The witch is a common and recurring character in various forms of media, including literature, films, television shows, and folklore. Throughout history, witches have been associated with supernatural powers, magic, and dark rituals. In literature, witches often play a significant role in stories, particularly in the fantasy and horror genres. They are depicted as powerful individuals who possess ancient knowledge and can manipulate natural forces. Famous literary works such as "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare and "The Witches" by Roald Dahl showcase witches as both captivating and menacing figures. In films, witches have been depicted in a variety of ways, ranging from evil and villainous to misunderstood and relatable characters.

We drove round the only magic roundabout in Essex to see how hard it was

Driving around roundabouts can be enough to scare even the bravest of motorists.

They're often a pitfall for learner drivers on their test and can be some of the worst accident hot spots in many towns.

The layouts can be very confusing, particularly if you're new to the area.

Anyone familiar with Colchester will be aware of the magic roundabout, locally known as 'the Greenstead roundabout', named after the housing estate that borders it.

Made up of five mini roundabouts, this is a route which locals have to manoeuvre everyday. A man using his mobility scooter was even spotted on it.

But for visitors to the town, it can present a large challenge.

We wanted to know how difficult it was to drive on Colchester's 'magic roundabout' so we sent reporter Hope Woolston to test it out.

Why does it exist?

The first Magic Roundabout was born in Swindon in 1972.

Since then, six other magic roundabouts have been constructed across the country, including Colchester's Greenstead.

The junction used to be a five-way standard roundabout which was notoriously gridlocked for users.

The road was widened and traffic lights were implemented but this didn't help ease congestion.

To help improve matters, five mini-roundabouts were installed in the early 1990s.

Large amounts of Greenstead cemetery was reportedly destroyed to make way for the gargantuan project.

Houses have also been built between the roundabout and the cemetery, with most of the housing let to students.

Colchester's magic roundabout is the only one in Essex, after Sadlers Farm in Benfleet was converted back to a standard signalised junction a few years ago.

A confusing concept

I was born and bred in a small village just outside of Colchester so I am already very familiar with this roundabout.

The first time I tackled it alone after passing my test was a very daunting moment.

Roundabouts like this one aren't very common so it can be a worry to even the most confident of drivers.

What is most confusing is that you can turn both left and right - an odd concept to those only used to travelling in one direction.

That's because it isn't actually one roundabout, but instead a collection of five mini roundabouts.

I have driven over it so many times that I probably miss a lot of things that happen so I decided to pay more attention to what was going on around me this time.

Drivers were in the wrong lanes

I decided to do what felt most normal and turn left the first time around.

I started off by coming from the Cowdray Avenue direction turning towards Greenstead.

The first roundabout was relatively quiet with only a couple of cars near it.

It was very helpful that the road markings were bright and clear, so it was tricky to be in the wrong lane.

It didn't stop some drivers getting confused though, as there were a few cars sitting in the wrong lanes.

As long as you know what exit you will be taking before you approach the junction, it is pretty easy to figure out where in the road you need to be.

I can see that if you were following a satnav, it could be pretty tricky as you don't necessarily know where you need to turn next.

The second roundabout was empty as I approached it so I went straight over without any issues.

Tesco traffic

One of the roundabout's exits heads towards the Hythe where there is a large Tesco superstore.

There is a lot of traffic from this exit on the roundabout, with so many drivers heading that way.

On the third roundabout I came to, the one that leads to Clingoe Hill, I encountered my first bit of traffic, and was stuck in it until I was back to the start.

The high volume of traffic coming from the Tesco exit makes it really tricky for any other cars to get through.

I noticed that you have to take a chance if you don't want to be waiting there all day - as soon as there is a gap you need to be brave and make your move.

There is the occasional relief of a car coming from the other way which gives you a perfect gap.

Once I had completed one whole loop of the daunting junction, I decided to take the route that people are most nervous for - turning right.

A near-miss

This time round I tackled the Tesco traffic first, and it was just as bad that way round.

I made my way onto the first mini roundabout and was immediately cut up by the driver next to me.

The arrows on the road are very clear, but this driver couldn't have seen them as she turned right from the left lane, almost crashing into my car.

