My mother, GG (great grandmother) died in 2005. Before she died, she gave me a ball of red yarn and told me it was now my duty as the matriarch in the family to make sure that red yarn was tied to the crib of every baby born into the family. She said that it was protection from the evil in this world, to keep the baby safe. During her lifetime, she cut strands of this ball of red year and tied it to the crib of every newborn.
Being more modern and forward thinking than my mother raised in “the old country,” I still did not debate this tradition and ritual. Instead of having the yarn visible, I tied it to the springs under the mattress so that no one would see the red yarn. After all, I cannot imagine it has to be visible to keep the baby safe.
A long friend just had a new grandchild. Yes, the tradition is American too. I searched the internet to find out more about this superstition.
I found a great article by Christine Green, who says this is one of Jewish superstitions in “A Brief Look at Some Popular Jewish Superstitions.”
She says, “according to the words found in a 13th century German-Jewish treatise entitled The Book of the Pious, Sefer Hasidim wrote: One should not believe in superstitions, but it is best to be heedful of them’ wise words indeed.” She explains:
“But whichever way they are regarded, fascinating, intriguing, mind-boggling, superstitions have formed part of our lives for centuries and depicted in many dictionaries as – ‘a way of being in control of a situation’, ‘an irrational fear without little if any substance’. Psychologists who have undertaken studies into the role of superstitions, have defined them as ‘often a means of pacifying what could well prove to be an anxious occasion for an individual, empowering them with a greater sense of confidence in their ability’.”
Apparently, this superstition has to do with warding off the evil eye.
In broad terms the Evil Eye is frightening and something which most Jews live in awe of with parents of newborn babies going to great lengths to protect their child. Hence the practice of tying a red ribbon or string to an infant’s crib or in some instances their underwear to ensure safekeeping from bad vibes.
Historians have documented that red was the chosen colour simply because it was used when creating the original Temple, the red thread derived from a certain species of worm and it was Rabbi S R Hirsch who pointed out that although the worm may be the lowest form of creation without its thread the Temple would never have been built. And so whenever mankind looks at the red ribbon, he is reminded that a person is really as humble as a worm, this humbleness being ultimately the main weapon against the ‘evil eye’.
Now, I understand GG better. She said she did not want jealousy to come to hurt the baby. That there were those who would do harm to others in this world just for the sake of doing harm. So what harm is there in a strip of red yarn.
It seems that, on the internet, this superstition is leading adults into wearing red yarn on
their wrist, or at least under their clothes on a daily basis.
I think I might cut some strips off this special yarn and tie it under all my children’s and grandchildren’s beds. Why only protect the babies?
Our family has few heirlooms, having become displaced persons after surviving the Holocaust. Our humble ball of red yarn is greater than all of the riches we could pass to future generations. It has the tradition and ritual of our beloved GG attached to it.
Joy,
Mema
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