Saudi man executed for 'witchcraft and sorcery' ". BBC News. Bbc.com. 19 June 2012. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019 . Retrieved 7 June 2014. One such figure was peculiar to the western Alps. She was the female embodiment of winter, a female figure often called Bertha or Perchta or Befuna. She punished social disobedience and rewarded ‘goodness’. She was always portrayed as an old hag, because she represented cold and winter. It did not take long for intellectuals to note her resemblance to the witches with whom they were familiar from classical literature. a b William Wyatt Gill (1892). "Wizards". The south Pacific and New Guinea, past and present; with notes on the Hervey group, an illustrative song and various myths. Sydney: Charles Potter, Government Printer.

This includes Halloween, or in the Pagan community, "Samhain." It is seen as the time when the veil between the physical and spirit worlds is thinnest. "So, it's a time of honoring our ancestors and connecting with the spirit world," said Grossman. Social stigma as an epidemiological determinant for leprosy elimination in Cameroon". Journal of Public Health in Africa. Archived from the original on 31 July 2017 . Retrieved 27 August 2014. Chambers, Robert (1861). Domestic Annals of Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland. ISBN 978-1298711960. {{ cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher ( link)Emma Wilby says folk magicians in Europe were viewed ambivalently by communities, and were considered as capable of harming as of healing, [131] :51–54 which could lead to their being accused as malevolent witches. She suggests some English "witches" convicted of consorting with demons may have been cunning folk whose supposed fairy familiars had been demonised. [131] :123 a b c Jasper Buse (1995). Cook Islands Maori Dictionary. Cook Islands Ministry of Education. ISBN 978-0728602304. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016 . Retrieved 27 February 2016. In ancient Mesopotamian religion, witches (m. kaššāpu, f. kaššāptu, from kašāpu ['to bewitch'] [59]) eventually [ when?] came to be "regarded as an anti-social and illegitimate practitioner of destructive magic ... whose activities were motivated by malice and evil intent and who was opposed by the ašipu, an exorcist or incantation-priest", [60] :65–66 who were predominantly male representatives of the official state religion. [60] The individuals mentioned in records of Mesopotamian society as witches tended to be those of low status who were weak or otherwise marginalized, including women, foreigners, actors, and peddlers. [1] :49 a b c María Herrera-Sobek (2012). Celebrating Latino Folklore: An Encyclopedia of Cultural Traditions. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-0313343391.

Folk customs and belief in magic existed across the world for centuries. In Western Europe, witches were both respected and feared for their powers. A 2022 study found that belief in witchcraft, as in the use of malevolent magic or powers, is still widespread in some parts of the world. It found that belief in witchcraft varied from 9% of people in some countries to 90% in others, and was linked to cultural and socioeconomic factors. Stronger belief in witchcraft correlated with poorer economic development, weak institutions, lower levels of education, lower life expectancy, lower life satisfaction, and high religiosity. [85] [86] Burns, William (2003). Witch Hunts in Europe and America: An Encyclopedia. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp.141–142. Saudi woman beheaded for 'witchcraft and sorcery' ". Edition.cnn.com. 13 December 2011. Archived from the original on 21 May 2020 . Retrieved 7 June 2014.If a man has put a spell upon another man and it is not justified, he upon whom the spell is laid shall go to the holy river; into the holy river shall he plunge. If the holy river overcome him and he is drowned, the man who put the spell upon him shall take possession of his house. If the holy river declares him innocent and he remains unharmed the man who laid the spell shall be put to death. He that plunged into the river shall take possession of the house of him who laid the spell upon him. [61] [c] Asian witchcraft encompasses various types of witchcraft practices across Asia. In ancient times, magic played a significant role in societies such as ancient Egypt and Babylonia, as evidenced by historical records. In the Middle East, references to magic can be found in the Torah, where witchcraft is condemned due to its association with belief in magic. Grossman uses altars to engage with the physical realm to elevate her practice. She also uses herbalism and plants, as well as talismans and amulets to bring protective energy. a b Ankarloo, Bengt; Clark, Stuart (2001). Witchcraft and Magic in Europe: Biblical and Pagan Societies. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: University of Philadelphia Press. ISBN 978-0826486066.

For Pam Grossman, author of "Waking the Witch: Reflections on Women, Magic, and Power," witchcraft is a spiritual and creative practice of personal change and bringing about change in the world. Grossman had been interested in magic, mythology and fairy tales since childhood, and with age, her connection grew deeper. Like green witches, plant witches work with plants! Their practice might focus on a connection with nature. They may study the history, traditions, and cultural associations of different plants and herbs as well as use them in rituals, potions, and spells. Gray Witch The historical record from that time is limited, and our understanding of these events can be influenced by the perspectives of the Confucian scholars and officials who documented them. As a result, there might be some variations in the interpretation of the exact nature and extent of the expulsion of shamans and other religious practitioners during Emperor Wu's reign. [64] Abrahamic religions [ edit ] An extract from Hutton's The Witch covering this topic can be read online at https://yalebooksblog.co.uk/2017/07/31/five-characteristics-of-a-witch-an-extract-by-ronald-hutton/ [1] :3-4

Definition of witchcraft

And over time, the church began to take a tougher stance on folk’s beliefs. The Pope’s decree on witchcraft in 1484 encouraged correcting, imprisoning, punishing, and chastising those involved in witchcraft. Because, as he put it, those straying from the Catholic faith have abandoned themselves to devils. a b c Breslaw, E. G. (2011). "Witchcraft in Early North America". Journal of American History. p.504. doi: 10.1093/jahist/jar254. Just like the name sounds, a hereditary witch is someone who inherited their powers or their practice through their family line. Think Practical Magic. Crystal Witch Campbell, Heather M., ed. (2011). The Emergence of Modern Europe: c. 1500 to 1788. Britannica Educational Publishing. p.27. ISBN 978-1615303434. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021 . Retrieved 29 June 2013. Indigenous communities such as the Cherokee, [104] Hopi, [105] the Navajo [5] among others, [106] included in their folklore and beliefs which malevolent figures who could harm their communities, often resulting in severe punishments, including death. [107] These communities also recognized the role of medicine people as healers and protectors against these malevolent forces. [ citation needed]