The magical realm is a place filled with enchantment, wonder, and unimaginable beings. It is a world hidden from the eyes of ordinary humans, where magical creatures roam and mystical powers reign. Within this realm, a group of individuals, known as the Watchers, have taken on the important task of safeguarding this magical world. The Watchers are a select few who possess unique abilities and a deep connection to the magical forces that exist within the realm. Their role is to keep a watchful eye over the balance between good and evil, ensuring that no harm befalls the magical creatures or the realm itself. These guardians are highly trained in the use of their powers and possess an innate understanding of the magical realm.

Hocus Pocus and the Salem Witch Trials

These guardians are highly trained in the use of their powers and possess an innate understanding of the magical realm. They are skilled at detecting any disturbances or threats to the balance and have the ability to intervene and restore harmony when necessary. The Watchers work in secrecy, operating from hidden locations within the magical realm.

Together with the Sanderson sisters, let’s rediscover the story of one of the saddest and most terrifying chapters in American history.

With the release of the highly anticipated sequel to the Sanderson sisters’ saga, Hocus Pocus 2 on Disney+, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to delve deeper and tell you the story of the Salem witch trials. Both films draw inspiration from this historical event to narrate the tale of the Sanderson sisters.

But what happened in Salem during those years, from a historical perspective?

Between 1692 and 1693, in this small village in Massachusetts, a series of trials unfolded. Initially based on the testimonies of some very young girls, these trials led to the accusations of witchcraft against some of their fellow townsfolk, primarily women. As months passed, the fear that the devil roamed the streets of the small community, ready to tempt anyone with lungs to breathe, especially if they were women, led to a full-fledged witch hunt. This witch hunt, in turn, resulted in trials and subsequent hangings.

The story of the Salem witch trials is one of the most famous and terrifying episodes in American history and in the history of witch hunts in general. Moreover, it is a story from which we can draw a valuable lesson: fanaticism, regardless of its origin, has always been one of the worst afflictions of humanity. The only way to counter it is through study, reason, patience, and thorough use of intellect applied to culture.

Of course, at the end of the article, I won’t forget to provide my review of the second installment of the film.

With that said, come with me, in the company of the Sanderson Sisters, as we discover the history of the Salem witch trials!

The Witch Hunt from the Old World to the New World

This isn’t the first time we’ve discussed witches, the history of witches, and witch hunts here on the blog. If you want to delve deeper into the matter, I recommend reading this article where the history of witches in Europe and the witch hunt on the Old Continent is discussed. In Europe, the period of most intense witch-hunting roughly spanned from 1430 to 1780, peaking between 1560 and 1630. It’s from Europe that the witch hunt originated and later migrated to the New World with the colonists. However, the underlying reasons for these events, both in Europe and in Salem, were essentially the same: fear. Fear of the different, fear of what cannot be explained. And religious and spiritual fundamentalism was the key to understanding and giving a tangible form to this fear.

The Historical and Social Context of Salem

That being said, before delving into the history of the trials, it’s essential to provide a brief context to understand what Salem was like during that period. At that time, there were two Salems. One was the bustling port town of Salem Town, which has since evolved into modern-day Salem. The other, where the entire affair began, was Salem Village. The latter was a small village of around 500 people. Sources indicate that there was no love lost between the two communities, and the village residents didn’t particularly get along with the town’s inhabitants, who were not only wealthier, as one might expect, but also more powerful, controlling the affairs of both the town and the village. The village fell under the jurisdiction of the town, which inherently led to many disputes and ongoing conflicts, making this community less than idyllic. In this contentious atmosphere, the usual and constant fear was compounded by the fear brought about by the ongoing war. Between 1675 and 1678, there was a war in those parts, known as King Philip’s War, between the English and Native Americans. The Native Americans frequently attacked settlements and conducted raids. In short, the climate in the area was far from ideal. Additionally, the religious context played a significant role, more than anything else, in influencing the matter.