Once again I was stuck in the queues going towards the Hythe. It seems no matter what direction you are coming from, this is the busiest area of the whole roundabout.

In comparison, the opposite side of the roundabout, towards Greenstead was very quiet each time I drove around, making it a far more favorable route.

A mobility scooter

You need to be really aware of other cars on this whopper of a junction - you just don't know what other drivers are going to do.

But what I never expected to see was an elderly man on a mobility scooter braving the roundabout.

It was a worrying sight as I had already witnessed drivers using the wrong lane and getting dangerously close to other cars.

With all of the distractions, it felt as though this could have been an accident waiting to happen.

So it was a definite relief when I saw him come off the roundabout and drive on towards Greenstead.

Learner drivers

Any learner driver in Colchester dreads the day they have to face the magic roundabout.

You know it is coming as there is every chance you could end up there on your test, so you need to know what you are doing.

Early afternoon seems to be a popular time for lessons as I saw several learner cars travelling around the roundabout.

You could feel their nerves as they approached each one.

At one point I was driving behind one learner car close to the Tesco exit and the traffic was very heavy.

He was clearly struggling to find a gap as he kept preparing to move and then pressing his brakes.

Locals have been known to take lessons in Clacton because of just how complicated Colchester's road systems are.

What is it like for pedestrians?

The magic roundabout is very close to the University of Essex, and many students live in the areas near it.

Plenty of them walk to the uni via the roundabout so I wanted to see what it is like from their perspective.

I have driven on the roundabout many times, but I have never been around it on foot.

Walking on the path was a very eye-opening experience and made me aware of potential dangers I had never spotted from inside my car.

There was evidence that there had been crashes in the past on the roundabout - including a bent fence and a wonky signpost.

There were dropped kerbs and clear dips in the pavement at the Greenstead turn off, intended for crossing the road, but no form of traffic control.

The road here is very wide so takes some time to cross and had no island in the middle.

It was a case of looking both ways and waiting for both sides to be clear and then crossing as safely as you can.

Next up was the Clingoe Hill exit. Here, there are zebra crossings for pedestrians, but unfortunately not all drivers pay attention to them.

Thankfully I like to wait until I know a driver has seen me before crossing the road, even if it is my right of way.

The final roundabout was was traffic light controlled, meaning I felt safe when I crossed.

What I made of it

I really can understand why Colchester's magic roundabout worries some drivers.

It is an unusual layout, but once you understand it, it really isn't that bad.

What you need to do is think of it as five individual roundabouts - focus on the one you are on and don't worry about the next one until you are there.

Magical Roundabouts and the Language of Signs

The image you see above is a “magic roundabout” in Colchester, England. It includes 5 mini-roundabouts embedded in a giant one. Imagine driving that on the left side of the road!

Roundabout. Traffic Circle. Rotary. According to the Harvard Dialect Study, we Americans are pretty divided about what to call a traffic circle, which is my own word of choice, like nearly 40% of the rest of you.

Before we headed to Burlington, Vermont, a few weeks ago, I checked out the same survey's results on what Vermonters would say:

So, Vermonters are in the heart of New England’s Rotary Country.

Disappointingly, we didn’t find a single rotary to drive through during our few visits to Burlington. I had hoped to check out the local usage and the signage. But I did learn that there is at least one traffic circle in the area, in next-door Winooski, Vermont. And an article in the Burlington Free Press managed to include just about every term for traffic circle that they could, as well as a distinct sense that there is no love lost on that particular traffic circle. (The piece was written two years ago, about a then 5-year-old circle):

WINOOSKI — Cathy Simard was steaming Monday morning, parked in her minivan amid car fumes in standstill traffic waiting to get into the downtown Winooski traffic circle.

"I hate this Winooski circle. It's the stupidest thing they ever did," she said. "It's a traffic hazard."…

The Winooski traffic circle is more complicated than most roundabouts, which have fewer streets feeding into them, fewer pedestrians to deal with and lower traffic volumes, according to traffic engineers…

“I’ve never seen a rotary with a stop light. It definitely defeats the purpose of it,” said commuter Will Telford, 33, as he waited Monday morning.

