Halloween witch designs can vary greatly depending on the individual's creativity and style preference. While traditional witch designs often feature a pointed hat, broomstick, and long black cloak, modern interpretations of witches can incorporate a range of elements and colors. Many Halloween witch designs focus on creating a spooky and eerie aesthetic. This can be achieved through the use of dark colors such as black, purple, and green, as well as incorporating elements such as cobwebs, bats, and pumpkins. Witch designs may also include mystical symbols such as pentagrams or cauldrons to add to the witchy vibe. In recent years, there has been a surge in more whimsical and playful witch designs.

What begins as a school project becomes an emotional journey into historic wounds.

THE LAST WITCH is a documentary following efforts to exonerate Elizabeth Johnson Jr., the last person convicted of witchcraft during the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. As a schoolteacher, her students, and a state senator work to clear Elizabeth’s name, what begins as a unique school project quickly becomes an emotional journey into historical wounds left unattended—and the contemporary implications of those wounds.

THE LAST WITCH shows how a schoolteacher, her students, and their allies not only set Elizabeth’s wrongful conviction right, but that by making amends with the past, they provide all of us with inspiration to create a better future. THE LAST WITCH spotlights the impact one person can have to change history, and draws attention to our own individual responsibility to follow her example and reduce bullying and ostracization everywhere.

Who was. ..

THE • LAST

WITCH?

The last person tried for the crime of witchcraft in the Salem Witch Trials was Elizabeth Johnson, Jr., a 22-year-old woman who was deemed “simplish,” accused, arrested, bullied and convicted. While she was not executed, her sentence as a “detestable witch” continued to subject her to ongoing injustices after the Trials and remained beyond her lifetime until present day.

August 10, 1692 : Arrested for Witchcraft

January 11, 1693 : Sentenced to Hang

July 28, 2022: Exonerated of the Crime,

The Last Salem Witch Has Been Exonerated

The documentary follows the students’ path to exonerating Elizabeth Johnson Jr., one of more than 200 people accused of witchcraft during the Salem witch trials. She was tried and found guilty in 1693 after confessing that another woman had persuaded her to become a witch. Historical records suggest that Johnson was targeted partially due to experiencing mental disability, and her vulnerability was compounded by her status as an unwed and childless woman.

Unwed women were viewed with suspicion at the time of the trials, and many individuals convicted were later exonerated by their own descendants. With no descendants to clear her name, Johnson’s wrongful conviction remained in place—making her the last remaining witch in Salem history—until Carrie LaPierre’s class came to her aid.

With the guidance of LaPierre and DiZoglio, the students first worked to draft a bill exonerating Johnson. However, it stalled in the state’s Joint Committee on the Judiciary. The students pivoted to a letter-writing campaign. After a few years of lobbying and petitioning, they were eventually able to add legislation exonerating Johnson as part of an amendment to a state budget, which passed.

Director Annika Hylmö told Ms., “It struck us that this bill, which should have been fairly easy to sign off on, wasn’t. Just to clear a woman’s name.”

Students learned to formulate arguments in defense of someone who had been treated unjustly, and through the success of their campaigning, learned their voices matter.

“Before [the students] worked on this project,” Hylmö said, “they never thought they had any voice in government at all. There was a real shift in mindset that occurred—to ‘no these people are working for me, the citizen, and they have to listen to what I have to say.’”

Carrie LaPierre with some of her students at the Old Parish Cemetery in North Andover, Mass., where they worked to establish a memorial stone in Elizabeth Johnson Jr.’s honor. (Instagram)

Righting the historical wrongs of the Salem witch trials is important because—as Sylvia Federici wrote in her book, Caliban and the Witch—they functioned as a way to police women’s behavior throughout the transition from feudalism to capitalism. During this time, resources like land became privatized, and people suddenly needed money to support themselves. This was especially difficult for women because the work they typically performed, reproductive labor, is often unpaid and undervalued.

Women were also excluded from paid labor jobs or paid pennies compared to their male coworkers, forcing them into a role of heightened economic dependence on men. This new lack of independence was exacerbated by the targeting of midwives during the trials—the church deemed contraceptives, abortion and other reproductive care ‘witchcraft.’

