There are definitely some “different” superstitions in which Greeks take part. Being spit on is probably one of them. Don’t be too surprised to see Greeks spitting all over the place, actually, it is not spitting as such, but more of a spitting sound; That’s right, spitting on someone is a way of diminishing any form of evil energy or presence.
It’s actually more of a FTOO, FTOO, FTOO; so just be aware. Greeks apply the spitting superstition at weddings as well. If someone compliments the bride’s dress they must spit “ftoo” three times to ward off any negative forces that might be at work. In fact, it isn’t at all uncommon to hear a chorus of “ftoo, ftoo, ftoo!” as the bride glides down the aisle.
Always spit three times (Three depicting The Holy Trinity; Father, Son, and Holy Ghost), and you’ll be kept safe from the evil eye. If you hear someone speaking of misfortune and misery, say “Ftou, Ftou, Ftou”, that should keep the same misfortune and misery away from you and your loved ones.
Fishermen spit on their nets, to ensure a good catch, and Greek babies are “Ftou, Ftou Ftoued” over, all the time, to keep the devil at bay. Not all people, but a lot used to (and some still do) believe that it is unhygienic to take a newborn baby out of the house. Therefore, some newborns are kept inside for the first forty days of their lives.
Now for the contradiction:
After this time, the baby can be presented to the outside world. People go “ah!” and if you are a Greek yaiyai (grandmother), they may follow the Greek superstition and think nothing of spitting at the newborn there times, a quick ‘ftou ftou’ to ward off the evil eye.
In Greece, if someone makes a ‘ftou’ sound at you three times, accompanied by a flicking of the hand in your direction, then that person is actually paying you a compliment.
It means you are worthy of jealousy, so by giving you a negative (the spitting gesture) it wards off jealousy and the evil eye. The Greek custom of spitting for luck isn’t as light and frivolous as one might think either.
In the Greek Orthodox church during a baptism, both the priest and the Godparents of the said child will ‘flou’ the child three times to ward off the devil.
