The Evolution of the Wicked Witch Broom: From Myth to Modern Interpretations

The wicked witch's broom is a mysterious and iconic tool used by witches in various folklore and literature. This broom is not your ordinary household cleaning tool. Instead, it is depicted as a means of transportation for witches, allowing them to fly through the night sky with incredible speed and ease. In many tales and legends, the wicked witch's broom is said to possess magical properties. It is often described as being able to defy gravity, allowing witches to soar through the air without any need for wings or other forms of assistance. This broom is also said to be able to carry witches long distances, allowing them to travel to far-off lands in a matter of moments.

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An enchanted object that may or may not have a life of its own the Witch s Broom is the vessel by which a witch soars the skies usually at night and casts her wicked spells, often riding beside her will be her familiar a demon, often anthropomorphic or otherwise animalistic, found in attendance in a witch in the form of a black cat often she is heading to a sabbath or some secluded area to mix her potions. This diverse selection of costumes and accessories are all artfully designed and expertly crafted by our talented team of artists, designers, and developers.

This broom is also said to be able to carry witches long distances, allowing them to travel to far-off lands in a matter of moments. The origins of the wicked witch's broom can be traced back to ancient pagan beliefs and rituals. In pagan traditions, brooms were used as symbols of purification and protection against evil spirits.

Wicked Witch of the West's Broom

Not having access to a 6 foot lathe, I had to get creative. I found a bun foot at Rockler that is very close to the turning on the witch's broom. I had to cut the top part off and drill out the center, but it worked.

The rest of the broom is a wooden closet rod (shaped with a spokeshave), leather, aluminum flashing, and grass from Pottery Barn.

ETA: I'm not happy with the handle and it needs more "pouf" under the leather bands. They are on my list to fxi someday. I know the grass is too long, but it breaks off and sheds like you wouldn't believe. I figure some day it will be the right length on its own.

I also posted a pic of the hat in the Costuming forum.

Cleverlilminx

Well-Known Member

Apollo

Legendary Member

My Ex will be phoning shortly she needs a new one.

Seriously though great job on a cool prop from a classic!!

Bilbo Baggins

Well-Known Member

Not too shabby at all :thumbsup

I have seen some old flat-shovel handles that have that bulb-end that may work.

MaulWalker

Sr Member

Not too shabby at all :thumbsup

I have seen some old flat-shovel handles that have that bulb-end that may work.

I thought of that, but the shovel handles aren't long enough. But I did take a piece of brown paper, laid it out on the floor of Home Depot, and traced a shovel handle. I just haven't used the pattern to modify the handle yet.

Probe Droid

Master Member

MW: Nice job.:thumbsup

Bilbo Baggins

Well-Known Member

I thought of that, but the shovel handles aren't long enough. But I did take a piece of brown paper, laid it out on the floor of Home Depot, and traced a shovel handle. I just haven't used the pattern to modify the handle yet.

IF I ever get around to making mine, I plan to sculpt the whole thing from a 4"x4"x8' ..using a reciprocating saw, files and sandpaper.
It's crude, but, I've used that method to make a totokia war club and I was very happy with the results. ..not very safe..but, got the job done.

hansicle

Sr Member

It's been a while , but when I saw this thread a while ago, I thought it would be neat to make a broom myself. I thought it would make a unique gift for my Mom for mother's day , since she loves the Wizard of OZ, and I already gave her a pair of ruby slippers a few years back.

This is what I managed to do

I noticed while going through the DVD for screen caps, there must have been several different brooms used as the webbing changes size. The burnt broom has a much wider webbed portion, similar to what I replicated, but the pictures from the Munchkin village, the webbing is shorter. Even in the scene where she lights it on fire, the bristles look more like coarse straw, while in others, it drops like grass.

I kinda made my broom a mish mosh of the various incarnations.

Smiling Demon

Sr Member

**Miketrixx**

Active Member

nice work you've done there

MaulWalker

Sr Member

I noticed while going through the DVD for screen caps, there must have been several different brooms used as the webbing changes size. The burnt broom has a much wider webbed portion, similar to what I replicated, but the pictures from the Munchkin village, the webbing is shorter. Even in the scene where she lights it on fire, the bristles look more like coarse straw, while in others, it drops like grass.

I kinda made my broom a mish mosh of the various incarnations.

The variations drive you crazy, don't they? Your version looks very nice.

To keep my grass version from being so floppy, I went to a craft store and found small, thin branches. I inserted about five of those into the end of the dowel rod and cut them so they were about seven inches long. They help keep the grass from flopping over so close to the wrapping.

Funky

Master Member

It's been a while , but when I saw this thread a while ago, I thought it would be neat to make a broom myself. I thought it would make a unique gift for my Mom for mother's day , since she loves the Wizard of OZ, and I already gave her a pair of ruby slippers a few years back.

This is what I managed to do

I noticed while going through the DVD for screen caps, there must have been several different brooms used as the webbing changes size. The burnt broom has a much wider webbed portion, similar to what I replicated, but the pictures from the Munchkin village, the webbing is shorter. Even in the scene where she lights it on fire, the bristles look more like coarse straw, while in others, it drops like grass.

I kinda made my broom a mish mosh of the various incarnations.

Over time, these beliefs and traditions became intertwined with the concept of witches and their association with dark magic. In popular culture, the wicked witch's broom has become an iconic symbol of witchcraft. It is often depicted as a thin, wooden broomstick with bristles at one end, which witches straddle to fly. This image has been popularized through books, movies, and other forms of media, further perpetuating the association between witches and broomsticks. Despite its association with evil and witchcraft, the wicked witch's broom has also become a beloved symbol of Halloween and other spooky celebrations. It is often used as a decorative prop during these events, with brooms being placed in windows or hung from door frames to create an eerie atmosphere. In conclusion, the wicked witch's broom is a fascinating and iconic symbol of witchcraft and the supernatural. While its origins can be traced back to ancient pagan beliefs, it has since become a popular image in modern culture. Whether used for transportation or as a decorative prop, the wicked witch's broom continues to captivate the imagination and embody the mystique of witches and their magical abilities..

Reviews for "The Wicked Witch Broom in Witchcraft and Paganism: Rituals and Spells"

- Emma - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with the Wicked Witch Broom. It was advertised as a high-quality broom, but it felt cheaply made and flimsy. The bristles were falling off after just a few uses and it didn't sweep well at all. I definitely wouldn't recommend it.

- Sam - 1 star - The Wicked Witch Broom was a complete waste of money. It looked cute and witchy, but it didn't work at all. The bristles were too soft and just pushed dirt around instead of picking it up. On top of that, the broom handle was so short that I had to hunch over to use it. Save your money and buy a different broom.

- Anna - 2 stars - I had high hopes for the Wicked Witch Broom, but it fell short of my expectations. The broomstick was flimsy and felt like it would break with just a little pressure. The bristles also didn't hold their shape well and ended up splaying out in all directions. It might be a cute decoration for Halloween, but it's not practical for actual use.

The Iconic Wicked Witch Broom: A Symbol of Female Empowerment