While my search for Vermont rotary signage didn’t work out, I did discover something else very interesting about the language of signs in Burlington. Something, I think, that suggested reams about the sociocultural landscape of the town.

First, I noticed signs that target two subsets of the upscale population of Burlington: the literati and the affluent Canadian tourists (which may overlap). Just have a look at themed Eat-Pray-Love knock-offs: the savvy bookstore, whose patrons would recognize the allusion; the wine store with their connoisseurs; and finally, the ice cream shop of Burlington’s own favorite sons, Ben & Jerry.

Second, I noticed the bilingual signs, which aim for the French-speaking Canadians who live just a few hours north of Burlington, in Quebec. For any US resident who lives some distance from the Canadian border, it is surprising to see bilingual signs that feature French instead of Spanish. Yes, like other towns, Burlington has its share of ethnic communities and the neighborhood signs in Vietnamese or Nepali or Arabic. But here comes French, albeit in a rather half-hearted outreach of language. Maybe the French-speaking Canadians feel welcome and comfortable by a little visible French, but maybe they feel condescended to by signs I saw like EXIT/SORTIE (Gee, merci, for that help.) and also these:

Another collection of signs caught my eye for their negativity and ubiquity. We are all used to seeing the DO NOT category of signs for forbidden things: No Smoking; No Parking; No Outside Food; Keep Off the Grass; etc.

I have a theory on why Burlington has so many signs like this, which I’ll divulge after you’ve had a look. First, a bike stand:

Now, rules of the road, with a dog, and in French!

Huh? Maybe CCTA customers are allowed to loiter, if they're close to the wall?

More do's and don'ts of bus stop behavior.

And polite orders at City Hall.

OK, here’s what I think. A few days ago Jim described the “open to the public” mentality you see in many aspects of Burlington. The town strives in its development and its culture to offer everyone – wealthy and hard-up, old-timers and new arrivals -- access to the rich offerings of the town. The parts of town where I took the photos of these signs were all in the revitalized parts of town, the newly-developed commercial and recreational areas. When I walked through these areas, I saw plenty of well-heeled folks and at certain times of day, many down-in-the-heel folks as well. It seemed to me that the signs acknowledged that fine, everyone was welcome, but the signs were also very visible as warnings to keep order and maintain good behavior.

Magic Roundabout (Colchester)

The Magic Roundabout (officially known as the Greenstead Roundabout) in Colchester, Essex, England, is similar to the roundabouts in Swindon and Hemel Hempstead with the same name. It is a large ring of road composed of five mini roundabouts, with 2 lanes in each direction joining each to its neighbour. It is known for its complexity, and the resulting confusion it causes for some motorists.

It is located between the Hythe and Greenstead areas of the town, with the A133 (St Andrew's Avenue); Avon Way; Greenstead Road and the A134 (Elmstead Road).

The Colchester roundabout lacks the intermediate traffic islands found in Swindon, but nonetheless it is possible to traverse around the large inner roundabout in clockwise or an anti/counter-clockwise direction as desired.

In films, witches have been depicted in a variety of ways, ranging from evil and villainous to misunderstood and relatable characters. Movies like "The Wizard of Oz" and "Hocus Pocus" have contributed to shaping the popular image of witches in the media. These depictions often feature witches with distinctive appearances, such as pointed hats, broomsticks, and potions.

See also

• Google Maps satellite image view

• Magic roundabouts in England
• Road junctions in England
• Colchester
• Transport in Essex
• England road stubs

Wikimedia Foundation . 2010 .

• Miami Carol City High School
• Geraldine Hughes

Look at other dictionaries:

• Magic Roundabout (Hemel Hempstead) — Magic Roundabout , looking south with mini roundabouts 1 (nearest), 2 and 3 in view. The grassy bank at the centre of the picture is part of the central hub roundabout. Taken from part of the new Riverside development … Wikipedia
• Magic Roundabout (Swindon) — Magic Roundabout Sign approaching the Magic Roundabout from the south on the B4289 Location Swindon, England … Wikipedia
• Magic Roundabout (disambiguation) — Magic Roundabout refers to: The Magic Roundabout, a children s television series (originally Le Manège Enchanté) The Magic Roundabout (film), a computer animated film (titled Doogal in North America), based on the series A special traffic… … Wikipedia
• Magic Roundabout — bezeichnet: The Magic Roundabout, eine Kinder Fernsehserie; siehe Das Zauberkarussell danach benannt eine komplexe Variante des Kreisverkehrs in England Deren Umsetzungen: Magic Roundabout (Swindon) Magic Roundabout (High Wycombe) Magic… … Deutsch Wikipedia
• Magic Roundabout (High Wycombe) — Coordinates: 51°37′37″N 0°45′2″W / 51.62694°N 0.75056°W / 51.62694; 0.75056 The Magic Roundabout in … Wikipedia
• Magic Roundabout (Swindon) — Der Magic Roundabout (dt. magischer Kreisverkehr) in Swindon, Südengland ist eine Art der Verkehrsführung, die aus einem großen Kreisverkehr in der Mitte und fünf kleineren, ringförmig um den inneren Kreisverkehr angeordneten, Kreisverkehren… … Deutsch Wikipedia
• Roundabout — This article is about the road junction. For other uses, see Roundabout (disambiguation). Movement within a roundabout in a country where traffic drives on the right. Note the anticlockwise circulation … Wikipedia
• Denham Roundabout — The Denham Roundabout is a large road intersection to the west of London, at junction 1 (J1) on the M40 motorway. When Western Avenue was originally built, it ended at a point west of Uxbridge at the intersection of the road from Uxbridge towards … Wikipedia
• National Cycle Route 51 — is an English long distance cycle route running broadly east west connecting Colchester and the port of Harwich to Oxford via Bury St Edmunds and Cambridge. Links to: National Cycle Route 1 at Colchester and Ipswich RCR 41 at Felixstowe NCR 11 at … Wikipedia
• Manège enchanté (Swindon) — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Manège enchanté. 51°33′46.18″N 1°46′17.35″O / … Wikipédia en Français

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Television shows have also embraced the witch archetype, with popular examples being "Charmed" and "American Horror Story: Coven." These series explore the lives of witches, their alliances, and their struggle against evil forces. Witches are often depicted as complex characters with their own moral dilemmas and personal growth arcs. In folklore, witches have been present in various cultures and mythologies around the world. Their abilities and behaviors vary depending on the cultural context. For instance, in European folklore, witches are often associated with devil worship and malevolent acts, while in African folklore, witches may possess healing and protective powers. The portrayal of witches in the media has evolved over time. While they were once vilified and feared, modern media often challenges traditional stereotypes and presents witches as multi-dimensional characters with their own desires, fears, and vulnerabilities. This shift reflects society's changing attitudes towards female empowerment and the eradication of gender-based discrimination. In conclusion, witches have become a common theme in popular media. Whether they are depicted as menacing villains or complex heroines, witches continue to captivate audiences with their magical abilities and compelling narratives. The portrayal of witches in the media reflects the evolution of societal perspectives and the desire for diverse and empowering female characters..

Reviews for "The intersection of witchcraft, fantasy, and role-playing games in popular media"

- John Doe - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "The Witch" because it didn't live up to the hype. The pacing was incredibly slow, and I found myself getting bored throughout the entire film. The ending was also confusing and left a lot of unanswered questions. The acting was decent, but the story just didn't captivate me like I was expecting. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone looking for a thrilling horror experience.

- Jane Smith - 1/5 stars - "The Witch" was a complete waste of time for me. The whole film was just too strange and confusing. I couldn't understand half of what the characters were saying because of the old English dialogue, which made it even harder to connect with the story. The horror elements were weak and lacked any real scares. I kept waiting for something to happen, but it never did. I was left feeling unsatisfied and regretting my choice to watch this film.

- Mark Johnson - 2/5 stars - I have to admit, I was really looking forward to watching "The Witch" because of all the great reviews it received. However, I was sadly disappointed. The movie felt like a slow burn that never really paid off. The atmosphere and cinematography were impressive, but the lack of a compelling story made it difficult to stay engaged. The ending also felt anticlimactic and left me with more questions than answers. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this film unless you're a die-hard fan of slow-burn horror movies.

Witchcraft and spirituality in modern media: A closer look at the intersection