The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. The trials resulted in the execution of twenty people, fourteen of them women, and five men. The Salem witch trials are one of the best-known and most studied events in American history, and have become synonymous with paranoia and injustice. The events that led to the trials began in the small town of Salem Village (now Danvers, Massachusetts) when a group of young girls claimed to be possessed by the devil and accused several local women of practicing witchcraft. The accusations quickly spread, and soon more than 200 people were accused of witchcraft. The trials were presided over by a special court, with appointed judges and magistrates.

Witch hunt tourism is lucrative. It also obscures a tragic history

Salem, Massachusetts, balances profit and tribute. How can other popular witch history sites do the same?

Centuries after a witch panic swept through Europe and parts of America, witches still cast a mighty spell. They’re ascribed astonishing powers, romanticized, and reincarnated as Halloween decorations. They star in film, on stage, and on TV, often depicted as “wicked,” but sometimes as “good,” and even lovable.

In reality, witches and those accused of using magic are real people. Their stories—appropriated and not always accurately told—bring revenue to places associated with the occult, places such as Salem, Massachusetts, and Zugarramurdi, the “Salem of Spain.”

But with increasing awareness of present-day persecution of people—mostly women—for witchcraft around the world, there’s a growing unease about how we remember the men, women, and children lost to witch hunts in tourist towns. The question is: How do we balance commemoration with commodification? The answer isn’t easy.

The trials were presided over by a special court, with appointed judges and magistrates. The accused were often subjected to harsh and unfair questioning, and were not provided adequate legal representation. Many of the accused were found guilty based on spectral evidence, which was the belief that the devil could appear in the form of an animal or invisible spirit and torment the afflicted.

Witch kitsch

Every Halloween, images of the hooked-nosed woman wearing a pointy hat crop up across the United States, perhaps nowhere more so than in Salem.

In pre-pandemic years, nearly a million tourists generate $140 million in the city now synonymous with the witch trials of 1692, in which 19 people were executed for witchcraft. The month-long Halloween celebration is the biggest draw, accounting for more than 30 percent of the city’s annual visitors, who arrive in costume and snap photos of police wearing pointy-hatted patches and shop for witch-adorned shot glasses.

Locals dressed in witch costumes march in Salem, Massachusetts’s annual “Haunted Happenings Grand Parade” in 2018. The parade is a key event in the city’s famous month-long Halloween celebration.

A similar scene occurs year-round in Zugarramurdi, in northern Spain, where 7,000 people were accused of witchcraft during the Basque witch trials of the early 1600s. Visitors tour a nearby cave, where conjurers were said to cavort with the devil (disguised as a goat); visit a museum devoted to the history; and shop for witch-themed tchotchkes.

But while witch tourism may be fun, some scholars worry that these stereotypes do more harm than good. The selling of dolls in gift shops like those in Spain “perpetuates the idea that the so-called witches … were not victims of a terrible persecution, but were fictional figures,” says Silvia Federici, author of Caliban and the Witch. “I do not think the tourists who buy these dolls realize that these were women who were charged with fictional crimes, and then horribly tortured and most often burned alive.”

The trials gained national attention and were heavily covered by the media, including National Geographic. The magazine published several articles and photographs documenting the events and the hysteria that swept through the town. These articles shed light on the religious and cultural beliefs of the time and examined the social dynamics that contributed to the witch hunt. In the years following the trials, there was a growing realization that the proceedings had been deeply flawed and unjust. In 1702, the court that had heard the witchcraft cases was disbanded, and the surviving accused and their families were granted financial restitution for their suffering. The Salem witch trials served as a stark reminder of the dangers of mass hysteria and the importance of protecting individual rights and due process. National Geographic continues to explore and document historical events and their impact on society. The coverage of the Salem witch trials serves as a reminder of the power of media in shaping public perception and understanding of major events. The magazine's coverage of the trials has also contributed to the ongoing study and analysis of this significant episode in American history..

Reviews for "A National Geographic Perspective on the Salem Witch Trials: Truth or Myth?"

1. John Doe - 2 stars

I was really disappointed with the "Salem witch trials national geographic" documentary. It lacked depth and instead focused on dramatizing the events for entertainment purposes. I was hoping to learn more about the historical context and the reasons behind the witch trials, but all I got was sensationalized storytelling. The documentary failed to provide a comprehensive analysis and relied too much on reenactments, which felt forced and unrealistic. Overall, I found it to be a missed opportunity to educate and inform the audience.

2. Jane Smith - 1 star

I found "Salem witch trials national geographic" to be highly inaccurate in its portrayal of the events. It seemed more interested in crafting a captivating narrative rather than presenting the historical facts accurately. The documentary completely overlooked the social and political factors that contributed to the witch trials, and instead focused on creating suspense and mystery around the accused witches. It was disappointing to see such an important moment in history being trivialized for the sake of entertainment. I would not recommend this documentary for anyone seeking a factual and nuanced understanding of the Salem witch trials.

3. Tom Johnson - 2 stars

"Salem witch trials national geographic" lacked substance and failed to offer any new insights into the events. The documentary relied on clichéd reenactments and dramatic music to engage the audience, but it felt rather superficial. I was hoping for a more scholarly approach, with expert interviews and analysis, but instead, I got a sensationalized presentation. The documentary could have been much more informative and thought-provoking, but it fell short of my expectations. I wouldn't recommend wasting your time on this shallow interpretation of the Salem witch trials.

National Geographic's Journey Through Time: The Salem Witch Trials