The witch trials worked to enforce new social roles which cemented these changes; they painted women as unruly, evil and dangerous, instilling widespread fear and quelling any desires to revolt. Any woman who did not conform to the new expectation of submissiveness and focus on so-called wifely duties—such as Johnson, who was unwed—could easily be labeled as anti-religion and deserving of punishments such as hanging, having her tongue cut or being stoned.

Though these trials concluded hundreds of years ago, their effects on women’s place in society have lasted to this day. Work that is traditionally done by women is still undervalued, and the justice system continues to punish women for exercising autonomy over their own bodies. The Last Witch shows how addressing injustices of the past is crucial for a more equitable future. This class project was able to literally change history and arm students with the tools to advocate for equality and inclusion in the present.

“There is a sense of hope and encouragement in this story, and the idea that you have the ability to take action,” Hymlö told Ms.

“In fact, you’ve probably got the responsibility to,” producer Dawn Green added.

“The Last Witch” film is currently in production. For updates on its release date, follow @thelastwitchfilm on Instagram, @thelastwitch22 on X or @thelastwitchfilmdoc on Facebook.

U.S. democracy is at a dangerous inflection point—from the demise of abortion rights, to a lack of pay equity and parental leave, to skyrocketing maternal mortality, and attacks on trans health. Left unchecked, these crises will lead to wider gaps in political participation and representation. For 50 years, Ms. has been forging feminist journalism—reporting, rebelling and truth-telling from the front-lines, championing the Equal Rights Amendment, and centering the stories of those most impacted. With all that’s at stake for equality, we are redoubling our commitment for the next 50 years. In turn, we need your help, Support Ms. today with a donation—any amount that is meaningful to you. For as little as $5 each month, you’ll receive the print magazine along with our e-newsletters, action alerts, and invitations to Ms. Studios events and podcasts. We are grateful for your loyalty and ferocity.

The Last 'Witch' in Europe City Country Culture

Picture-perfect Klöntal in the Swiss canton of Glarus has deep blue lakes, snow-covered mountains and cows. But its pretty landscape belies its dark past. At the end of the 18th century, Anna Göldi was tortured and executed for being a witch. Her treatment was politically motivated, and her killing sparked outrage across Europe.

From 16/03/2023 to 26/01/2024

In recent years, there has been a surge in more whimsical and playful witch designs. These designs often feature vibrant colors, cute and quirky accessories, and a sense of fun. Some popular elements in these designs include striped stockings, colorful wigs, and oversized hats adorned with bows or flowers.

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Ultimately, the choice of witch design is up to the individual, allowing for a range of creativity and personal expression. Whether one prefers a classic and spooky witch or a whimsical and colorful interpretation, Halloween witch designs offer endless possibilities for creating a unique and memorable costume..

Reviews for "The Many Faces of the Witch: Celebrating Diversity in Halloween Witch Designs"

1. Emily - 1/5 stars - I was extremely disappointed with the Halloween witch designs I purchased. The quality was incredibly poor and it looked like they had been rushed or done by a child. The colors were faded and the lines were crooked. I expected something much better for the price I paid. I would not recommend these designs to anyone.

2. John - 2/5 stars - The Halloween witch designs I received were not what I expected. The images online looked vibrant and detailed, but in reality, they were quite dull and lacked any real creativity. I was hoping for more unique and eye-catching designs, but these fell flat. They were also quite small, which made it difficult to see the details. I don't think I'll be purchasing from this seller again.

3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - The Halloween witch designs were simply not up to par. The colors were not as advertised, and the designs themselves looked cheap and poorly executed. It seemed like they were printed on low-quality paper, as they easily tore and were not very durable. I was hoping to use these for decorations, but they were not suitable for the purpose. I found the overall quality to be very disappointing.

4. Michael - 2/5 stars - The Halloween witch designs I ordered were a major letdown. The designs lacked creativity and were extremely basic. It felt like something I could have easily created myself with a quick internet search and some basic drawing skills. The quality of the print was also subpar, with visible pixels and blurriness. I expected better for the price I paid and would not recommend these designs to others.

5. Jessica - 1/5 stars - I was highly dissatisfied with the Halloween witch designs I received. The designs were poorly printed and the colors were completely off. The witches looked more like blobs of paint than actual recognizable figures. The design details were also lacking and the lines were not crisp. Overall, I felt like I wasted my money on these designs and would not recommend them to anyone.

From Salem to Now: The Evolution of the Halloween Witch Stereotype