Query: Spitting in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding."

[Gerald Cohen]

   Many thanks for the clarification that spitting in Greek tradition
was a custom originally intended to drive demons away (hence: good
luck would result).
Also: that this is a Jewish custom too (to drive away the evil eye);
my impression is that as a Jewish custom this is much less practiced
and still less believed.

    Comedian Michael Myers has apparently parodied this custom in his
Saturday Night Live number in which he portrays a Jewish woman; I
don't remember her (fictitious) name, but I do remember that he based
the portrayal on his (real-life) mother-in-law, who in real life has
taken the portrayal in good humor and even seems a bit flattered by
all the attention.  Anyway, each time Michael Myers did this
portrayal, he would say "Pooh, pooh, pooh,"  which I assume is the
pretend spitting to keep away some malevolent force.  This always
struck me as humorous, but I never realized it might be based on an
actual custom until last year, when I heard an elderly Jewish lady
say in a serious vein "Pooh, pooh, pooh" as if to keep away bad luck.

    But one important question remains: In what way does spitting
drive away demons/the evil eye/bad luck?  I can only guess. German
Hals- und Beinbruch (May you break you neck and leg) is a standard
expression of good luck, based on the medieval superstitious idea
that any devils in the area will figure that the recipient of this
curse has enough troubles, and the devil(s) will seek a happier/more
optimistic victim to zap.  But the person receiving the curse knows
that actually the opposite (good luck) is intended, and the curse is
uttered only to mislead any devils in the vicinity, who, though truly
malevolent, are also incredibly stupid.

    Now for the guess: Maybe any devils in the vicinity of the person
being spat upon would similarly reason that that person was already
wretched enough and that a happier, more optimistic victim should be
sought. Or is there an entirely different explanation?

Gerald Cohen