natioal geographic

Folk magic, also known as "hexerei," has played an important role in the Pennsylvania Dutch culture for centuries. Pennsylvania Dutch, a term used to describe the German-speaking settlers in Pennsylvania, brought with them a rich tradition of folk magic practices. **Folk magic in Pennsylvania Dutch culture** encompasses various beliefs, rituals, and charms aimed at protecting against evil, promoting good luck, healing ailments, and even influencing the weather. Many of these practices are rooted in a blend of Christian and German folklore, incorporating elements of herbalism, divination, and sympathetic magic. One of the most well-known aspects of Pennsylvania Dutch folk magic is the use of hex signs. These colorful and intricate designs are thought to ward off evil spirits and protect properties from harm.

Among the Ancient Greeks the doorways and windows of buildings were felt to be particularly vulnerable to evil. On churches and castles, gargoyles or other grotesque faces and figures would be carved to frighten away witches and other malign influences. Those other openings, fireplaces or chimneys, may also have been carved. Rather than figural carvings, these seem to have been random simple geometric or letter carvings.

That way the marks would be unseen by the casual observer, presumed witch or evil spirit, but still provide protection for the family at the same time. Last February, graffiti in a Cambridgeshire church revealed a memorial for three sisters from a tenant farmer family who died in a 1515 plague, a history not remembered anywhere now aside from the family s writing on a church wall.

These colorful and intricate designs are thought to ward off evil spirits and protect properties from harm. Hex signs typically feature symbols such as stars, hearts, birds, and tulips which are believed to bring different blessings or protections. **Herbal remedies** also play a significant role in Pennsylvania Dutch folk magic.

Witches' marks: public asked to seek ancient scratchings in buildings

The public is being encouraged to help map Britain’s historic obsession with the paranormal by searching for ancient scratchings in old buildings, used as charms against witchcraft and evil spirits.

Historic England would like help to find more of the marks, typically concentrated around entry points seen as vulnerable such as windows, chimneys and doorways.

Faint symbols have been recorded in buildings and sites across England, including Shakespeare’s birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon, the Tower of London, and Wookey Hole caves in Somerset – where a tall stalagmite has been shown to tourists for centuries as the petrified body of a witch.

The patterns include flower-like designs made with compasses and dividers, pentangles, intertwined Vs and Ms for the Virgin Mary, and tangles of lines which it was believed confused spirits who attempted to follow them. Tadpole-shaped scorch marks made with a candle flame have also been found.

Witches’ marks on a barn door in Laxfield, Suffolk. Photograph: Conceal Reveal

Historic England’s historic buildings inspector, Nick Molyneux, said: “More efficient oil lamps in the 19th century seem finally to have banished witches. We see them from the 16th century on, often in buildings already centuries old, but there could well be earlier and later marks that just haven’t been recorded.”

Molyneux, who spotted a mass of marks on the mantelpiece of an old timber-framed house in Warwickshire this week, recorded witches’ marks at Shakespeare’s birthplace several years ago, on timbers of the staircase leading to the cellar. He said: “They possibly date from the period when the house became a pub, and the beer would have been stored there. You certainly wouldn’t have wanted witches turning your beer sour: that really would have been a disaster.

“Basically the marks have been recorded where people have taken the trouble to go and look for them. They are well recorded in many churches, but much less well so in secular buildings. We just don’t have enough data to say whether they are more concentrated in certain parts of the country, or whether patterns are regional, so these are questions we would really like help in answering.”

Confusingly, carpenters’ marks indicating how the timbers should be assembled, masons’ marks, and doodles by bored apprentices are often found in the same buildings or even on the same timbers and stone.

Archaeologists examine the markings at Knole in Kent. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA

The marks coincide with a period when most interiors lit by rush lights or tallow candles would have been extremely dark once night fell, and when belief in witchcraft and trials of unfortunates accused of it were at their height. The first specific law against witchcraft was only introduced under Henry VIII in 1542, and in the 17th century, James I was preoccupied with witchcraft and wrote a treatise on the subject. Recent conservation work revealed a mass of witches’ marks carved into the timbers of rooms which were prepared for his visit at Knole, a palatial house in Kent now owned by the National Trust.

The last woman jailed for witchcraft in England was Scottish-born Helen Duncan, a medium arrested while holding a seance in 1944, and accused of betraying war secrets. She was prosecuted for fraud and witchcraft, and served nine months in Holloway prison.

The witches’ marks are properly known as apotropaic marks, from the Greek word for avoiding evil.

Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, said: “They really fire the imagination and can teach us about previously held beliefs and common rituals. Ritual marks were cut, scratched or carved into our ancestors’ homes and churches in the hope of making the world a safer, less hostile place.”

Champion writes that “the medieval church was a far more interactive space than we may once have believed.” So while looking back on the graffiti, it can appear like a desecration, the spirit behind it was one of devotion. Rarely were these marks and messages removed or written over by other parish members, showing a sign of respect and acceptance. Curiously, many of the graffiti traces discovered by Champion relate to curses, magic, and more pagan practices than are often connected with Christianity.

The use of herbs for medicinal purposes has been a longstanding tradition, with practitioners using plants like chamomile, lavender, and St. John's wort to treat various ailments. Additionally, herbs such as agrimony, elderberry, and verbena are used in protective charms and spells. Divination is another important aspect of Pennsylvania Dutch folk magic. Practices such as **powwowing** or "brauche" involve the recitation of prayers, combined with gestures and the use of physical objects like books or pieces of paper with specific verses written on them. Powwowers, also known as "brauchers," claim to have the ability to heal, foretell the future, and provide spiritual guidance. The prevalence of folk magic in Pennsylvania Dutch culture can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the isolated nature of the early Pennsylvania Dutch communities allowed their traditions and practices to flourish without much external influence. Additionally, the strong emphasis on oral tradition ensured that these practices were passed down from generation to generation. Today, folk magic continues to be practiced among the Pennsylvania Dutch, albeit to a lesser extent. While the modern world has brought advancements in medicine and technology, many individuals still turn to folk magic for its traditional and cultural significance. Hex signs can still be found in various parts of Pennsylvania Dutch country, and there are individuals who offer powwowing services and create herbal remedies. In conclusion, **folk magic remains an integral part of Pennsylvania Dutch culture**. Its roots in German folklore and Christian beliefs have shaped unique practices that have been passed down through the generations. Whether it be through the use of hex signs, herbal remedies, or divination techniques, the folk magic of the Pennsylvania Dutch continues to be a treasured tradition..

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