The cornicello is a traditional charm that symbolises luck, love and above all protects against the evil eye. Shaped like a little red horn (which translates to cornicello), Italians have been wearing and hanging the cornicello for centuries.
Sometimes referred to as a ‘corno’, ‘cornetto’, ‘cornicello’, a lot of people may possess one as a souvenir, however it would be a shame to overlook the rich historic origins of this iconic charm.
There is evidence that the cornicello dates back thousands of years to Roman times, founded in Pompeii and Rome. The colour and shape of the iconic red cornicello resembles a chilli pepper. Whilst it is an accessory for most, you can typically find the charm hanging on front doors of a house or even in a car. The charm holds great history even down to the significance of its typical red colour. During the Middle Ages, the colour red had a double meaning: it symbolised victory over enemies, including the devil, and it symbolised good luck. The red colour itself symbolises a hot chilli pepper, which also symbolises burning the evil away. The reason why you may see this charm on someone’s necklace, front door, or car, is because they are burning away the malocchio and protecting themselves.
Today, the cornicello is often worn as jewellery in Italy as it symbolises good luck and protection. Above all, the cornicello is infamous for protecting us from the malocchio (evil eye) and promote good fortune. Not only are cornicello charms red in today’s society, but there are also many different colours!
Whilst there are many superstitions relating toward the iconic cornicello, those stories are for another day in one of our blogs.
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