The Religious Context

What was the religious context? The inhabitants of those areas were descendants of the old Pilgrim Fathers who had migrated to those regions from Europe aboard the Mayflower in the early 1600s. These individuals had formed the first community of North American Puritanism. The people living in Salem, therefore, were not only descendants of these early settlers but, just like them, were Puritans. Who were the Puritans, and what is Puritanism? Puritanism was a religious reform movement that gained momentum between the 16th and 17th centuries, aimed at “purifying” the Church of England. To sum it up, it was a type of movement that was very strict at the time and influenced people’s lifestyle and thinking in every aspect of human life. Religion was taken very seriously and deeply by the Puritans. They believed that truly devout individuals should have a direct relationship with God to be redeemed from their sinful condition. In short, religion touched every aspect of human life, and to be a good Christian, one had to adopt a rigorous lifestyle while avoiding those human passions that could lead to sin.

Belief in Witchcraft

Where does witchcraft fit into all of this? Nowadays, when we think of witches and witchcraft, we tend to smile, but during that time, people took it very seriously. Speaking of witchcraft and black magic, I would refer you to this old article (is in Italian but we will traslate it as soon as possible) of ours where we delve into this very topic.

This belief is also documented by various sources and historical documents from the time, which reflect people’s fervent belief in witchcraft. Moreover, the Bible itself contains passages regarding witches and their existence. For example, in the Book of Exodus (22:18), states, “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.” Imagine what this could have meant in a religiously extreme community like the Puritans of that era, where the word of the Bible was considered untouchable and unquestionable.

Finally, it’s important to understand that these were historical periods where, even from a scientific and technical perspective, many of the discoveries that provide us with answers to seemingly inexplicable phenomena today had not yet been made. This means that religion was often invoked to explain incomprehensible events, and consequently, so was witchcraft. Fear has always stemmed from what we don’t know and think we can’t control. Throughout history, various extreme measures have been taken to counter it. In a community like Puritan Salem, religion was the means used to combat it. This means that if inexplicable things happened or things that people didn’t like, there were two possible explanations: it was either the will of the Lord or the work of the devil, and therefore, the witch was seen as his tool for wrongdoing. And when I say anything, I mean absolutely anything. From this perspective, an ironic example can be found in Hocus Pocus 2 when, at the beginning of the film, the three sisters use magic to set the reverend’s house on fire in retaliation. In response, he claims it was the work of the devil. The scene in the film is humorous and comedic, but in reality, this is precisely what happened. If someone’s house caught fire, they fell ill, their cow or livestock died, and more often than not, witchcraft was the explanation. To illustrate, let me give you a very simple example of the kind of dynamics that could occur, which are the same as what happened in Salem. Let’s take two people we’ll call John and Adele. Now, if at that time Adele went to John and asked to borrow some sugar, and for some reason, John refused to lend it to her and then, for some reason of fate, perhaps two days later Johns’s cat died or his only goat had a heart attack, then he could accuse Adele of witchcraft. In essence, poor Adele could be accused of witchcraft because, according to common belief, the dead cat and the goat’s heart attack were the result of black magic that Adele had decided to use to get back at the stingy and miserly John.

The Arrival of Samuel Parris

Having made the necessary (and quite lengthy, I realize) introductions, what happened? Well, in 1689, under pressure from some families in the village, Samuel Parris became the pastor, a Boston merchant who had moved there with his wife, their three children, a niece, and two slaves originally from Barbados, including a slave named Tituba, whom I will tell you about shortly. Many report that Parris wasn’t the best choice for various reasons. The situation was already tense, and Parris didn’t have the personal background and character suitable for such a place. As mentioned, Parris was not initially a pastor but a merchant. He had studied theology at Harvard but had interrupted his studies and changed careers. According to scholars, he worsened the situation because he was not well-liked by a portion of the community, which considered him very greedy and rude for demanding higher compensation than he was entitled to. Furthermore, his fiery sermons often exacerbated existing conflicts. In any case, it was from him that the entire affair began.

