Salem Witches

 What is a witch?

According to the Free Dictionary the noun witch refers to:

1. A person, especially a woman, claiming or popularly believed to possess magical powers and practice sorcery.

2. A believer or follower of Wicca; a Wiccan.

3. a. Offensive An old woman considered to be ugly or frightening.

b. A woman considered to be spiteful or overbearing.

c. Informal A woman or girl considered to be charming or fascinating.

4. One particularly skilled or competent at one's craft: "A witch of a writer, [she] is capable of developing an intensity that verges on ferocity" (Peter S. Prescott).

All of the above can apply to those women who were accused of beings witches during the 17^th’ century’s Salem Witch Trials in New England. It also applies to the men who suffered at the hands of those determined to rid their communities of these evil people.

Overall, the trials which resulted in the murder of 20 people and the death of many more in captivity began after two girls with inexplicable, incurable fits started blaming others as being witches responsible for their condition.

Once accused, the people suspected of being witched were given little, if any respect. After failing witch tests they were either hung to show humiliation or crushed with stones. They were also buried in shallow unmarked graves like those found in the Burying Point Cemetery in Salem in the Essex County of Massachusetts.

Some of the victims of these religiously-induced Salem witch trials included:

Bridget Bishop - An outspoken woman known for running a guest house and for being vocal about her family affairs. She was accused of being a witch because she didn't uphold the religious ways required of her.

George Burroughs - He was the only puritan minister who was executed in the trials. He'd served the ministry in Salem and had gotten involved in the social conflict which could explain why he was targeted.

Martha and Giles Corey - The couple was accused of committing witchcraft. The wife, though a staunch Christian, had been suspected and associated with witchcraft because she'd condemned the killings of the people. She was accused before her husband and after conviction, was hanged. Her husband, Giles, was accused because of association with his wife. He denied the charges and the court pressed him. The pressing was to lay stones on him until he pleaded guilty to the charge. After three days of pressing without a plea, Giles Corey died.

Sarah Good - Convicted of witchcraft, she was sentenced to hand and the actual location of her body is unknown. This is because accused witches were not accorded a church burial and their bodies were sometimes thrown in a ditch with nobody to claim them.

To learn more you can check out these resources:

The PhysickBook of Deliverance Dane

Penguin Book of Witches





























 

It's Witch Season!

One of the most common folklore motifs for women is that of the witch, the sorceress. And Halloween is definitely one of her most popular times of year.  Also known as wise women since the medieval times, they have been feared for their ability to create and use powers of magic power to form potions and ointments that can dramatically change those they come into contact with.

There is a lot of folklore that surrounds the appearance of a witch.  Her pointed hat, for instance is more than just an accessory.  The point has actually been known as “the cone of power or wisdom”.  It is said that the hat helps power flow from a higher source into the mind of the witch. 

The green face of a witch is another common feature. A witch’s green face is said to originate from the beatings they received during medieval witch hunts.  Old, unattractive women were the primary targets during these witch hunts.  Until they confessed their participation in evil magic, the women would be beaten and dragged through the streets. This is what turned their faces green, blue and black with bruises. 

Commonly associated with the witch is the black cat.  Prior to the black cat's relationship with a witch, they were actually known for good luck.  However, the black cat quickly turned into a symbol of fear once their loyalty and faithful companionship to witches was redefined.

The broom, a common household object in medieval Europe became another accessory. Some believe that witches cleaned their brooms using hallucinogenic herbs that had magical powers that could only be rubbed in during a broom ride.

Here are four popular witches:

Circe-  A mythical sorceress remembered in Odyssey.  She was skilled in the magic of metamorphosis and the power of illusion.  Her most known feat was that of  transforming Odysseus’ men into swine. She did so by replacing their wine with potion.  She turned them back into men only after Odysseus agreed to sleep with her. 

Wendy the Good Little Witch- We all know Casper the friendly ghost but what about his companion Wendy the Good Little Witch?  Wendy was introduced as a fictional cartoon character by Harvey Comics in the 20^th century. Contrary to being mean and cold hearted, she only uses her magic for good.  TV episodes about the same character revolve around her resistance to her aunts who wanted her to use her powers for evil.  

Mabaa- Known to be the most powerful witch featured in the Japanese comics Soul Eater.  She, along with her fellow witches, has the natural ability to perform magic used for destruction.  She also possesses the power of Soul Protect which disguises her soul as ordinary to hide herself from the witch hunts. 

Fenella Feverfew- A young female witch who is fascinated by forbidden spells and potions.  Her character originated from a book series and grew into a film titled The Worst Witch.  Nicknamed “Fenny”, she is best at using spells to get her and her friend out of complicated situations.

How many witches do you know?

This post was co-written by Caitlin Petrucelli. Thanks, Caitlin!