Have You Seen the Monkeys in Albania?

Not long after our arrival in Albania, I began noticing something that seemed odd. After seeing it a handful more times, I had to find out about it. What’s with all the stuffed animals hanging, impaled, tied up and otherwise displayed on, around and from buildings in Albania?

I don’t know anyone that doesn’t have at least one superstitious belief, either consciously or unconsciously. Saying, “Bless you” or “God bless you” after someone sneezes, for example, is supposedly hundreds of years of a belief that when someone sneezes, their soul briefly leaves the body. “Knock on wood”, crossing one’s fingers and eating certain foods on New Year’s Day are others. Certainly, many today believe that ANY form of religion is superstition. Our lives are filled with examples.

After a couple hours of reading articles on this topic, I have some understanding of why it is being done and a timeframe of when it most likely began. What isn’t clear is who started it or where. Apparently, there is some mystery surrounding the practice, and even some that are protective against it being pointed out. That being a statement from at least two writers that investigated the phenomenon.

There is no specific animal, creature or effigy that is used. Teddy Bears seem to be the ones most represented and reported on, but as my own pictures show, they aren’t the only ones. In Shqip, the Albanian language, they are called, ‘majmune’, or ‘monkeys’, in reference to any soft toy.

Why are the monkeys displayed? Some say to ward off evil spirits like greed, jealousy and malevolence. Others gave more specific responses and examples. One being that a majmune, or another superstitious effigy, a scarecrow, is placed on the site of a new building or a remodel to prevent neighbors from looking upon the building with jealousy or “the evil eye”. The “evil eye” causes someone to want what you have and potentially destroy or take it from you.

More than one author confirmed that the practice is not tied to any specific religion, or region of the country. The custom can certainly be given a parallel reference and meaning to other items displayed on homes dating back to prehistoric times. Bunches of garlic cloves hung from windows and doors for example. But why the cuddly stuffed animals, and when did it start?

No one I have found has a definite Who, When or Where. It is believed to have started in the 90’s after the fall of Communism. All forms of religion and anything otherwise deemed “superstitious” by the Communist government were illegal and strictly enforced. That may be where some of the secrecy and unknown origin are from.

I, for one, am glad to know that our new family, the Albanian people, the shqiptare, are not haters of the soft, cuddly teddy bear. The plush toys that sometimes look gruesomely displayed are just another way of reminding us to not covet our neighbor’s belongings, and to protect them if you do.

I leave you with a sincere “Goodbye” (God be with ye) https://www.etymonline.com/word/good-bye and the advice to never mock or laugh too heartily at another’s beliefs or superstitions. You may unknowingly be propagating some of your own.Write your text here...