The Beginning of the Story

In 1692, Samuel Parris’s 9-year-old daughter, Betty, his 11-year-old niece, Abigail Williams, and their 12-year-old friend, Ann Putnam Jr., began engaging in fortune-telling and alleged magical practices. According to some scholars, they were likely inspired by the voodoo stories they often heard from the aforementioned slave, Tituba. Between January and February of the same year, the behavior of Betty and Abigail became increasingly bizarre. According to accounts, the two girls would often scream and contort, throw objects, hide, and crawl on the floor. Soon after, Ann Putnam and other children, friends of the girls, began exhibiting the same behaviors. At that point, the concerned minister, unable to understand what afflicted the girls, asked the village doctor, William Griggs, to examine them. However, Griggs couldn’t find any scientific explanation and attributed the phenomenon to the supernatural.

Simultaneously, at the suggestion of a neighbor, the slave Tituba prepared a cake known as the “witch cake.” In the popular tradition of the time, this cake was believed to help identify witches. It was made with the urine of the afflicted girls and fed to a dog. People believed that the hound, after eating the cake, would be able to recognize the witches. Needless to say, this had no effect and, in fact, further infuriated Parris, who saw it as a blasphemous act. He decided to pressure the girls to confess who had bewitched them.

Possible Scientific Explanations for the Girls’ Behavior

A small note: to this day, we have not been able to determine exactly what ailed the girls. Scholars, upon examining the issue, have put forth various hypotheses. Some suggest they could have been afflicted by a combination of various illnesses such as asthma, encephalitis, epilepsy, and so on. Others propose that they may have experienced some form of abuse. Finally, some have even suggested the possibility that the girls were infected by a type of fungus called ergot fungus, also known as “rye ergot,” which contains the hallucinogenic LSD and can cause hallucinations, convulsions, and other symptoms similar to those exhibited by the girls. Today, however, there is no definitive explanation, but what is certain is that in such a rigid and severe environment, it couldn’t have been easy for children to live psychologically at ease, and this undoubtedly must have affected their behavior and physical well-being.

Accusations and the Beginning of the Trials

In any case, whatever the reason behind their behavior, the young girls, pressured by the minister, eventually confessed to what he most likely wanted to hear. Namely, they had been bewitched by Tituba and two other marginalized women in the community: a beggar named Sarah Good and an elderly, sick woman who had not attended church for years named Sarah Osborn. Specifically, as mentioned earlier, Tituba was the Parris family’s slave and had a close bond with the children, often entertaining them with tales and stories of magic and horror. The fact that she was the first to be accused, followed by two other women, both of whom were marginalized in society, raises questions about the nature of the accusations.

The women were imprisoned and put under pressure. At this point, the situation began to deteriorate. Initially, all three women vehemently professed their innocence, claiming to be unrelated to the accusations. However, in the end, Tituba, after enduring various pressures and torments, and likely frightened by the fact that she was a slave, told the minister and magistrates what they wanted to hear. That is, yes, she was a witch, and the devil had visited her. She described all the encounters she had with the devil and confirmed the accusations against the other two women. Thanks to that confession, Tituba’s life was spared, but she remained in prison and was later sold. The other two women, who continued to profess their innocence, were hanged as witches. However, this was only the beginning of the general hysteria that would persist for many months to come.

The Dead and the Accused

Subsequently, more women began to be accused, and this time, they were not just marginalized members of the community but also women considered honest and irreproachable. Among them, the most emblematic case was that of Rebecca Nurse, a highly regarded woman in the village. As the accusations began to pour in, they eventually encompassed not only women but also men. Consequently, by the end of the trials, there were 20 deaths: 19 were hanged, and one man was pressed to death under heavy stones, a slow and agonizing process used to extract a confession that never came. Moreover, the accused reached a high number, considering the population of the time, totaling around 200 individuals. This means that, in all likelihood, every family had one or more individuals accused of witchcraft in their homes.

