A witch flying on a broom is an iconic image often associated with the folklore and mythology surrounding witches. It is believed that witches can travel through the air on brooms, a belief that dates back centuries. This depiction of witches flying on brooms has been influenced by various cultural and historical factors. One of the earliest references to witches flying on brooms can be found in the Malleus Maleficarum, a fifteenth-century treatise on witchcraft. According to this text, witches were believed to use brooms infused with a magical ointment to fly through the air and attend their sabbaths. This image of the witch on a broomstick captured the imagination of the public and has since become a popular symbol associated with witchcraft.

How to Manage Pests

Witches' brooms typically are dense clusters of twigs or thickened stems that develop on the branches of woody plants. Affected leaves and shoots may become discolored, distorted, and dwarfed.

Identification

The specific appearance of witches' brooms varies with the particular cause and host plant(s). Causes and their hosts include

• cedar, cypress, and juniper rusts, Gymnosporangium species
• dwarf mistletoes, Arceuthobium spp. that infect conifers
• fasciation, which is caused by microorganisms and unidentified causes possibly including genetic factors; numerous plant species are uncommonly affected
• glyphosate herbicide injury and certain other herbicide phytotoxicities
• powdery mildew (PDF) fungus of oaks, Cystotheca (=Sphaerotheca) lanestris
• rose rosette disease, a mite-vectored virus
• western gall rust, Endocronartium (=Peridermium) harknessii, a pine disease
• yellows, or phytoplasmas that mostly affect herbaceous plants
• zinc deficiency and possibly other nutritional disorders on most any woody species

Life cycle

The biology and development of witches' brooms varies with the particular situation. Oaks, for example, commonly develop witches' brooms after spring weather is cool and moist and in coastal areas where fog occurs during the growing season. The witches' brooms become apparent on oak terminals by late spring or early summer.

Rose rosette disease that causes witches' broom in roses is caused by an RNA virus in the genus Emaravirus. The virus is spread by a rose-feeding, wind-transported eriophyid mite, Phyllocoptes fructiphilus. This virus is common in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains but in California has only been reported in the Fresno area. Most rose viruses do not threaten plant survival; they only slow plant growth and mar the aesthetic appearance. Rose rosette virus, however, generally kills infected hosts.

Solutions

Provide plants with proper cultural care and a good growing environment to keep them vigorous. Where they are aesthetically objectionable, prune out witches' brooms at least several inches below where they form. This is commonly the only available management strategy, such as for most fasciations and western gall rust.

Removing affected roses and replanting using clean plants is the only management likely to be effective for rose rosette disease. Infected roses cannot be cured. Control of the eriophyid mite vector of this virus can reduce the risk of the pathogen spreading to uninfected roses. But good control of eriophyids using miticides is difficult to achieve in most gardens and landscapes. For more information see Five Ways to Manage Rose Rosette Disease and Rose Rosette Disease Demystified (PDF) .

Adapted from the publications linked above and Pests of Landscape Trees and Shrubs: An Integrated Pest Management Guide, University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program (UC IPM).

Witches' broom on oak.

Dense, bushy foliage caused by juniper rust.

Small, yellowish almond leaves in tufts due to zinc deficiency.

Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
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Why Do Witches Ride Brooms? The History Behind the Legend

From pagan fertility rituals to hallucinogenic herbs, the story of witches and brooms is a wild ride.

Updated: August 9, 2023 | Original: October 19, 2020

The evil green-skinned witch flying on her magic broomstick may be a Halloween icon—and a well-worn stereotype. But the actual history behind how witches came to be associated with such an everyday household object is anything but dull.

It’s not clear exactly when the broom itself was first invented, but the act of sweeping goes back to ancient times when people likely used bunches of thin sticks, reeds and other natural fibers to sweep aside dust or ash from a fire or hearth. As J. Bryan Lowder writes, this household task even shows up in the New Testament, which dates to the first and second centuries A.D.

The word broom comes from the actual plant, or shrub, that was used to make many early sweeping devices. It gradually replaced the Old English word besom, though both terms appear to have been used until at least the 18th century. From the beginning, brooms and besoms were associated primarily with women, and this ubiquitous household object became a powerful symbol of female domesticity.

Despite this, the first witch to confess to riding a broom or besom was a man: Guillaume Edelin. Edelin was a priest from Saint-Germain-en-Laye, near Paris. He was arrested in 1453 and tried for witchcraft after publicly criticizing the church’s warnings about witches. His confession came under torture, and he eventually repented but was still imprisoned for life.

