Witches have always been part of our cultural heritage. However, today we mostly think of them as cartoonish antagonists with green skin, pointy hats and sinister laughter.
Few people know that today witches are representatives of a recognized religion. Those who identify as witches often adhere to Wicca, which was recognized as a legitimate religion by the US Court of Appeals in 1986.
Wicca grew out of witchcraft
While witchcraft usually has nothing to do with religion, it still inspired Wicca. Founded by Gerald Gardner, Wicca is a religion that combines ancient pagan rituals and the worship of several deities. Wiccans believe in the power of Mother Earth, reincarnation, and the importance of maintaining balance in everything. They also believe in spirits and often turn to them for help and advice.
Dark magic
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A negative attitude towards witchcraft and witches forced the followers of Wicca to stop calling themselves witches. They call themselves Wiccans.
The followers of Wicca oppose the use of dark magic and magic designed to harm. Wicca discourages people from hurting others physically or emotionally.
Wiccans believe in an ethical guideline called the "Threefold Law," which says that no matter what a person wishes or does to someone, the same will come back to him three times.
Fairy tales are not entirely true
At least those tales that were created by the brothers Grimm and the studio "Disney". We grew up believing that witches are evil and fairies are amazing creatures who bring light and always come to the rescue.
In reality, however, Irish, Scottish and English folklore speaks differently. Fairies are extremely harmful creatures that live under the hills and kidnap children. Some travelers can also get lost and find themselves in the magical world of fairies, in which time goes differently. After spending several days visiting the fairies, they return home to find out that hundreds of years have passed since their disappearance.
Wiccans don't marry
Instead, the followers of Wicca perform a Handfasting ceremony, during which their hands are symbolically joined together for a kind of short-term marriage. The ceremony binds two people for one year and one day.
After that, they can separate or marry for a long time. In addition, during a permanent ceremony, that is, an analogue of a wedding, the Wiccans promise to be together as long as they love each other, and not until death do them part.
Wiccans have a sunny paradise
The Wiccan paradise is called the Land of Eternal Summer. There is no hell in Wicca, so all souls go straight to heaven, where they decide whether to return to Earth and live another life as part of their reincarnation cycle, or stay in the Land of Eternal Summer and help with the acceptance of new souls into paradise.
Wiccans are not afraid of death and see it more as a transition to a new world, and not as the end of everything.
Men can also be witches
Women have always been considered more vulnerable to the "dark forces", which is why historically women were called witches.
The medieval ecclesiastical inquisition persecuted witches without gender discrimination. The inquisitors hunted everyone, including men and children. Approximately 157 people were burned at the stake during the Würzburg Witch Trial.
Not a single witches burned in Salem
This may come as a surprise to most as Salem is one of the most famous witch-hunts in history. However, witches were not burned in Salem as in France, Italy, Germany and the rest of continental Europe.
As in all American colonies, burning people alive was prohibited by English law, so witch hunters had to make do with what was at hand. Most of the accused witches were hanged, except those who were stoned to death.
Approximately 200 people, both men and women, were accused of witchcraft in Salem, and at least 20 of them were executed.
The Book of Shadows does exist
Everyone who has watched the popular TV series Charmed are familiar with the Book of Shadows - a huge tome filled with spells, rituals and potion recipes.
In real life, all Wicca followers have their own "Book of Shadows", which is a kind of diary where all rituals and spells are recorded. These diaries are usually written in a coded language to avoid harassment. They are usually burned after the witch dies.
Witches don't worship the devil
The followers of Wicca are often confused with Satanists, despite the fact that Wiccans do not believe in the devil, because their religion does not even have hell.
The concept of devil and hell is part of Christian theology and never existed in the Wiccan religion.
Nor do Wiccans believe in one omnipotent god, but rather many gods and goddesses, making Wicca a polytheistic religion, such as Buddhism and Hinduism.
Witches use knives for rituals
Almost all Wiccan rituals involve knives, but these are never used for sacrifices. In fact, the Wiccans are all against harming living things, including humans and animals. With a knife, the Wiccans cut through negative energy. Ritual knives are also used to make candle carvings and to chop herbs into potions.
Hope Chikanchi