The magical tools and symbols of witches: Witch witch close by

Witch witch close by The concept of witches has always been shrouded in mystery and intrigue. They are often portrayed as dark, powerful beings with the ability to cast spells and perform magical acts. In many cultures, witches are seen as evil and dangerous, while in others they are revered and seen as sources of wisdom and healing. The image of a witch has been popularized in literature and media, often depicted as an old woman with a pointed hat, broomstick, and black cat. However, the reality of witches is far more complex and varied. Witches can be male or female, young or old, and come from diverse backgrounds.

In late February, arrest warrants were issued for the Parris’ Caribbean slave, Tituba, along with two other women—the homeless beggar Sarah Good and the poor, elderly Sarah Osborn—whom the girls accused of bewitching them.

Likely seeking to save herself from certain conviction by acting as an informer, she claimed there were other witches acting alongside her in service of the devil against the Puritans. In an effort to explain by scientific means the strange afflictions suffered by those bewitched Salem residents in 1692, a study published in Science magazine in 1976 cited the fungus ergot found in rye, wheat and other cereals , which toxicologists say can cause symptoms such as delusions, vomiting and muscle spasms.

Witches can be male or female, young or old, and come from diverse backgrounds. Historically, witches were often persecuted and feared. The infamous Salem witch trials in the late 17th century saw many innocent people accused of witchcraft and executed.

Salem witch trials

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• Ancient Origins - Salem Witch Trial hysteria and the courageous stance of Giles Corey
• Famous Trials - Salem Witchcraft Trials
• Bill of Rights Institute - The Salem Witch Trials
• World History Encyclopedia - Salem Witch Trials
• The National Endowment for the Humanities - The Salem Witch Trials According to the Historical Records

• Salem Witch Trials - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
• Salem witch trials - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

• Ancient Origins - Salem Witch Trial hysteria and the courageous stance of Giles Corey
• Famous Trials - Salem Witchcraft Trials
• Bill of Rights Institute - The Salem Witch Trials
• World History Encyclopedia - Salem Witch Trials
• The National Endowment for the Humanities - The Salem Witch Trials According to the Historical Records

• Salem Witch Trials - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
• Salem witch trials - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

Jeff Wallenfeldt, manager of Geography and History, has worked as an editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica since 1992.

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

In the late 1600s the Salem Village community in the Massachusetts Bay Colony (now Danvers, Massachusetts) was fairly small and undergoing a period of turmoil with little political guidance. There was a social divide between the leading families as well as a split between factions that were for and against the village’s new pastor, Samuel Parris. After some young girls of the village (two of them relatives of Parris) started demonstrating strange behaviours and fits, they were urged to identify the person who had bewitched them. Their initial accusations gave way to trials, hysteria, and a frenzy that resulted in further accusations, often between the differing factions.

By the end of the Salem witch trials, 19 people had been hanged and 5 others had died in custody. Additionally, a man was pressed beneath heavy stones until he died.

After weeks of informal hearings, Sir William Phips, governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, interceded to add some formality to the proceedings. Over the following year many trials were held and many people imprisoned. As the trials continued, accusations extended beyond Salem Village to surrounding communities. After Governor Phips’s wife was accused, he again interceded and ordered that a new court be established that would not allow so-called spectral evidence. By May 1693 everyone in custody under conviction or suspicion of witchcraft had been pardoned by Phips.

The haphazard fashion in which the Salem witch trials were conducted contributed to changes in U.S. court procedures, including rights to legal representation and cross-examination of accusers as well as the presumption that one is innocent until proven guilty. The Salem trials also went on to become a powerful metaphor for the anticommunist hearings led by U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy during the Red Scare of the 1950s, famously in the form of Arthur Miller’s allegorical play The Crucible (1953).

Salem witch trials, (June 1692–May 1693), in American history, a series of investigations and persecutions that caused 19 convicted “witches” to be hanged and many other suspects to be imprisoned in Salem Village in the Massachusetts Bay Colony (now Danvers, Massachusetts).

This fear and persecution were fueled by religious beliefs and the belief that witches made pacts with the devil. Women, in particular, were targeted as witches due to their perceived connection to nature and the supernatural. In modern times, the perception of witches has shifted. Wicca, a modern pagan religion, has gained popularity and has sought to reclaim the image of witches as practitioners of nature-based spirituality. Wiccans celebrate nature, practice magic, and believe in a balance between light and dark forces. Witches have also found their place in popular culture. From the iconic character of the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz to the recent resurgence of interest in witchcraft in TV shows like Charmed and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, witches continue to captivate our imagination. Whether seen as symbols of power and mystery or as dangerous practitioners of dark arts, witches remain a fascinating and timeless topic. They represent a connection to the supernatural and remind us of the deep human desire to understand and control the forces of the universe. Witch, witch close by - a phrase that continues to pique our curiosity and spark our imagination..

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Witchcraft as a form of self-care: Witch witch close by