Wicca is a modern pagan, witchcraft religion that emerged in the mid-20th century. It is often characterized by its focus on nature, magic, and reverence for the divine in both masculine and feminine aspects. Wiccans believe in a duotheistic worldview, worshipping a God and a Goddess who are seen as complementary forces within the universe. These deities are often associated with nature, such as the cycles of the moon and the changing seasons. Wiccans believe in the existence of a divine energy that permeates all things, referred to as "the Spirit" or "the Divine". Wicca emphasizes personal responsibility and spiritual growth, encouraging practitioners to take control of their own lives and connect with the natural world.

The end of the sunbed wars? Judge awards German family who couldn't get a sun lounger £280 payout in ruling which could pave the way for compensation claims for Brits

Brits could be entitled to hundreds of pounds in compensation after a judge awarded a £280 payout to a German family who couldn't get a sun lounger. The family, who spent £4,532 on the break last summer, were awarded the payout after they were they were unable to get any loungers one morning at a hotel in Rhodes. Managers at the TUI Kids Club Atlantica Mikri Poli hotel had been operating a policy that meant guests who put down towels in their 500 beds had to use them within 30 minutes. However, the court found that in this case it was not implemented. The ruling has now given fresh hopes to several British holidaymakers who missed out on sunbeds last year, with the possibility the landmark ruling could pave the way for more compensation claims. Sunbed wars are all too common across the Mediterrenean in summer, especially on the Costa del Sol and in Benidorm where a mother was left close to tears after her family was forced to sit under a water slide after missing out on the mad dash. Are YOU planning to claim compensation over last summer's 'sunbed wars'? Email [email protected]

Holidaymakers were last year seen 'swarming like ants' to secure a sunbed for the day at the Magic Aqua Rock Gardens hotel in Benidorm

People queue for sun loungers at Hotel Estival Torrequebrada near Malaga as many brought chairs and a good book as they waited for almost two hours before the beach and pool opened

Cayleigh Tuffs, pictured with her husband Andrew and their eight-year-old daughter Charley, said she was left on the brink of tears after missing out on the mad dash last year

Cayleigh Tuffs, who was on holiday with her husband Andrew and their eight-year-old daughter Charley, described the rush for beds as 'horrendous' and vowed never to return to the Spanish tourist destination.

READ MORE: British mother is left close to tears by Benidorm's chaotic sunbed wars as tourists 'swarm like ants' to reserve loungers and force her family to sit under a water slide on first day of their holiday

Ms Tuffs, who paid £2,000 for a Jet2 package holiday to Magic Aqua Rock Gardens, said she saw holidaymakers sprinting to sunbeds first thing in the morning to ensure they got the best spot. The 34-year-old, from Chesterfield in Derbyshire, said: 'They're like ants scurrying for food. It's horrendous. We've seen people throw towels across the pool to get beds and people are running even though it's massively slippery. 'We go on holiday five times a year and this is the first time we've ever seen anything like this. On the first day we got here in the afternoon so there was no chance of getting a bed so we sat under a slide to get some shade. 'I was nearly in tears, it was horrendous. I've never wanted to cry on holiday before, but I did on that first day.' Ms Tuffs said that the pool was packed with queuing Brits an hour before it opened at 10am, then 'chaos' ensued when the gates were opened by staff. Footage taken by the IT manager showed holidaymakers crammed near multiple entrances before rushing across the slippery floor to throw their towels on shaded sunbeds. Ms Tuffs can be heard saying 'Jesus Christ' as she waits to see if her husband, who began queuing at 9am, could secure a spot for them.

Ms Tuffs (pictured on plane to Benidorm with family), was so upset by the rush for beds that she has vowed never to return to the popular tourist destination

Footage showed Ms Tuffs and her daughter Charley (pictured together) waiting to see if Mr Tuffs could secure a bed

Ms Tuffs had paid £2,000 for a package holiday to stay at the Magic Aqua Rock Gardens (pictured) in Benidorm

Ms Tuffs said there are at least three different entrances to the pool and some people had even resorted to using a 'sneaky' entrance near the toilet blocks. The mother-of-one claimed that despite there being a rule of staff removing towels left on beds for more than 20 minutes, some were left for up to six hours unattended.

READ MORE: It's sunbed wars! Costa del Sol holidaymakers wait in line for nearly two hours before 'sending their children running ahead of the adults' when the gates open to get hold of poolside sun loungers

Meanwhile, exclusive pictures from July last year showed how some holidaymakers waited for up to two hours for prime spots at the four-star Hotel Estival Torrequebrada, near Málaga. Men and women were pictured turning up long before the beach and swimming pools opened to ensure they get the best spot – and most brought a chair and a good book to pass the time. One witness said that once the gate opened each morning, 'madness' ensued, with 'people literally running in'. Some parents shoved forward their children to sprint in and grab a sunbed because they are fitter and faster. Charlotte Chartell told MailOnline that people were queueing up on chairs whilst reading 'as they’ve been there so long'. But she also concluded 'if you can't beat them, join them', following her initial shock that people were waiting in line to get a sunlounger each day. Ms Chartell said: 'There are two pools, but only one for children, so everyone wants to get as close as they can to the slides as well. There definitely aren’t enough sun loungers for the number of guests in the hotel.

