In medieval and Renaissance folklore, the occurrence of a witch's girdle played a significant role in the perception of witchcraft and the belief in supernatural powers. A witch's girdle was believed to be a magical object that could confer a range of abilities upon the witch who possessed it. The concept of a witch's girdle originated from traditional beliefs surrounding girdles and their association with feminine power. In ancient times, girdles were worn around the waist and were seen as symbols of femininity and fertility. Over time, this symbolism became intertwined with the concept of witchcraft, as witches were often perceived as being able to tap into the hidden powers of femininity. According to popular belief, a witch's girdle had the ability to transform into various forms such as a rope, a serpent, or even a black cat.
There are, already, a few picture books celebrating Black hair, but this latest beautifully finished debut from musician VV Brown adds a fun, fresh, and magical element to everyday haircare stories.
But when she uses it to detangle her brown curls she, suddenly, imagines herself transported to outer space, dancing on planets, racing against rockets, and whizzing down slides made of rainbows. And what she achieves, here, is a sense of playfulness, freedom, and imagination less often attributed to young Black characters, with a nod to an Afro hair-combing tradition steeped in Black history.
According to popular belief, a witch's girdle had the ability to transform into various forms such as a rope, a serpent, or even a black cat. It was believed that when a witch wore her girdle, she could use it to fly through the night sky, shape-shift into different animals, or even become invisible. These abilities were seen as evidence of the supernatural powers possessed by witches and were often used as proof of their connection to dark forces.
Candid Cocoa
Lily's birthday gift from Mum is just a fancy wide-toothed comb. But when she uses it to detangle her brown curls she, suddenly, imagines herself transported to outer space, dancing on planets, racing against rockets, and whizzing down slides made of rainbows.
There are, already, a few picture books celebrating Black hair, but this latest beautifully finished debut from musician VV Brown adds a fun, fresh, and magical element to everyday haircare stories.
Brown wrote the book due to concerns about the lack of diverse literature for her dual-heritage children. And what she achieves, here, is a sense of playfulness, freedom, and imagination less often attributed to young Black characters, with a nod to an Afro hair-combing tradition steeped in Black history.
Reading about Lily and her empowering comb will undoubtedly boost children's self-esteem and encourage them to follow their dreams whatever their ethnicity or gender. I enjoyed the spread where Lily imagines various careers including the traditionally male-dominated fields of weightlifting, flying planes, and science. Lily's whirlwind space adventure could have, perhaps, been afforded a few more pages as it seemed to end as quickly as it began.
With its highly irregular rhyme and meter, this text is most suited to shared reading at home. Young children could predict Lily's birthday gift and where she will travel to with her comb. Afterwards, they could draw and talk about made-up magical adventures, using their imaginations to extend the original story. If you had Lily's magic comb, which amazing place would you travel to next? How will you get there? What would you see there? What would you do there?
The text also provides opportunities for hands-on activities. Children might enjoy comb painting, making rainbows or 'slimy cakes' with home-made 'slime'. The home corner could be kitted out with different types/sizes of hair grooming equipment: Afro picks, twist sponge brushes, empty and clean hair-grease containers, hairnets/nightcaps, and headwraps so children can explore and create their own narratives.
I adored illustrator Kate Hazell's powerful central spread with Lily's brown-skinned face taking up the entire space from edge and edge. Hazell's eye-catching kaleidoscopic scenes are full of energy, and evoke that feeling of being in the middle of a quirky dream. Her attention to detail over the variation in Lily's hair-curl pattern is also fabulous.
This engaging, positive story encourages children, especially Black girls, to be proud of their natural hair, and of who they are. And in an age where discrimination against Black British schoolchildren with Afro hair is still prevalent, the more books we have like this, the better!
Note for parents: Read about the Halo Code, a set of guidelines drawn up by a collective of 30 Black students to guard against Afro hair discrimination in the UK ( halocollective.co.uk).
With its highly irregular rhyme and meter, this text is most suited to shared reading at home. Young children could predict Lily's birthday gift and where she will travel to with her comb. Afterwards, they could draw and talk about made-up magical adventures, using their imaginations to extend the original story. If you had Lily's magic comb, which amazing place would you travel to next? How will you get there? What would you see there? What would you do there?
The occurrence of a witch's girdle was often associated with nocturnal activities and gatherings known as sabbats. These gatherings were believed to be secret meetings of witches and other supernatural beings, where they would engage in rituals and worship the Devil. The girdle played a crucial role in these gatherings, as it was believed that witches would remove their girdles and hang them on hooks, enabling them to partake in wild dances and other unholy activities. In popular folklore, the belief in witch's girdles led to the persecution and execution of countless individuals accused of witchcraft. The mere presence of a girdle was often seen as proof of a person's involvement in witchcraft, and many innocent people were put to death based on this belief. However, from a historical perspective, the occurrence of a witch's girdle was likely more of a cultural construct than a tangible object. While some accused witches may have confessed to owning or using a girdle under duress, there is little evidence to suggest that such objects actually existed or had any supernatural properties. In conclusion, the occurrence of a witch's girdle was a significant aspect of the belief in witchcraft and the persecution of witches. The belief in the girdle's magical abilities contributed to the fear and suspicion surrounding witchcraft during medieval and Renaissance times..
Reviews for "The Occurrence Witch Girdle and its Role in Divination Practices"
1. Samantha - 2 stars - I found "Occurrence Witch Girdle" to be confusing and unengaging. The plot seemed disjointed and hard to follow, and the characters were underdeveloped. I struggled to connect with the story and found myself getting bored. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Michael - 1 star - "Occurrence Witch Girdle" was a complete waste of time. The writing was convoluted and pretentious, making it difficult to understand the point the author was trying to make. The narrative lacked coherence, and the constant shifts in perspective left me feeling disoriented. I found no enjoyment in reading this book and would advise others to avoid it.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Occurrence Witch Girdle," but it failed to meet my expectations. The pacing was incredibly slow, and there were long stretches where nothing seemed to happen. The prose was overly flowery and pretentious, making it hard to connect with the story or characters. I struggled to stay engaged and ultimately felt let down by the book.
4. Mark - 1 star - "Occurrence Witch Girdle" was one of the most confusing and nonsensical books I've ever read. The plot was convoluted, and the author's attempts at symbolism and deeper meaning felt forced and contrived. I found myself constantly asking, "What is going on?" and had no interest in finding out. This book was a frustrating and disappointing read.