Okay, so witches are actually human, but you have to admit; the song is catchy!
Welcome my loverlies!!! Did you miss me? I missed you! This week things are going to take an interesting turn. Our lovely vixen Buffyrules01 will NOT be posting this Wednesday. Why you ask? Because I've sent her on an assignment with our other vixen, ScarC. The pair will be posting back to back posts on the same topic when they have finished, so you are all in for double the excitement! Until then, you are stuck with me, and today we are talking about witches.
Now, I believe that vampires, werewolves, and witches are probably the most popular supernatural beings. They are everywhere in literature and media, and Harry Potter and Buffy the Vampire Slayer even have all three! Because of this, there are massive amounts of information and history involved with the trio and we cannot discuss everything in one simple post! We know this with Buffyrules' column. So, what do you do when you have all this information brimming before you? You right what you can!
So here we go!
In many myths and legends, witches are evil, dishonest, or dangerous. Some cultures do not consider them fully human. If not evil by nature, witches may be possessed by demons or wicked spirits determined to harm humans. Yet ordinary men and women may learn magic for the purpose of hurting others. Such people are sometimes called sorcerers and sorceresses rather than wizards and witches. African tradition distinguishes between good magicians, or medicine men, and bad magicians, or sorcerers. Both types are distinct from the nonhuman witch.
During the Middle Ages in Europe, the belief in witches was widespread. Witches were said to be worshipers of the Devil. Thousands of women and some men were tortured and executed after being accused of witchcraft. The English who settled in North America brought along a fear of witches. A witch hunt in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692 resulted in the execution of 19 people. Even today, accusations of witchcraft can lead to violence in some parts of the world.
Not all witches and wizards are evil. Some myths and folktales feature good spirits or magicians who help people. These are said to practice "white magic" rather than the "black magic" of the evil witches and wizards. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the modern Arthurian legends identify Morgan Le Fay as the enchantress known as Nimuë, or the Lady of the Lake. In this role, she tricks Arthur's magician Merlin into falling in love with her. After learning Merlin's secrets, she imprisons him behind invisible walls.
Witches take many forms. The traditional image in European and American folklore is that of a wrinkled old woman, perhaps wearing a black robe and a cone-shaped hat. These witches communicate with evil spirits called familiars, which often take the form of a black cat. According to legend, Japanese witches have owls as familiars, and African witches have monkeys.
Flight is often associated with witchcraft. In American folktales, witches usually travel through the night skies on enchanted broomsticks. In some parts of Africa, witches are said to fly on bats. African witches often take the form of animals and eat human flesh. In the mythology of some cultures, witches can change into animals to prey upon their victims.
Witches and wizards continue to fascinate the public and inspire people to use them in novel and media. The Harry Potter Series is probably the most well known when it comes to witchcraft and wizardry (ha! pun!). Buffy fans will always remember Willow and her witchiness, and now we have Bonnie on the Vampire Diaries.
It's interesting to see how so many mythical and supernatural beings can all come together. Whether they're fighting against each other, or they're best friends with each other.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of this. If I did then I'd be even more fantastic than I already am.
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