Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and caldron bubble. Witches of Macbeth

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Those who know me know I like to keep busy and I enjoy lots of things—-but my 3 H’s are History, Happy Times and HORROR……not necessarily in that order….now you might ask yourself why is she doing this now—it’s not October and also—What does this have to do with activities—-and the longer you hold that activity thoughts the scarier it might be……but…

 

 

So I thought I’d do a few weeks on supernatural (read having a potential to be scary and feeding off you buried fears and like that)  and make them into something to do or some place to go—sorta feeding those guilty pleasures as we are so advanced (yeah right) that we couldn’t possibly believe—let along to thing or go places that feed into these silly beliefs of our ancestors/NOW could we?   And besides a lot of these old legends are now great stories and not the least bit scary……just interesting.

 

 

 

and today we’ll deal with Witches and Witchcraft:  According to the Encyclopedia of Witches and Witchcraft:
“Belief in witchcraft is universal, but there is no universal definition of witchcraft.”  So we’re pretty open on this one so away we go.

 

 

 

 

 

King Arthur was taken for healiing of his wounds was the Vale of Avalon, the Apple Vale (apples being regarded as holy or magical from early times, in almost every country they were grown), which seems originally to have been meant to be Paradise, though by some later  writers  it was equated with Glastonbury

Check out Glastonbury—its a great place to visit full of legends, ruins and tors…..https://glastonbury.uk/

 

 

 

 

During the Middle Ages person executed as witches, at least according to my research, were in most cases were the wise women of the village—those that knew herb crafts and the like –healers, persons who were thus more visible and open to being the scapegoat for anything and everything that went wrong.     There are all manner of books about Witches and so your group could do an informal book club thing,  have a get together with a few friends who need something new to discuss or just your own knowledge on the subject.  There are so many book and sites given non-fiction on the subject and fictions has all manner of thing what ever your tastes—in fact taking three—i.e. history of, a presentation as evil witches and another as good could make for a well balanced discussion of the genre:  Check this site (Entertainment) for a wide variety of books on the subject:  https://ew.com/books/witches-book-list/?slide=5783824#5783824

 

 

 

According to several sources Germany (there was technically no Germany during this time, but the states that would eventually form the country were a top site of the execution of these person designated as magic workers and devil followers.).   Scotland was another place that over-reacted to this scare—heavily fueled by James VI (I’s of England) who thought that his life as well as  his family’s lives had been endangered by witchcraft.  Edinburgh’s Royal Mile has a well (http://www.royal-mile.com/history/witches-well.html) in memory of those burned there and across the street is the Witchery (https://www.thewitchery.com/) a wonderful Victorian-styled restaurant.

In addition to these two there are 7 more places in the city that you might be interested in:  Check them out at this witches’ site:  https://witchoflupinehollow.com/2018/01/16/9-witchy-places-visit-edinburgh-scotland/

and the rest of the city is well worth a prolonged visit  https://edinburgh.org/

 

 

 

Of course the USA has its own witches site:  Salem—a group of PIlgrims (a member of a group of Protestants that arose in the 16th century within the Church of England, demanding the simplification of doctrine and worship,and greater strictness in religious discipline: during part of the 17th century the Puritans became a powerful political party.  Dictionaryonline.com) in the city of Salem executed 20 “Witches” (unlike Europe that burned their witches the new world preferred hanging, and pressing—putting them under boards on which they put rocks until the life was crushed out of them–the executions occurred from June to Sept. 1692, 20 persons were actively executed and 4 others died in prison as direct result of witchcraft prosecution with another 13 deaths in prison that may have been related.   Salem has long been connected to these events and deaths and has remained a site for the interested as well as more recently for the practicing Witch.    https://thingstodoinsalem.com/

 

 

 

Bishops in England are not known for their affinity with birds.  In Chichester it is said that when the Bishop is about to die a heron perches on the Cathedral.

