Why Does the Number 17 Scare Italy? (The VIXI Curse) 🇮🇹
In Italy, Friday 13 doesn't scare anyone. The real danger is Friday 17! A Catholic country but deeply pagan, Italy has its own codes to avoid "Sfortuna" (bad luck).
Italy: a Catholic country but deeply pagan. 🇮🇹 In Italy, Friday 13 doesn't scare anyone. The real danger is Friday 17! Italians have developed their own codes to avoid "Sfortuna" (bad luck), often linked to Roman Antiquity and Mediterranean traditions.
Between the number 17 that hides a fatal anagram, the "Malocchio" (evil eye) that must be warded off with horns, or touching iron (not wood) for luck... The rules are strict and passed down from generation to generation.
Sit down with an espresso: let's discover why Italians fear 17, why they touch iron, and how to avoid the Evil Eye. ☕
🔢 The Number 17: The Anagram of Death
In Italy, the number 17 is considered extremely unlucky, especially if it falls on a Friday. Why this specific fear?
The answer lies in the anagram: the Roman numeral XVII can be rearranged to form VIXI. In Latin, "VIXI" means "I have lived", which implies "I am dead". It's a fatal omen dating back to Roman Antiquity.
This superstition is so ingrained that in some Italian hotels, there is no room 17. Italian airlines often avoid seat 17, and some Italians even refuse to make important decisions on a Friday 17.
📜 The Anagram
XVII (17 in Roman numerals) = VIXI (in Latin: "I have lived" = "I am dead")
This deadly association dates back to Roman times, when "VIXI" was often engraved on tombstones. The number 17 thus became synonymous with death and bad luck.
💡 Did You Know?
In Italy, Friday 17 is considered even more unlucky than Friday 13. Some Italians even avoid traveling, signing contracts, or making important decisions on this day. It's a very serious superstition!
👁️ The "Malocchio" (The Evil Eye): The Jealous Gaze
The "Malocchio" (evil eye) is one of Italy's most important superstitions. It's the jealous or envious gaze that can bring bad luck to someone. This belief is particularly strong in southern Italy.
To protect themselves from Malocchio, Italians use several remedies. The most famous is the horns gesture ("Le Corna"): pointing the index and little finger downward (like horns) to ward off the evil eye.
Another popular remedy is to touch or wear an amulet in the shape of a red pepper ("Cornetto"). These amulets are often hung in cars, houses, or worn as jewelry to protect against Malocchio.
🌶️ The Cornetto
The Cornetto (little red pepper) is the most popular amulet in Italy to protect against Malocchio. It's often made of red coral or metal and can be worn as a pendant, hung in the car, or placed at the entrance of the house. It's a very powerful symbol of protection in Italian culture.
💡 Did You Know?
The horns gesture also exists in other Mediterranean cultures, but with variations. In Turkey, they use the "Nazar" (blue eye). In Greece, it's the "Matiasma". In Italy, it's mainly the Cornetto and the horns gesture that matter.
🔩 Touching Iron (Toccare Ferro): No Wood!
While in most Western countries, we "touch wood" for luck, in Italy, they touch IRON! The Italian saying is clear: "Tocca ferro!" (Touch iron!).
Italians usually touch a nail, a key, or any iron object to ward off bad luck after saying something presumptuous or to bring luck. This practice is very common, especially in northern Italy.
The origin of this belief probably dates back to the Middle Ages, when iron was considered a protective metal that could repel evil spirits. Wood, on the contrary, was associated with Christ's cross, and touching it could be considered blasphemous.
💡 Did You Know?
In Italy, some even say you need to touch iron twice to be sure it works. Other versions say you need to touch iron with your right hand, because the left is associated with evil. It's a very ingrained superstition in Italian culture!
🍷 Never Toast with Water: The Worst Offense
In Italy, you must never toast with water. It's considered the worst offense and brings bad luck. You only toast with wine or alcohol, and above all, you look each other in the eyes (like in Germany).
This superstition is particularly important during family meals or between friends. Toasting with water can be interpreted as a lack of respect or even as an invitation to bad luck for those present.
The origin of this belief probably dates back to the idea that water is associated with death and tears. Wine, on the contrary, is associated with life, joy, and celebration. Toasting with water is symbolically "raising a toast to death".
💡 Did You Know?
In Italy, there's even an expression: "Bere acqua fa male" (Drinking water is bad) in the context of toasts. Some Italians even refuse to drink water during a meal where toasts are made, for fear of attracting bad luck. It's a very serious superstition!
🎯 In Summary
Italian superstitions are deeply rooted in Mediterranean culture. From the number 17 that hides the fatal anagram "VIXI", to the Malocchio that must be warded off with horns or the Cornetto, through touching iron (not wood) and the prohibition of toasting with water... Each gesture has its history, often linked to Roman Antiquity, the Middle Ages, or Mediterranean traditions. 🇮🇹
👉 Tocca ferro e buona fortuna! On AmStramGram, we don't judge: we offer tools to play with chance (dice, wheel, heads or tails) or to give meaning to the day (horoscope, luck of the day).
No need to touch iron to try your luck!
Test your Luck of the Day or your Horoscope to see if the stars are with you — or roll the Dice to challenge pure chance.
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