128 Items Tagged

Witches

Lille Skensved, Denmark

Heksens Hårbånd (The Witch’s Headband)

Legend says an angry old witch’s hair ribbon turned to stone, now streaked across the rock she threw at the church.

Newchurch-in-Pendle, England

The Eye of God at Newchurch in Pendle

This mysterious eye has a debated purpose.

Lancaster, South Carolina

Lancaster County Courthouse

This former courthouse is allegedly the site of the last witch trial in the United States.

Årsgång is the Swedish tradition of a solitary, night-time walk in the forest is just one of many spooky folk stories surrounding the New Year.

Spooky Winter Holiday Lore: Our Favorite Reads

From Christmas goblins to a New Year’s ghost-horse, these creepy tales are sure to keep you in the holiday spirit.

Roxanne Hoorn December 27, 2024

A 1914 illustration by John Bauer from the Swedish fairy-tale collection <em>Bland Tomtar och Troll</em>, meaning "Among Gnomes and Trolls."

The Real-Life Origins of Taboo Fairy Romance

Long before <em>A Court of Thorns and Roses,</em> 17th-century Swedish courts investigated supernatural love.

Andrew Coletti December 17, 2024

Ballineale, Ireland

Loughcrew Cairns

These Neolithic burial mounds and a still-intact passage tomb may have solar calendar significance on the spring and autumn equinoxes.

Baltimore, Maryland

Witch Board Museum Baltimore

This small museum celebrates the history of the Ouija board and its connection to the city of Baltimore.

In Mexico, today's <em>teyollohcuani</em> is a terrifying, shape-shifting, vampire-like witch, but the figure has deep precolonial roots and a complex evolution.

Mexico's Vampire Witch Has a Twisted Origin Story

The terrifying teyollohcuani is a shape-shifter of ancient indigenous lore, dark colonial history, and pop culture.

Roxanne Hoorn October 23, 2024

Christopher Lee as Lord Summerisle.

The Greatest Witch Movie Ever Made

Why do modern witches embrace "The Wicker Man"?

Pat Cassels October 23, 2024

Nihommatsu, Japan

Kurozuka (Black Tomb)

Local legend claims that this is the final resting place of an infamous cannibal hag.

Were the Salem Witch Trials Ruff on Dogs?

The 17th-century event claimed at least 25 human lives. Whether any dogs were killed is unclear—but accusations against them had a familiar theme.

Bridget Marshall October 21, 2024

Witch Hat Intake Tower

An adorable intake tower with a “witch hat” stands in the Edo River.

Aldeburgh, England

Moot Hall

One of the best preserved Tudor public buildings in Britain was once used for witch trials.

Few folk figures have endured like Baba Yaga, who has been described as witch, mentor, villain, trickster, and now, perhaps, a feminist icon.

Who Is Baba Yaga?

Trickster, mentor, probable goddess—Slavic folklore's most famous villain is so much more than a witch.

Kris Spisak September 30, 2024

Forres, Scotland

Forres Witches Stone

A reminder of the gruesome punishments delivered to those who were found guilty during Scotland's witchcraft trials.

Defiled Baptismal Font

This historical font became infamous after a maid was allegedly tricked into urinating in it, leading to her tragic death sentence.

Salisbury, England

The Witches Tree

Along a Roman road flanked with beech trees hides a tale of wizardry and xenophobia.

Køge Huskors Memorial

This marker commemorates a long-lasting historical haunting and demonic possession that led to one of Denmark's worst witch trials.