The Wicca calendar wheel is a sacred tool used by practitioners of the Wiccan religion to mark the changing seasons, celebrate holidays, and honor the cycles of nature. The calendar wheel is divided into eight segments, each corresponding to a specific holiday or sabbat. The first holiday on the Wicca calendar wheel is Samhain, which falls on October 31st and represents the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the dark half of the year. It is a time to honor and remember the dead, and many Wiccans believe that the veil between the world of the living and the world of the dead is thinnest on this day. The next holiday is Yule, which takes place on the winter solstice, typically around December 21st. It is the longest night of the year and marks the return of the sun.
Are 'Amish Witches' Real?
It's Halloween, it's spooky, it's scary, and it's the perfect time to indulge in an entertaining horror story. Lifetime's Amish Wishes: The True Story of Holmes County might be an unconventional, but perfectly satisfactory choice, if you're looking for an eccentric scary movie. But are Amish witches real, and by extension, is Amish Witches a true story? Unfortunately, like most witch stories, there's no evidence that there have ever been any real witches plaguing the Pennsylvania Dutch community. And, don't be fooled by the title of the film, either — this is no more a "True Story" about a haunting happening in Amish country than American Horror Story is telling a true "Roanoke Nightmare" this season.
One easy way to tell that this story has been fabricated is that the story covers a reality TV crew working on a project about the Holmes County Amish community. The reality TV cameras turn into documentarians after "a group of young women" suspect a witch of being behind a rash of murders in the area. According to PBS' Amish expert, not only do many Amish people not want to be photographed, they specifically do not believe in posing for straight-ahead photos. Some Amish communities will be more flexible about being filmed or photographed from afar, but according to PBS, "in a communal society that values humility, posing for photos is a sign of pride that calls attention to oneself and rubs against Amish beliefs about the importance of deferring and yielding to others." That doesn't seem compatible with filming a reality TV series.
But, if that's the first clue that Amish Witches isn't real, the second is that in their years of history in the United States, there has never been a famous Amish witch hunt the way there was in Salem, Massachusetts. There are folktales about witches, however. According to The Journal of American Folk-Lore's section on the Pennsylvania Dutch does describe some local stories about witches, but they sound more like annoying neighbors than malevolent forces. For example, "[a] housewife sometimes found difficulty in butter-making, the 'spell' being believed to be the work of a witch."
There is also a popular, but as far as I can tell, non-historical Amish urban legend from Chesterfield, Illinois that does sound similar to the film, about a famous grave underneath a tree that has become known for being the haunted burial place of a young woman who turned to witchcraft after being shunned by her family.
One thing, however, that is based on the lives of the real Amish, is the "shunning" that supposedly prompted the witch in both the Chesterfield story and Amish Witches. According to PBS, "shunning is practiced in different ways by various Amish groups, but it typically involves rituals of shaming such as not eating at the same table with ex-members at weddings or other public gatherings."
The Amish of Holmes County will pay in the Lifetime film, but in real life, it doesn't seem like there are any Amish Witches to worry about.
Image: Lifetime
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‘Amish Witches’: Is Lifetime’s ‘Holmes County’ True-Story Movie Based On The Chesterville Witch?
Amish Witches: The True Story of Holmes County is a Lifetime horror film that is set to debut this weekend. Amish Witches: The True Story of Holmes County is about a production crew that is pulled into a paranormal nightmare after the death of an Amish witch. The movie was directed by Jake Wade Wall and written by Dandi Dewey and Shannon Evangelista. This latest Lifetime movie stars Hayley Palmaer as Esther, Caleb Carlson as Isaac, Kaylyn Scardefield as Iva, Evangeline Young as Ruthie, Michelle Young as Katie Ann, Nicole Rodenburg as Conor, and Amanda Jane Stern as A.J, according to IMDb.
Synopsis: Amish Witches: The True Story of Holmes County on Lifetime
A television reality crew has arrived in town to document facts about an isolated Amish sect called the Swartzentruber Amish. But their plans change, and filming is interrupted after the death of an Amish witch named Brauchau. After the witch’s funeral, locals in the town convince the production company to document the paranormal activities that have begun plaguing them. To pull it off, the production crew and the townspeople must put up with evil forces that are set on destroying them.
A Few Mentions
Lifetime’s advertisement for Amish Witches: The True Story of Holmes County says that the movie is based on real events. During the research for this movie, there was no information on a witch named Brauchau. However, the story makes one think of the town of Chesterville and the story of the Chesterville Witch, according to Amish 365’s article, “Amish Witches, Fact or Fiction?”
Chesterville was a town in the Amish countryside that is no longer found on modern maps of Illinois. Chesterville is also the home of the Chesterville cemetery, which holds the body of the Chesterville witch. (Some articles call this place Chesterfield.)
According to local legend and History Witch, the Chesterville witch was a 15-year-old (age not confirmed) rebellious teen with a mind of her own. She was outspoken and was ahead of her time. Her views and speech were considered highly inappropriate, and it was rumored that she worshiped the Devil. She was hated so much that the elders of the Amish community excommunicated her from the group, and no one was allowed to associate with her. The girl was later found dead, and the local funeral home refused to give her a respectable burial despite her parent’s pleas. Instead, the body was placed on display for the locals to see a real witch, according to St. Louis Paranormal Research Society.
