Curse

A curse is an expressed wish that misfortune or adversity will strike a person, place, or object.

These wishes are known by many names, including imprecation, malediction, execration, malison, anathema, or commination. In many belief systems, the curse is thought to have a causative force. This means the words or the ritual itself are believed to actually cause the bad event to happen. Some people believe a curse is made effective by a supernatural power. This power might come from a god, a spirit, or a natural force. Others view a curse as a product of magic, such as witchcraft or dark magic. In these contexts, a curse might also be called a hex or a jinx. To end a curse, people perform a process called "breaking" or "removal." This often requires elaborate rituals or specific prayers to dispel the spell.

Different cultures have developed unique traditions and specific terms for curses.

In Hindu culture, a Sage or Rishi is believed to possess the power to both bless and curse. Examples include the Shaapa, or curse, placed by Rishi Bhrigu on King Nahusha. In African American hoodoo, people speak of the jinx, the crossed condition, or foot track magic. This involves placing cursed objects in a victim's path to be activated by walking over them. Middle Eastern and Mediterranean traditions include the belief in the "evil eye," which can result from envy. To protect themselves, people use dark blue circular glass items that resemble a human eye. In German traditions, the term "hexing" comes from the word for witchcraft. Historically, a hex might be used to cause cows to go dry or horses to go lame.

History shows that curses have often been used to protect property or sacred sites.

Ancient Egyptians were known to place curse inscriptions on markers to protect temple or tomb goods. There is a widespread belief that curses are linked to the violation of mummified corpses. The "Curse of the Pharaohs" is a famous example involving the tomb of Tutankhamun. While 19th-century British journalists may have sensationalized these stories, the practice of using inscriptions for protection was real. Ancient Greeks also used physical objects for cursing. They created curse tablets by writing text onto lead sheets.

These lead objects were sometimes used against enemies during legal trials.

Religious texts contain many significant examples of curses used to enforce laws or express divine will. In the Bible, God is depicted cursing the serpent, the earth, and Cain. The Hebrew Bible also contains long lists of curses directed at those who transgress the Law. The Ten Plagues of Egypt can be seen as curses acting on the instruction of the God of Israel. In the New Testament, Jesus curses a barren fig tree and pronounces woes against certain cities and groups. Curses in these texts can be applied to people, cities, or even the concept of sin itself.

Cursed objects are items believed to bring bad luck or unusual phenomena to their owners.

These objects are often thought to have been stolen or looted from a sanctuary. The Hope Diamond is a well-known example of an object said to carry a curse. Another example is Busby's stoop chair, which was reportedly cursed by a murderer named Thomas Busby. In Norse mythology, the dwarf Andvari cursed a golden ring called Andvaranaut. He did this after the god Loki took his gold. The ring was said to ruin the life of anyone who possessed it, eventually leading to the death of Hreiðmarr.

In literature and theater, curses serve as important plot devices to drive a story forward.

A character might place a hex on another to create conflict or tragedy. For example, in *Romeo and Juliet*, Mercutio curses both the Montagues and Capulets. In *Sleeping Beauty*, the fairy Carabosse curses Princess Aurora to die on her sixteenth birthday. These fictional curses are different from actual spells because they are used by authors to create tension. They help explain why characters face sudden changes in fortune or destiny.

Modern culture often uses the idea of curses to explain patterns in sports. Fans sometimes attribute long periods without a championship to a specific curse. The Chicago Cubs dealt with the "Curse of the Billy Goat" for many years before winning in 2016. The Boston Red Sox faced the "Curse of the Bambino," named after Babe Ruth, for 86 years. They finally broke the drought in 2004 with a historic comeback. These examples show how the concept of a curse remains a way for people to discuss luck and unexpected events.