Mediterranean and Near East · Naples, Italy
Cornicello
Also known as Cornetto, Corno, Curniciello, Italian horn
In Naples a small red horn hangs on necklaces, keyrings and shop doors. It is believed to turn away envy and bad luck, provided, so the saying goes, that someone gives it to you.
The cornicello, “little horn” in Italian, is the great good luck charm of Naples. Usually red, slender and twisted to a point, it is believed to turn away the evil eye and to keep good fortune close.
Where it comes from
Horns stood for strength, abundance and protection in many ancient cultures around the Mediterranean, and the cornicello is usually traced to these old associations. Some writers connect it with the crescent moon or with the horn of plenty, though no single origin can be proven.
The Romans used many amulets against the evil eye, and southern Italy kept such customs alive long after antiquity. Over the centuries Naples made the horn its own, and today it is as much a part of the city’s character as its songs, its saints and its pizza.
Red coral gave the charm its classic colour. The town of Torre del Greco, on the Bay of Naples, has long been famous for coral carving, and coral horns from the region became treasured family pieces, handed down from grandparents to grandchildren.
What it means
In Neapolitan belief the horn guards against the , the evil eye, and against , the bad luck said to follow certain people or careless remarks. Its sharp point is believed to pierce or deflect harmful looks, while red is the colour of life and courage.
Naples has long taken the subject both seriously and playfully. In 1787 the Neapolitan jurist Nicola Valletta published a learned and witty essay on jettatura, often called the first treatise on the subject, and it has been reprinted many times since. Its mixture of earnest belief and gentle irony still captures the city’s attitude rather well.
The horn also has a gesture. Pointing the index and little fingers downwards, the corna, is a traditional way to ward off misfortune when something unlucky is mentioned, much as English speakers might touch wood. Italians, for their part, touch iron, saying tocca ferro. The charm is, in a sense, all of these gestures made permanent and hung on a chain.
Its power, people say, lies in being given: luck is something you receive from someone who wishes you well.
The old rules
Neapolitan tradition has firm opinions about a proper cornicello. The details vary from family to family, but the most common points are these:
- It should be a gift, never bought for yourself.
- It should be red, the colour most closely linked with protection.
- It should be made by hand.
- It should be curved or twisted, and end in a sharp point.
- Some add that it should be hollow, or empty inside.
Many people happily bend these rules today. A horn bought for a loved one, with a few words about its meaning, carries the same affectionate intention, and that intention is really what the rules are about.
How it is worn and kept
Small horns are worn on chains, often alongside a saint’s medal, and larger ones hang from car mirrors, front doors and the counters of shops and bars. They come in every size, from tiny gold charms to horns as long as a forearm.
Coral is soft and sensitive to heat, perfume and household cleaners, so it is best put on last and wiped gently with a damp cloth. Mediterranean red coral is now harvested under strict rules, and many people choose red enamel, glass or ceramic instead. Our guide to materials explains the traditional associations of each.
Variations and relatives
The cornicello is one of a large family of charms against the evil eye. The blue Evil Eye bead looks back at envious glances, the Hamsa raises an open hand, and the Red String relies on the same protective red. Further north, the Horseshoe offers its own answer to the wish for luck.
Nearer home, the crescent Lunula worn by Roman girls is another curved, horn-like shape from Italy’s ancient past, and some see a family resemblance between the two. Both are small, curved and bright, and both were worn close to the body to keep misfortune at bay.
Giving a cornicello
A cornicello is a cheerful gift for a new job, an exam, a first car or a friend leaving home. Given with a warm word, it keeps the Neapolitan tradition exactly as it should be, and it rarely fails to raise a smile. Some people keep one at home, one in the car and one on their keys, just to be sure.
It is a folk charm rather than a religious object, so anyone can wear it with a clear conscience. Explore more talismans for good luck, and you will find that people everywhere have found their own ways to keep misfortune at a polite distance.
taliaris describes beliefs and customs; it makes no claim that a talisman has an effect.