Post by Joanna on Oct 21, 2013 20:37:04 GMT -5
Follow the Trail of Real Witches
Of the many monsters associated with Halloween, ghosts and witches vie for first place. Although these days, our fascination with witchcraft takes on a more benign form (nothing a Netflix all-night Buffy-fest can’t cure), there once was a time when the mere mention of sorcery led entire towns to hang, burn, drown or otherwise dispense with those accused of practicing the dark arts.
While it may seem witches have since been relegated to history books and costume shops, there are still many places in the world that treat magic as serious business, no matter the time of year. Want a truly spellbinding experience? Check out our guide to the world’s witchiest hotspots:
Salem, Massachusetts. The Salem Witch Trials that began and ended in 1692 have become firmly embedded in the public imagination. Notably, the trials were the basis for Arthur Miller’s McCarthyism parable, The Crucible, and they’ve provided the backdrop for such fantasy staples from Dark Shadows to Dr. Who to The Vampire Diaries. The trials, which led to the execution of 20 “witches” – 19 were hanged and a 20th was pressed to death – began after two young girls, ages 11 and 7, became afflicted with a strange illness that 17th-century doctors could not diagnose. More than 150 people were ultimately accused, with several dying while languishing in jail.
Today, Salem’s witchlore is a booming tourist trade. More than 100,000 visitors pour into town during the month-long Haunted Happenings festival, which takes place every October. “About 85% of visitors we asked say they’re interested in the witch trials and 80% say they’re interested in modern witches,” explains Kate Fox, the executive director of Destination Salem. The town also boasts a strong Wiccan community, with spell shops and psychic stalls featuring fortunetellers and mediums. While witch costumes are encouraged, green face paint (à la the Wicked Witch of the West) is frowned upon by “serious” witches. “The witch community is not a fan of green-faced witches. It’s a stereotype they’re trying to get away from,” Fox adds.
Lancashire, England. Before the Salem trials, there were the Pendle witches. The 1612 trials, in which 10 individuals were found guilty and hanged, were among the most notorious in English history. Religious fervor played a strong role with King James I, a Scotsman and Protestant, eager to rout out both witches and Catholics among the well-heeled. The impoverished didn’t fare much better. “The poor often sold natural remedies made from local plants and herbs, which Church authorities often viewed as “spells,” hence, “demonic,” explains Michael Williams, tourism team leader for the Pendle Borugh Council and Marketing Lancashire. Last year marked the 400th anniversary of the trials, which the town commemorated by instituting the Pendle Sculpture Trail – a signposted walk with 10 plaques – one for each victim – posted on trees throughout the woodland area. The trails are dotted with landmarks from the trials and culminate at Lancaster Castle, the former prison where the accused were tried. Like Salem, the area around Pendle Hill capitalizes on its witchy history, as evidenced by such establishments as the Pendle Witch Pub (above) in Sabden, Lancashire.
Brocken, Germany. Fans of Faust will recognize the Brocken as the traditional meeting place of witches, who apparently gather yearly each April 30 for Walpurgisnacht. The Brocken is the highest peak in the Harz mountain range in North Germany and was once believed to be the destination of many a goat-riding witch or warlock (brooms came into the equation later). Although locals once hung crosses and herbs on their doors to ward off the suspected evil-doers, these days celebrants emulate the witches. Thousands channel their inner Hermione on the last night in April, with many donning witch masks and black, pointy hats and others in devil costumes and horns emulating the Prince of Darkness himself.
La Paz, Bolivia. In a mountain clearing known as Cerro Cumbre, one finds the type market that doesn’t carry your usual tourist fodder – unless you’re in the market for a dried llama fetus. The Witches Market, or Mercado de las Brujas is made up of shops that carry everything from medicinal herbs to heftier spell-making ingredients. For many of the brujas, or witches, magic is a family business and several store owners sell concoctions that have been passed down from one generation to the next. Although the market was once the exclusive purview of Bolivians, these days, tourists make up the bulk of its economy.
Catemaco, Mexico. Every year, on the first Friday of March, the town of Catemaco hosts the International Congress of Witches. Thousands of believers bus in from all over Mexico to enlist local sorcerers to cast a spell or read a fortune (for a fee, of course). While witchcraft has a centuries-old history in Mexico – a mixture of African, pre-Hispanic and Catholic rituals – the Congress dates no farther back than the 1970s. In recent years, the event has become a tourist attraction and these days, local musical acts are as much a part of the event as palm readings and curse removals.
Sources: Daisy Carrington, CNN, October 21, 2013; The Pendle Witch Trail; German Travel; and Salem Witch Trials.
