Levkas / Lefkáda :: Comparisson reports

“Farmers in Levkas ( Lefkada) still swear by fire. With their thumb and index finger they’ll touch an oven’s flame and say: ‘may the fire illuminate us’. This is a terrible vow. People consider flames to be purifying and to chase away evil spirits. Also, when entering a midwife’s room in the afternoon, you have to touch the light’s flames with your fingers to keep away the bad spirits who may have followed you with evil intentions towards the newborn.

Whomsoever uses water to wash and drink after throwing in burning coal and secretly saying some exorcisms is believed to be free from the influence of the evil eye.”