The portrayal of witches and witchcraft has been very different over the centuries, depending on the culture. But in general, a witch is a woman who, according to popular belief, can bewitch with the help of supernatural powers. It was once believed that the witch had made a pact with the devil from which she derived her power. In any case, witches have been people who stood outside society or were excluded in all kinds of ways until they finally found protection.
Potions
In a fairytale representation of a witch, she is an ugly old woman with long black or gray uncombed hair. She is stooped and very thin and has a pointed chin and a wart on her nose. Her clothes are black and she wears a pointed hat. When a witch is at home she makes magic potions in a large cauldron that hangs above the fire for which she takes the recipes from magic books that are full of cobwebs.
Witches guilty of diseases, misfortunes and disasters?
Much suffering in society is said to have been caused by witchcraft. Especially during the time of the witch hunt, many were accused of witchcraft and anyone could be a witch. If someone was sick, a witch was appointed to bewitch him. If a cow gave too little milk, the neighbor could be a witch. Long droughts or natural disasters and setbacks in agricultural management due to crop diseases or disastrous weather conditions were also said to be due to evil forces and were considered the work of witches. In many cases, someone went to the judge and had the woman picked up. Through torture, such a woman eventually admitted that she was indeed a witch and ended up being burned at the stake. For example, thousands of women, men and even children have been burned for over two hundred years.
Witches are people outside society
Despite the different images of what a witch is, some characteristics are almost the same for all cultures. Witches almost always lived isolated from the community. They were usually outsiders who for one reason or another no longer had a place in the traditional community. Those eligible for this were mainly women outside the family context who were by definition outsiders. Among them, those who isolated themselves even further due to character or physical defect or strange lifestyle were at great risk.
Witches through the ages
Christianity
According to non-Christians, a form of witchcraft already took place within Christianity. Jesus performed miracles by healing the sick, which was considered magic by non-Christians. The Church introduced sacraments and the Eucharist, which to non-believers actually resembled magical rites.
Middle Ages
In the Middle Ages, witches are said to have entered into an alliance with the devil and flew to nightly gatherings where they honored their masters and mocked religious ceremonies.
Sixteenth and seventeenth centuries
In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the image of a witch was strongly influenced by myths, fairy tales, popular belief and especially by the witch persecutions. The word witch was rarely used at that time, with magic or witch or evil woman taking its place.
Eighteenth Century
In the course of the seventeenth century, witchcraft was finally viewed more realistically. The fear of the devil was less great than in previous centuries and there was a need for tangible evidence. What was previously seen as the result of evil forces, with evidence obtained through torture, was questioned by legal experts. Ultimately, in the eighteenth century, this led to legal protection for those previously considered witches.
read more
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- Witches’ Sabbath in the distant past and Belgian present
- Witch persecution is a diabolical affair