Instead, they absorbed them through the skin on their most intimate body parts.Ī 15th-century theologian, Jordanes de Bergamo, wrote that witches “anoint a staff” and “anoint themselves under the arms and in other hairy places.” Rumor had it that witches did not eat or drink their brews. Witches were also believed to use broomsticks as vehicles for the brews that gave them the power of flight. Over time, people began to confuse it with stories of witches flying through the night to travel to orgies and other questionable events. This ritual was dubbed the “broomstick dance” and was meant to encourage healthy crops. Early Pagan RitualsĪnthropologists like Robin Skelton have traced some of the earliest accounts of witches and broomsticks back to early pagan rituals.ĭuring this time, rural farmers often leaped and danced while riding poles, pitchforks, and brooms under the full moon. Some of the most interesting stories and theories about witches and broomsticks are shared below. However, they have discovered some fascinating facts through their research. So far, historians and other scholars have yet to be able to draw a clear line from the images of witches and brooms that we know and love today. You’re familiar with the trope, but have you ever wondered where this trope originated? Fewer images scream “ Happy Halloween” quite like the image of a witch on a broomstick. Starting in October (and sometimes even earlier), witches and their trust broomsticks show up everywhere, from your local bookstore to your favorite coffee shop.
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