enchanting (charming)

Damning someone by looking at the person, or the result of this. It was well-known in Europe, its roots go back to the ancient times. Beliefs connected to it and enchanting practices (warnings and medicine) were popular in southern and south-eastern Europe and in the Near East. Hungarian folk beliefs attributed enchanting to witches and persons who had this ability, who also had special signs on their bodies (for example, eyebrows connected, piercing or cross-eyed look). Besides these anyone is able to enchant who is present at an event unauthorised or unwanted and admires or praises someone there. Deliberate enchanting was a different thing. By enchanting all weak and unprotected creatures can be damned, or the result of risky operations can be influenced by it as well. One could enchant a new-born baby, a foal, calf, pig or young poultry.

TI