood or stone, crafted from plain or precious metals, and even set with gems. The figa can be made into jewelry or sculptures (produced from plain wood or precious metals and gems), but the figa is now used purely for luck. The figa tradition is that to obtain luck from this symbol the figa must be received as a gift. They can be found in Bahia today worn as necklace by bahianas to complement their wardrobe or mounted in the home of a schoolteacher."

[Mary Bordi]

On Sep 4, 2008, at 7:25 PM, augustae wrote:

Sharon... the Spanish have a version of that hand (not forearm, though, just 
from the wrist down), but holding a round ball... it's called the hand of 
Fatima (mano de Fatima). It's usually made of cast bronze or iron and is 
used as a door knocker.

I took this photo of the door knocker in Guimarães or Braga (mainland Portugal). I know we were talking about jewelry, but someone mentioned the door knocker.  I didn't realize the connection with Fatima. Interesting!

Mary Bordi

Door knocker in Portugal

 

[David]

The Spanish "mano de Fatima," it should be made clear, does not refer
to Nossa Senhora de Fatima but to Fatima/Fatimah, the favorite
daughter of Islam's Prophet Muhammad. (For info on her see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatimah) This stems from the time when
most of Iberia was under Muslim rule, the period of "Convivencia" when
Islam, Christianity, and Judaism coexisted (sometimes well, sometimes
less so) in Iberia.

The other posts referring to the thumb between the fingers are correct
that it is the "figa" (spelling not just phonetic but correct). The
figa indeed is used to ward off curses, the "evil eye," etc. It's a
tradition in Luso-Brazilian cultures, and is quite common even today
in Brazil, where one can easily buy carved wooden versions of the
figa.

David da Silva Cornell
Miami, FL

On Sep 4, 10:25�pm, "augustae" <augus...@bellsouth.net> wrote:
> Sharon... the Spanish have a version of that hand (not forearm, though, just
> from the wrist down), but holding a round ball... it's called the hand of
> Fatima (mano de Fatima). It's usually made of cast bronze or iron and is
> used as a door knocker.
>
> I'd be curious about any responses you get as my gggrandfather (b. 1816)
> came from Graciosa too (1840s).
>
> Augusta
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <mcsharon...@hotmail.com>
> To: "Azores Genealogy" <Azo...@googlegroups.com>
> Sent: Thursday, 04 September, 2008 19:48
> Subject: [AZORES-Genealogy] Azorean Customs/ Jewelry
>
> > My grandmother, born on Graciosa Island, always wore around her neck a
> > gold Lady of Fatima holy medal, and a gold replica of a human forearm,
> > (left hand as I recall) with a fisted hand showing the thumb tucked
> > between the index and middle fingers. �Can any of the Azores listers
> > tell me what the Portuguese call that amulet? �What is the
> > significance of such an item in the Portuguese culture? �Is it unique
> > to the islanders?
> > Thanks!
> > Sharon
>

> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------�-----

>
> No virus found in this incoming message.

> Checked by AVG -http://www.avg.com

> Version: 8.0.169 / Virus Database: 270.6.16/1652 - Release Date: 9/4/2008

> 6:54 PM- Hide quoted text -
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> - Show quoted text -

[augustae]

Mary, that's JUST like the one on our house in southern Spain, except that ours is brass; however the older houses do sometimes have painted ones...

 

Augusta

----- Original Message -----

From: Mary Bordi

To: azo...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Friday, 05 September, 2008 13:24

Subject: [AZORES-Genealogy] Re: Azorean Customs/ Jewelry

[Cheri Mello]

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://www.luckymojo.com/evileye.html

[Cheri Mello]

Attached (I hope) is a picture Liz C was trying to send through of the jewelry.
Cheri

[Marr...@cs.com]

In a message dated 9/10/2008 5:15:32 PM Eastern Daylight Time, gfsc...@gmail.com writes:

Attached (I hope) is a picture Liz C was trying to send through of the jewelry.
Cheri

Yep; that's it. My grandmother gave rach of her grandchildren a complete set at birth.

John

[Bibi]

Yes, this is an old Portuguese superstion. But I choose to believe the
the thumb postion on our babies is the sign of the cross. and not for
the evil eye doer's. Although I know for a fact that there are
benzedaria all around the Azores islands... that's how they make their
money.

Bibi

On Sep 10, 2:44�pm, Marra...@cs.com wrote:

> In a message dated 9/10/2008 5:15:32 PM Eastern Daylight Time,gfsche...@gmail.com writes:
> > Attached (I hope) is a picture Liz C was trying to send through of the
> > jewelry.
> > Cheri
>
> Yep; that's it. My grandmother gave rach of her grandchildren a complete set
> at birth.
>

> John �