Trinkets of the square: The curse of the evil eye

A late night stroll through Marrakech’s central square, Jemaa al-Fnaa will lead you to encounter all kinds of the weird and the wonderful.

However particularly towards the Eastern side of Jemaa al-Fnaa you will discover many Marrakshi locals selling unusual trinkets.

Unlike the souvenirs you will find in the nearby postcard shops, for a few Dirhams you can have a craftsman fashion you a key-ring with a distinct purpose: to ward off the evil eye.

The evil eye is said to have the capability to affect anyone, however those of us who are deemed highly attractive need to take the most caution. As the risk of suffering from the ill-effects of the evil eye grow in proportion to ones beauty.

Sacred talismans such as those sold in the square of Jemaa al-Fnaa have been used by certain people in Moroccan culture for centuries to ward off the evil eye. And for a loved one back home a souvenir such as this makes for a gift that is absolutely unique to this corner of the world.

Jemaa al-Fnaa is an ancient space that is humming with interesting legends such as this one and is easily accessible via a 10 minute stroll from the luxury Riad Papillon. 

Marrakech Jemaa al Fnaa Map

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