Reference note
At a glance
Mal de ojo is associated with the evil eye. In the Texas-Mexican account summarized by the Texas State Historical Association, excessive admiration directed toward someone considered vulnerable can be understood as a cause of illness. Deliberate hostility is not required in that explanation.
Reference note
Tradition & history
The Texas State Historical Association discusses mal de ojo within a broader system of family, religious, and healing beliefs. The tradition concerns relationships between people as much as an isolated supernatural attack. Its meaning remains connected to the community and account being described.
Reference note
Sources consulted
- Joe S. Graham, “Folk Medicine,” Handbook of Texas Online, Texas State Historical Association.