WitchcraftHistory, superstition, fear and prejudice

Definition of a WitchAccording to Merriam-Webster Dictionary

1: one that is credited with usually malignant supernatural powers; especially : a woman practicing usually black witchcraft often with the aid of a devil or familiar : sorceress— compare worlock

2: an ugly old woman : Hag

3: a charming or alluring girl or woman

4: a practitioner of Wicca

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/witch

Can you add anything to this definition?

What are some stories of Witchcraft you are familiar with?Is a “Fairy Godmother” different from a “Witch”? Why?

Hansel and Gretel of Grimm’s Fairy Tales

Are witches always bad?

A Brief Overview of the History of WitchcraftSalem is only one example of a worldwide hysteria.

The witch was a respected member of the community in more primitive times (to 1000 A.D.), and they were valued, not feared, since they helped ease pain and healed people and their animals. The fear factor came much later. Witches were feared because they could do things that the majority of other people could not do (Glass, 19). For example, witches used hypnosis to make childbirth pain free. The Christian Church taught that such powers could only come from the Devil. Telepathy, faith healing, pre-cognition, clairvoyance, and astral-traveling was all part of witchcraft in the past, as was the knowledge of plants and healing herbs. In primitive times religion and magic were virtually the same. Priests were magicians and magicians were priests.

Some documented trials in England

Native American

MidewiwinCongregations of healers in Native American tribes. Are sometimes called “Shaman” but that is a term that was not used by Native people and can be considered offensive by Native American tribes.

A religious leader who knows about both the spirit world and herbal remedies.

They could prescribe specific plants that could be worn by the afflicted in a medicine pouch that would ask for the mercy and protection of the four sacred directions as well as the protection of the Great Spirit to heal the sick or wounded.

It was often believed that they could cure the sick, locate game, or see the future.

Witch DoctorOriginally a healer who treated ailments caused by witches. Today the term is usually used to refer to third-world healers who use traditional healing methods to heal the ill rather than contemporary medicine. In Africa, Shamans were

first referred to as “Witch Doctors” in 1836 by Robert Montgomery Martin. It is not considered the correct term for a healer among African tribes.In Africa, the tahkathi, is a spiteful person who uses powers to cause harm to others. A Sangoma, similar to a fortune teller, detects illness and predicts the future. The inyanga (sometimes mistaken for a witch doctor) heal illness and injury.

African

Kitsune-tsukai and Kitsune-mochiJapanese

Witches in Japan were known to employ animals such as snakes and foxes as their familiars. These animals were bribed to do the witches bidding.

In Japanese folklore foxes had the ability to change shape, create allusions, and posses human forms.

The fox its-self is not a fearful creature, but it’s abilities are fearful. Once in the control of a human the fox can become a fearful creature because of the way the human uses the foxes’ power.

The Tale of the Grateful Foxes

VoodouHaitian

A religious system that is a combination of voodou loa (spirits) became interchangeable with various Catholic saints.

The word for voodoo does not exist in rural Haiti

Adherents of Voodoo consider themselves Roman Catholic. They have a strong connection to their ancestors. They distinguish between service to their family spirits and the practice of magic and/or sorcery.

Family spirits are often called Loua and can come to people in dreams and show their displeasure by making people sick.

The Loua of one family cannot help or hurt people belonging to another family

Many believe that Loua can take over the bodies of children. They are also known to cause trances in adults when they show themselves.Spelled Voodou or Voodoo

SlavicBaba Yaga She is known for her wisdom, as

well as for her tendency to kidnap(and eat?) small children. She lives in a hut that

stands onchicken legs.Often gives the hero of the story anecessary object to continueon with the quest.

Depending on the country and the folk story Baba Yaga is known by different names and different characteristics.

In some countries “Baba Jaga” is known to live in a gingerbread house – Sound familiar?

Many cultures have stories that include supernatural powers. In many of these cultures these powers have never been thought of as witchcraft. The people who possess these supernatural powers are sometimes very respected members of society. In other countries fear is the main emotion directed towards people who possess “supernatural” abilities.

After your study of the Salem Witch Trials and this short power point, have you learned anything new about the history of witchcraft? Have you learned anything new about another culture? Have you learned anything new about your own cultural beliefs/perspectives?