The Trials and Spectral Evidence

But how did the trials take place? Perhaps the most chilling aspect of all was that to prove the accusations, the so-called “spectral evidence” was admitted in court. These consisted primarily of dreams and visions. The victims were coerced into making statements in which they admitted, for example, to have seen or been attacked by a specter, which was presumably the incarnation of the devil. Moreover, spectral evidence allowed the words of the accusers to be accepted as irrefutable proof. If one of the alleged bewitched girls in court cried out that she had been bewitched and provided evidence by contorting and complaining, then this was considered “spectral evidence” of the defendant’s guilt and demonic presence. In the end, some of the accused, to save their lives, confessed but lived with the trauma for the rest of their lives or were forced to relocate. Those who continued to vehemently profess their innocence, as we have seen, met their demise.

The End of the Trials and Consequences

The situation came to an end when accusations of witchcraft reached the wife of the Governor of Massachusetts, William Phips. At this point, he intervened and ordered the suspension of the trials. A Superior Court of Justice was established, which no longer admitted the use of spectral evidence. In the subsequent trials, only 3 of the remaining accused individuals were convicted. The others were pardoned, and in May 1693, the trials concluded.

The consequences of this tragic episode, however, persisted until recent years. Many people came to regret their actions over time. Even one of the judges who had participated in the trials, Samuel Sewall, publicly acknowledged his mistakes. In the early 1700s, the court declared the trials illegitimate, and some of the families of the victims received financial compensation. It wasn’t until 2001 that all the names of the convicted individuals were officially cleared of charges and expunged.

The Lessons of the Story

This entire affair teaches us many things. Certainly, the most significant lesson revolves around extremism and fundamentalism. In Salem, the opportunity was given for extremism and fear to take control. Fundamentally, the accusers and the trials were not much different from today’s terrorists and religious fundamentalists. We must never let fear of the different and the unknown overpower our lives. Reason, knowledge, and patience are, from this perspective, the simplest and best ways to avoid such things.

Review of Hocus Pocus 2

Regarding the movie, I can say that all in all, I enjoyed it. Certainly, the first one remains the most beautiful and the absolute best. But essentially, this one is not bad either. Seeing the three Sanderson sisters, portrayed more than masterfully by Sarah Jessica Parker, Bette Midler, and Kathy Najimy, was a lot of fun. In the end, I watch these films with the awareness that they are certainly not Oscar-winning masterpieces but rather films that aim to entertain and amuse the audience to provide a few hours of joy. The only discordant note, after delving into the Salem story, I watched the film with a bitter aftertaste. Knowing that such horror and suffering occurred in those places and then watching the film, which still entertained me greatly, left me unsettled. The film is enjoyable, and if they were to make another one, I would gladly watch it. However, I cannot deny that I will always have that bitter aftertaste associated with what truly happened in Salem.

With that said, we have reached the end of this story. As always, if you enjoyed it and found it interesting, please let us know by sharing it or commenting on our social channels!

Sources:

• https://www.worldhistory.org/trans/it/1-19620/i-processi-alle-streghe-di-salem/
• https://www.britannica.com/event/Salem-witch-trials
• https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-Phips
• https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/salem_%28Dizionario-di-Storia%29/#:~:text=Localit%C3%A0%20del%20Massachusetts%20che%20fu,17%C2%B0.
• https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/salem_%28Enciclopedia-Italiana%29/
• https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/padri-pellegrini_%28Dizionario-di-Storia%29/
• https://www.britannica.com/topic/Puritanism
• Documentario Barbero sulle streghe di Salem

The Pouch: The Dark History of the Sanderson Sisters

Many know the Sanderson Sisters as the three comical yet powerful witches – with an immense craving for children’s souls – from the classic film Hocus Pocus. While the sisters are portrayed as magical individuals with evil plans to keep themselves young, the reality of the innocent and wrongfully convicted women in which their characters are based is a tragic story.

The paranoia of witches started in 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts, in which girls “as young as 4 and as old as 72” were put on trial for practicing witchcraft (Bivins). 20 people were executed, including two of the three Towne sisters.