Then, she was dishonored even further by having a night burial with a tree placed on top of or near her grave. It is said that if the tree ever died, the Chesterville Witch would be free to unleash all of her revenge and anger upon the people who disgraced her.
Some More Key Points
- It is believed that the legend of the Chesterville Witch originated more than a century ago.
- According to History Witch, the legend was passed down orally, and over time, the witch’s real name was forgotten. (She is called the Chesterfield Witch in that article, too.)
“There are many conflicting stories- some say she invoked a violent storm on the village, others report seeing her ghost standing by the grave. Needless to say, someone is buried under the tree in Chesterville (which is not on any map – but still there) and a wrought iron fence surrounds the tree to keep the curious back.”
- While examining the story of Amish Witches: The True Story of Holmes County, a search of old newspapers going back to and before the 1900s didn’t turn up any information on the Chesterville Witch that we could find.
- The Swartzentruber Amish is a subgroup or sect that broke away from Old Amish Order in the early 1900s. It was started by Sam E. Yoder, Amish America states.
- Holmes County is in Ohio.
- Amish Haunting is a 2014 documentary that explores haunted houses and the grave of an Amish witch in the episode “Faceless Doll, The Witch’s Grave.”
In addition to the Chesterville Witch story, there is also the book Nightmare In Holmes County by Patrick Meechan. His book is based on his own negative experiences with the Amish community and the paranormal events that were directed toward him. It is written from a Christian perspective and discusses a home that was built over an area that was cursed by Native Americans. Readers find his story creepy but detailed and interesting.
Lifetime Television’s Amish Witches: The True Story of Holmes County is a Hot Snakes Media production with the A&E Television Network providing the distribution. Executive producers are listed as Eric Evangelista, Shannon Evangelista, Erik Kesten, and Jake Wade Wall.
Watch the movie, Amish Witches: The True Story of Holmes County, this Saturday at 8/7 p.m. Central on Lifetime. Last week, Lifetime debuted the true-story movie Death of a Vegas Showgirl, which was based on the murder of Debbie Flores-Narvaez.
[Featured Image by Lifetime TV UK]
Is Amish Witches: The True Story Of Holmes County A True Story?
Jake Wade Wall, who is considered one of the well-known directors, has directed this film named Amish Witches: The True Story of Holmes County. This is a horror-based film that was released in the year 2016, eventually set in Holmes County, Ohio. A reality TV crew decided to track down members of the orphaned Swartzentruber Her Amish cult, which calls the county home.
However, the project comes to a halt when Brauhaus, an Amish witch, dies. Featuring talented actors such as Hayley Palmer, Nicole Lautenberg, and Michelle Young, the film has a huge following due to its compelling premise.
In particular, many fans can’t help but admire the film’s narrative and suspense elements. Thanks to the intriguing title and the film’s seemingly down-to-earth details, one wonders if the movie was inspired by real-life events.
This film ‘Amish Witches: The True Story of Holmes County,’ is not at all an accurate account of words. The film was written by Shannon Evangelista and Dandy Dewey. Contrary to what the film’s name suggests, none of the events depicted in the drama directed by Jake Wade Wall happened.
The team seems to be recording real-life activities taking place in the film’s fictional world. Because it is set in Holmes County, the title implies that the events are a factual narrative. The film aesthetic gives the viewer the impression that it is realistic. Viewers are taken on road trips using fictional reality shows, much like documentary film crews follow real events.
The film uses camera effects at several points, giving the impression that events are being observed through a camera, but it is more exciting than most actual documentaries. “
It is the longest night of the year and marks the return of the sun. Wiccans celebrate by lighting candles and fires to symbolize the return of light and warmth. Imbolc is the next holiday, occurring on February 2nd.
Where to Watch Amish Witches?
A reality TV crew traveled to Holmes County, Ohio, to document the lives of an isolated Swartzentruber Amish. Production was interrupted by the death of Brauchau, an Amish witch. Get Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ to enjoy this wonderful movie.
It is a time to celebrate the first signs of spring and the awakening of the earth. Many Wiccans honor the goddess Brigid during this time, who represents fertility and the growing light. Ostara is celebrated around the spring equinox, usually on March 21st. It is a time to honor the balance between light and dark and to celebrate the return of spring. Many Wiccans perform rituals to welcome the new growth and fertility of the earth. Beltane, also known as May Day, takes place on May 1st. It is a celebration of fertility and the coming of summer. Many Wiccans build maypoles and dance to symbolize the union of the divine masculine and feminine. The summer solstice, known as Litha, is the next holiday on the Wicca calendar wheel and occurs around June 21st. It is the longest day of the year and represents the peak of the sun's power. Wiccans celebrate by honoring the sun and the fire element. Lughnasadh, also called Lammas, falls on August 1st and marks the first harvest. It is a time to celebrate the abundance of the earth and give thanks for the harvest. Many Wiccans make bread or gather grains to honor the god Lugh. The final holiday on the Wicca calendar wheel is Mabon, which occurs around the fall equinox, usually on September 21st. It is a time to give thanks for the harvest and prepare for the coming dark half of the year. Wiccans reflect on the balance between light and dark and honor the changing seasons..
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