How sunbeds are becoming a locked-up luxury: From hiring bouncers to introducing parking ticket-style systems - hotels are clamping down on petty squabbles over sun loungers by enforcing strict new rules

Every sun holiday-loving Briton has experienced the pain of strolling down to the pool after a lovely lie-in to find all the sun loungers have been 'reserved' by unattended towels. However, a ceasefire may have finally been called in the sunbed wars after a German family were awarded £280 by a German court because they couldn't get a sun lounger one morning during their holiday in Rhodes, Greece. A travel expert has told MailOnline that hotels have been sent a 'clear message' to introduce and enforce sunbed policies that deter holiday makers from 'reserving' a spot near the pool all day. Last summer, sunbed wars became so intense at one Costa del Sol hotel that they introduced a parking ticket style system - with towels left on beds unattended removed after a time limit. Guests at the Estival Torrequebrada on Benalmádena Beach, who have often paid thousands to enjoy a break, were warned they can no longer leave towels as a marker on a sunbed to claim it for a whole day. Management have instead begun leaving calling cards on sunbeds with towels, handbags and other personal belongings on them, warning they will be removed after 45 minutes if they remain unoccupied. Have YOU seen a good sun bed policy? Contact: [email protected]

Meanwhile, a Greek hotel was praised by one guest for their 'great' sub bed policy whereby a member of staff removes all unattended towels at 9am every morning. On TripAdvisor, the guest wrote: 'We are always up early and get annoyed when we arrive at the pool at 7am to see the best sun beds taken by people who don't then return until much later in the day.

READ MORE: Judge awards German family who couldn't get a sun lounger £280 payout in ruling which could pave the way for compensation claims for Brits

'At this hotel someone goes around the pool around 9 am and takes all the towels away (and books and other stuff people leave to mark their territory), which I thought was great. 'It's especially amusing to see people come back much later and see someone else relaxing in their sunbed - servers them right.' The Sunset Beach Club hotel in Benalmadena on the Costa del Sol was even forced to employ a bouncer to stop fights breaking out between sun worshippers. Some holiday makers at the hotel get up as early as 6.30am to secure a lounger beside the pool and guests have compared the rush when the gates to the pool pen at 9am to a 'stampede'. 'When the gates open it’s like a stampede', Wendy told the Sun. 'It’s got worse over the years. They’ve had to put the gates up and hire a security guard - they never used to have that. 'It’s always rammed. We have always had to get up early - I don’t mind doing it.'

The German family who won the £280 award after not being able to get a sun lounger. Pictured: Cayleigh Tuffs, her husband Andrew and their eight-year-old daughter Charley

People queue for sun loungers at Hotel Estival Torrequebrada near Malaga as many brought chairs and a good book as they waited for almost two hours before the beach and pool opened

Holidaymakers in Costa Del Sol have been spotted racing each other to nab poolside sun loungers the moment the doors open

Tourism expert Chelsea Dinkenson, of the cheapholidayexpert website, told MailOnline the ruling will force hotels to introduce sun lounger policies that work.

READ MORE: British mother is left close to tears by Benidorm's chaotic sunbed wars as tourists 'swarm like ants' to reserve loungers and force her family to sit under a water slide on first day of their holiday

She said: 'This is really encouraging news for those of us who have found themselves part of the struggle to get a sun lounger. 'Whilst the family who have managed to get compensation back did so through the German court system, it sends a clear message to resorts to have a clear system in place. 'What I’d like to see off the back of this is travel companies stating the number of sun loungers at each hotel on their site, as well as the max capacity of the resort too. 'What I hope will happen for Summer 2024, is more sun loungers and if hotels say they’re going to remove towels after 30 minutes, then they will! Chelsea added that hotels must strike a 'delicate balance' when choosing a system to enforce and recommended a friendly member of staff should be in place at the pool to remove unattended towels. She said: 'There's a delicate balance between enforcing a policy so that it helps everyone have a less stressful time away, and taking the fun out of a holiday altogether!!

In Benidorm, locals were seen erecting parasols in the dark in front of the ocean as they battle with Brits swarming to sunbeds

'Therefore, I think a parking ticket system may be taking things a step too far. Simply having someone whose job it is to help enforce the reservation policy - in a friendly way and with a safe and secure place to store customer's items if they've strayed for too long - feels like the perfect compromise. The German family, who were awarded the £280, paid £2,000 for a Jet2 package holiday to Magic Aqua Rock Gardens, said she saw holidaymakers sprinting to sunbeds first thing in the morning to ensure they got the best spot. Cayleigh Tuffs, who was on holiday with her husband Andrew and their eight-year-old daughter Charley, described the rush for beds as 'horrendous' and vowed never to return to the Spanish tourist destination. Have YOU seen a good sun bed policy? Contact: [email protected]

Wicca emphasizes personal responsibility and spiritual growth, encouraging practitioners to take control of their own lives and connect with the natural world. Rituals and ceremonies are an important part of Wiccan practice, often involving the use of magic to bring about positive change, healings, or to align oneself with the cycles of nature. Wiccans often gather in groups or covens led by experienced practitioners called High Priests or High Priestesses.

These covens provide support, guidance, and a sense of community for Wiccans, who generally celebrate eight festivals known as "Sabbats" throughout the year. These include celebrations such as Samhain, Beltane, and Midsummer, which mark important moments in the agricultural and spiritual calendar. One of the central ethical principles in Wicca is the belief in "harm none", which emphasizes the importance of not causing harm to oneself or others. Wiccans strive to live in harmony with nature and the world around them, often practicing eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyles. Wicca is a diverse and decentralized religion, with practitioners incorporating different beliefs, rituals, and magical practices into their individual paths. It is a religion that encourages personal exploration, self-discovery, and the celebration of nature and the divine in all its forms..

Reviews for "Witchcraft vs. Wicca: Exploring the Differences"

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A Beginner's Guide to the Wicca Religion