Rebecca Towne Nurse, Mary Towne Easty, and Sarah Towne Cloyce were the original sisters of Salem who inspired the iconic roles of Winifred, Mary, and Sarah Sanderson. However, the Towne sisters were almost the opposite of their inspired characters. Rebecca Towne, a 72-year-old grandmother, was a highly respected woman of her community. When first accused, she was originally found not guilty of witchery – until a group of young girls claimed she had inflicted “evil” upon them. With no solid evidence, Rebecca was hung for witchcraft. The next sister to be accused, Mary, was also known to be a kind woman. The same group of young girls that accused Rebecca stated that Mary was using her powers to control them. While praying for her sister, Mary clasped her hands together, asking for her freedom. One of the “afflicted,” Mercy Lewis, imitated her clasped hands, claiming she could not move them until Mary did (Bivins). In addition, when Mary tilted her head, the girls accused her of trying to break their necks, leading to her execution. The third sister, Sarah, was the only Towne sister that escaped with her life. According to Jan Beattie, descendant of Rebecca Towne, Sarah was smuggled out of a private jail by her husband after being convicted, and they spent the frigid winter hiding in a cave (Oklahoma).

In 1692 and 1693, over 200 people were accused of witchcraft, and 20 were executed. The witch hysteria grew so great that two dogs were even executed as familiars. Many believe that there was true witchcraft practiced throughout the 17th century; however, none of the “witches” that are known to have been executed in the trials were proven of their powers.

Those accused were not picked at random, though. In fact, some see it as a result of separation in class. Most accusers were farmers, while those put on trial lived near or operated successful businesses on the main road to Ipswich. Others believe that the group of adolescent girls, with their unusual behavior of convulsing and screaming whenever they were around “witches” had eaten grain contaminated with fungus, causing them to hallucinate, but there were never any definitive answers (Oklahoma).

And as Max Dennison would say, some believe it was all just a bunch of “hocus pocus.”

The dark history behind the seasonal comedy Hocus Pocus

The real story behind the iconic Sanderson sisters is much more tragic than their comical stories.

Anna Parsons, Staff Writer | October 29, 2020

Hocus Pocus is good entertainment, but it also draws parallels to one of the darkest chapters in American history.

‘Tis the time of the year for trick or treating and ghost stories and for Mary Sanderson to say her iconic line, “I smell children!”

27 years later and the beloved movie Hocus Pocus is still watched every Halloween season. The Sanderson sisters Winne, Mary, and Sarah continue to produce endless laughter with their comical and ridiculous personalities.

While the three sisters were portrayed as truly magical individuals with a craving for children’s souls to keep themselves young, their characters were based on real women, who were innocent people, murdered for being supposed witches.

The Salem Witch Trials began in the spring of 1692. When a group of girls accused numerous women of possessing them by the devil through witchcraft, the colony of Massachusetts spiraled into chaos and panic. By June, Bridget Bishop, the first witch accused, was hanged.

In colonial times, religion was the main focus of everyday life. The Salem Witch Trials would not have occurred were it not for the fact that the Puritan colonists believed that the devil was being enacted on others.

Paranoia served as a catalyst to the accusations of witchcraft. A new term was even developed to describe the people who were experiencing symptoms of witchcraft — they were “bewitched.” Several centuries later, a 1976 article in American Scientist argued that the behavior of the alleged witches in Salem mirrored the symptoms of ingesting a fungus called ergot, found in commonly consumed foods of the time. The fungus causes delusions, vomiting, and muscle spasms — all common signs for the Puritans of being “ bewitched .”

The ultimate punishment served by the Sanderson sisters in Hocus Pocus was the penalty of hanging. While the punishment was common in the pre-colonial era — in fact, 19 Salem men and women perished from this form of execution during the trials — hanging was not the only way the convicted witches were brought to their untimely end.

Giles Corey was stoned to death after refusing to plea innocent or guilty in court. Other victims — Lydia Dustin, Ann Foster, Sarah Osborne, and Robert Toothaker — did not even get a chance at innocence due to their inhumane treatment in the witch jail, which ultimately led to their deaths. However, none of the Salem Witch Trial victims were burned at the stake, as common lore suggests.