A History of Chichester Cathedral

and check out the whole district while you’re at it:  https://www.visitchichester.org/

and in Salisbury the death is predicted by two large white birds (like albatrosses, but not ) that fly thru the air w/o moving their wings….there have even been two more recent deaths with these predictors one in 1855 and more recently 1905,   For more about the cathedral:  https://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/  

And other interesting things in Salisbury:  https://www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/salisbury

 

 

 

 

You can enjoy witches with the Bard—-

Macbeth (The Modern Shakespeare: The Original Play with a Modern Translation) Kindle Edition

which you can purchase and while away a few hrs. with toil and trouble.

 

 

 

Or how about a Hocus Pocus Party-—that Crazy witches story:   A curious youngster moves to Salem, where he struggles to fit in before awakening a trio of diabolical witches that were executed in the 17th century  with Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy   

You can just get together and watch the crazy doings on this romp—get the girls over (and any guys who will set thru)  You can have fun drinks:  i.e. Bloody maries—or white wine with a bit of black food coloring and so on—-:    Make fun food or do witchy themes for the food—best idea have everyone bring a dish with a witch theme  to share during the watch.

 

Of course you will need other movies —-there’s one I saw OMG the Babysitter’s a Witch that looks cute.    Or you can pick up some really bad ones—like from the fifty’s that are so bad they’re fun to watch—to mingle with the others and give you a bench days.

 

kick it up a notch with a costume (nothing too hard as this is a binge day—) maybe a contest on which can do the best Lounging Witch–or causal Witch’s Day costume and of course a prize—maybe a copy of one of the witch movies

 

 

 

Oh and other movies you could do a day around—or include in your witch binge….these are just my choices:

 Malificent-–Angelina’s bit for the Witches

1942—movie:  I Married a Witch

Stardust

Bell Book and Candle

and my favorite with Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock

Practical Magic

 

 

 

 

How about visiting a grave?  One of someone that is known for being scary—for the older generation and the old movie buffs how about Bela Lugosi.…..known for playing Dracula and in fact buried in his Dracula cape—and supposedly at the expense (at least legend says–of Frank Sinatra– who is buried at Desert Memorial Park Cemetery in Chaderal CIty, CA) as Lugosi was bankrupted in August 1956 when just a few months after marrying his 5th wife he passed on (without the help of a stake, but it was reportedly his heart).  He is buried at Holy Cross (what else?) Cemetery in Culver CIty, Ca.  Sharon Tate who was murdered by an even scarier group of people is also buried here. along with 28 other famous stars.  Check it out:  https://www.seeing-stars.com/Buried2/HolyCross.shtml

and what else there is to do in the city as well:  https://www.culvercity.org/enjoy/things-to-do

 

 

 

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In New York State you can visit

The Witches Brew  Coffee House

                                                            311 Genpstead Tpke
West Hempstead, NY 11552
                                                                        Other things to do there:  https://trip101.com/article/things-to-do-hempstead-ny
 
                                                                            
 
                                                                                                In Mississippi you can visit a 
                                                                                                    Witch’s Grave:              
                                                                                                                        While an official year is not known, the Glenwood Cemetery dates back to at least 1856. Visitors to this cemetery will find a grave surrounded by chain links, which belongs to the notorious Yazoo City Witch who, according to legend, burned the town to the ground, vowing to return and exact revenge. The story of the witch and the cemetery’s significance lives on through tours put on by costumed storytellers.  
http://visityazoo.org/glenwood-cemetery/
 
 
And something to look forward to:  Wicked is being made for the movies and should be out by December of this year (2019)  https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-news/wicked-film-to-hit-theaters-december-2019-40554/
 
 
 
or some place that can’t help but having some lingering memories
Place de la Nation, during the Revolution it was changed from Square of Thrones to Square of the Throne Overthrown and between June 14 and July 27 1794 an estimated 30 people a day (more than 1300 victims in all) were beheaded here on the guillotine and then their bleeding, naked, headless bodies were thrown into pits in the grounds of the near-by former Picpus convent.  The land was later bought by a princess whose brother was beheaded in the Revolution and it was walled in and made into a cemetery for use by families of the victims and their descendants.   Lafayette, hero of the American Revolution is buried here.  https://www.inspirock.com/france/paris/pictus-cemetery-cimetiere-de-picpus-a218428215
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                                         
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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