By the time of Edelin’s “confession,” the idea of witches riding around on broomsticks was already well established. The earliest known image of witches on brooms dates to 1451, when two illustrations appeared in the French poet Martin Le Franc’s manuscript Le Champion des Dames (The Defender of Ladies). In the two drawings, one woman soars through the air on a broom; the other flies aboard a plain white stick. Both wear headscarves that identify them as Waldensians, members of a Christian sect founded in the 12th century who were branded as heretics by the Catholic Church, partly because they allowed women to become priests.

Anthologist Robin Skelton suggests the association between witches and brooms may have roots in a pagan fertility ritual, in which rural farmers would leap and dance astride poles, pitchforks or brooms in the light of the full moon to encourage the growth of their crops. This “broomstick dance,” she writes, became confused with common accounts of witches flying through the night on their way to orgies and other illicit meetings.

This image of the witch on a broomstick captured the imagination of the public and has since become a popular symbol associated with witchcraft. The origin of this association between witches and brooms can be traced back to pagan rituals and medieval folklore. Brooms were considered a symbol of domesticity and fertility, often associated with female household tasks.

Flying Witches Linked to Pagan Ritual?

Broomsticks were also thought to be the perfect vehicles for the special ointments and salves that witches brewed up to give themselves the ability to fly, among other depraved activities. In 1324, when the wealthy Irish widow Lady Alice Kyteler was tried for sorcery and heresy, investigators reported that in searching Kyteler’s house, they found “a pipe of ointment, wherewith she greased a staff, upon which she ambled and galloped through thicke and thin."

Pharmacologist David Kroll writes in Forbes that alleged witches in the Middle Ages were thought to concoct their brews from such plants as Atropa belladonna (deadly nightshade), Hyoscyamus niger (henbane), Mandragora officinarum (mandrake) and Datura stramonium (jimsonweed), all of which would have produced hallucinogenic chemicals known as tropane alkaloids.

According to some historical accounts, rather than ingest these mind-altering substances by eating or drinking, which would have caused intestinal distress, witches chose to absorb them through the skin—often in the most intimate areas of their bodies. In his book Murder, Magic, and Medicine, John Mann cites a 15th-century text by the theologian Jordanes de Bergamo, who wrote that “the vulgar believe, and the witches confess, that on certain days or nights, they anoint a staff and ride on it to the appointed place or anoint themselves under the arms and in other hairy places.”

In pagan rituals, brooms were used to sweep away negative energy and protect against evil spirits. Over time, these associations became intertwined with the image of witches flying on broomsticks. In addition to its pagan origins and cultural associations, the depiction of witches on broomsticks is also influenced by historical events. During the period of the European witch trials in the late medieval and early modern period, the image of the witch on a broomstick became associated with heresy and devil worship. Witches were often accused of flying on brooms to meet with the devil and engage in malevolent activities. Despite its negative connotations, the image of the witch flying on a broom has also been embraced by popular culture. In literature and media, the witch on a broomstick has become a common trope, often depicted as a mischievous or powerful character. This image has been perpetuated through various forms of entertainment, including movies, books, and Halloween costumes. In conclusion, the idea of a witch flying on a broom is a fascinating aspect of witchcraft folklore and mythology. It has its roots in pagan rituals, medieval superstitions, and the historical persecution of witches. Whether seen as a symbol of power, mischief, or evil, the image of a witch on a broomstick continues to captivate our imagination and remain a prominent icon in popular culture..

Reviews for "The Witch's Broom: Evolution and Transformation of a Magical Tool"

1. Jennifer - 2/5

While the concept of a witch flying on a broom is classic and intriguing, I found this book to be quite disappointing. The storyline lacked depth and the characters were poorly developed, making it hard for me to fully engage with the plot. Additionally, the illustrations felt rushed and not well-executed, which further affected my overall enjoyment of the book. Overall, I felt like "Witch flying on broom" missed the mark and failed to deliver an enchanting and captivating reading experience.

2. Mark - 1/5

I must say I was extremely disappointed with "Witch flying on broom". The writing was subpar, with very basic vocabulary and predictable plot twists. It felt like the author put little effort into creating a compelling and original story. The illustrations also left much to be desired, lacking creativity and skill. As a reader, I was left feeling uninspired and unmoved by this book, and I would not recommend it to anyone seeking a captivating read or visually appealing illustrations.

3. Sarah - 2/5

Perhaps my expectations were too high, but "Witch flying on broom" fell short for me. The story was cliché and lacked any real depth or originality. The text was too simplistic and failed to engage me as a reader. The illustrations, while colorful, were not particularly impressive or memorable. Overall, this book felt like a missed opportunity to explore the fascinating world of witches in a fresh and captivating way. I wouldn't actively discourage others from reading it, but I certainly wouldn't recommend it either.

The Science Behind Witches Flying on Brooms: Myth or Reality?