Along with the misconception of burning at the stake, the notion that only women were persecuted during the Salem Witch Trials is false. Numerous men were wrongfully accused — but not because they were believed to be witches. Instead, they spoke out against the unjust accusations made against the women.

John Proctor’s pregnant wife was actively questioned in court about her supposed witchcraft when he spoke out against the court in her favor. He soon would be added to the list of witches, along with the minister George Burroughs, who owed money to a family. The family heard of the trials and accused Burroughs of witchcraft simply because they were unhappy with him. Both men were killed.

The hysteria reached such insane levels that two dogs were even accused of witchcraft. The dogs were executed as a result.

The trials lasted until early 1693, soon after Cotton Mather and his father urged the Salem Witch Trials to require just as much evidence as normal trials. Governor May Phips decided to drop the remaining charges on any individuals being charged for witchcraft. Four years later, the colony of Massachusetts’ General Court created a day of fasting for those lives damaged during the trials. In 1711, the General Court provided financial restitution to the families of the perished. Yet, the damage created during that dreadful year was far too great to simply be forgotten about with apologies.

The historic story of the Salem Witch Trials has never fallen out of the historical spotlight. Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible, commonly read by American high school students , depicts the trials. Though the tragic piece of history occurred over 328 years ago, its legacy carries on as a reminder of how hysteria leads to insane misjudgment that ultimately results in horrible outcomes.

The classic Halloween movie Hocus Pocus will always be played each year to celebrate its perfectly hilarious concepts and iconic nature. But when the history behind the film is better understood, it can be appreciated that much more.

They are guided by a code of honor and integrity, dedicating their lives to the protection and preservation of the mystic world they hold so dear. Their duty is not without its challenges. The Watchers must constantly be vigilant, for the magical realm is a dynamic place, always shifting and evolving. They must adapt to new threats and keep abreast of the ever-changing landscape of magic. Although their work is cloaked in secrecy, the influence of the Watchers can be felt throughout the magical realm. They act as mediators and advisors, aiding those who seek their guidance and protection, while also ensuring that the misuse of magic is kept in check. The Watchers' commitment to their mission is unwavering, as they understand the consequences that could result from a lack of oversight in the magical realm. Without their watchful eyes and intervention, chaos and destruction could easily consume the enchanted world. In essence, the Watchers of the magical realm serve as the guardians of its delicate balance and the protectors of its mystical inhabitants. Through their unwavering dedication and unique abilities, they ensure that the magical realm remains a place of wonder and enchantment for all those who call it home..

Reviews for "The Watchers' Trials: Testing the Abilities of the Magical Guardians"

1. Sarah - 2 stars - Despite the intriguing title and promising storyline, "Watchers of the magical realm" fell short of my expectations. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult to connect or empathize with any of them. Additionally, the writing style seemed rushed and poorly edited, with numerous grammatical errors and inconsistencies throughout the book. Overall, I found the book to be underwhelming and would not recommend it to others.

2. John - 1 star - I was extremely disappointed with "Watchers of the magical realm." The plot was predictable, lacking any originality or surprises. The dialogue between characters felt forced, and the pacing was slow, making it difficult to stay engaged in the story. Furthermore, the world-building was inadequate, with minimal descriptions of the magical realm and its inhabitants. Overall, I found the book to be lackluster and a waste of my time.

3. Emily - 2 stars - "Watchers of the magical realm" had potential, but it failed to deliver. The protagonist was unrelatable and unlikable, making it challenging to invest in her journey. The magic system was poorly explained, leaving many unanswered questions. The action sequences were poorly executed, lacking excitement and suspense. Overall, the book had some interesting elements but fell short in its execution, leaving me unsatisfied as a reader.

4. David - 3 stars - "Watchers of the magical realm" had its moments, but it did not live up to the hype. The pacing was uneven, with long lulls in between moments of action. The supporting characters were forgettable, with little development or depth. While the concept of a magical realm was intriguing, the execution felt lackluster. I wanted to enjoy this book more, but unfortunately, it did not fully captivate my interest.

The Watchers' Legacy: Passing Down the Sacred Knowledge of the Magical Realm