A witch's broom is commonly known as a broomstick and is closely associated with witchcraft and folklore. In popular culture, witches are often depicted flying on broomsticks, adding to their mystical and supernatural image. The concept of witches riding brooms can be traced back to ancient times, where it was believed that witches used various means of transportation to attend their gatherings and perform magical rituals. The association between witches and broomsticks may have originated from the use of hallucinogenic plants and fungi, such as the mandrake root or fly agaric mushroom, which were commonly used by witchcraft practitioners in their rituals. These substances were applied to the broom handle, and when the witch rubbed it against their bodies, it would cause hallucinations, giving the impression that they were flying. Additionally, there is a popular belief that witches used their broomsticks to fly to their meetings or Sabbats, where they would commune with other witches and engage in dark magic.
Salem witch trials timeline
The Trial Timeline February 29 th : warrants are issued for the arrest of Tituba, Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne. Good and Osborne plead innocent, Tituba confesses to her guilt and continues to testify that there existence of a conspiracy among the witches of Salem.
March 1 st : Magistrates John Hathorne and Jonathon Corwin examine Tituba, Good and Osborne in a meetinghouse in Salem Village. Tituba confesses to witchcraft. Many people come forward during the next few weeks testifying that they too had been harmed and make accusations against various people in the village. Women whose behavior and economic circumstances that "disturbed" the social order or conventions of the time were often accused of Witchcraft.
March 12 th : Martha Corey is accused of witchcraft
March 19 th : Rebecca Nurse is accused of witchcraft
March 21 st : Martha Corey examined before Magistrates Hathorne and Corwin
March 24 th : Rebecca Nurse examined before Magistrates Hathorne and Corwin
March 28 th : Elizabeth Proctor denounced as a witch.
April 3 rd : Sarah Cloyce, Rebecca Nurse�s sister, accused of witchcraft
April 11 th : Elizabeth Proctor and Sarah Cloyce examined before Hathorne, Corwin, Deputy governor Thomas Danforth, and Captain Samuel Sewall. During the examination, John Proctor was also accused and imprisoned.
April 19 th : Abigail Hobbs, Bridget Bishop, Giles Corey, and Mary Warren examined. Abigail Hobbs confesses.
April 22 nd : Nehemiah Abbott, William and Deliverance Hobbs, Edward and Sarah Bishop, Mary Easty, Mary Black, Sarah Wildes, and Mary English examined before Hathorne and Corwin. Only Nehemiah Abbott is cleared of charges.
May 2 nd : Sarah Morey, Lydia Dustin, Susannah Marin, and Dorcas Hoar examined by Hathorne and Corwin
May 4 th : George Burroughs arrested in Wells, Maine.
May 9 th : Burroughs examined by Hathorne, Corwin, Sewall, and William Stoughton. One of the afflicted girls, Sarah Churchill, was also examined.
May 10 th : George Jacobs, Sr. and his granddaughter Margaret were examined before Hathorne and Corwin. Margaret Confesses and testifies that her grandfather and George Burroughs are both witches.
Sarah Osborne dies in prison in Boston.
May 14 th : Mather returns from England, bringing with him a new charter and the governor, Sir William Phips
May 18 th : Mary Easty released from prison. Yet, she is arrested a second time due to outcries.
May 27 th : Governor Phips establishes a special Court of Oyer and Terminer comprised of seven judges to try the witchcraft cases. Appointed are Lieutenant Governor William Stoughton, Nathaniel Saltonstall, Bartholomew Gedney, Peter Sergeant, Samuel Sewall, Wait Still Winthrop, John Richards, John Hathorne, and Jonathan Corwin.
May 31 st : Martha Carrier, John Alden, Wilmott Redd, Elizabeth Howe, and Phillip English are examined before Hathorne, Corwin, and Gedney.
June 2 nd : Initial session of the Court of Oyer and Terminer. Bridget Bishop is the first to be pronounced guilty of witchcraft and condemned to death.
Early June: Soon after Bridget Bishop�s trial, Nathaniel Saltonstall resigned from the court, dissatisfied with its proceedings.
June 10 th : Bridget Bishop is hanged in Salem, the first official execution of the Salem Witch Trials. Following her death, accusations of witchcraft escalate, but the trials are not unopposed. Several townspeople sign petitions on behalf of accused people they believe to be innocent.
June 29 th � 30 th : Rebecca Nurse, Susannah Martin, Sarah Wildes, Sarah Good and Elizabeth Howe are tried for witchcraft and condemned.
Mid-July: In an effort to expose the witches afflicting his life, Joseph Ballard of nearby Andover enlisted the aid of the accusing girls in Salem. This action mards the beginning of the Andover witch hunt.
July 19 th : Rebecca Nurse, Susannah Martin, Elizabeth Howe, Sarah Good, and Sarah Wildes are executed.
August 2-6th: George Jacobs, Sr., Martha Carrier, George Burroughs, John and Elizabeth Proctor, and john Willard are tried for witchcraft and condemned.
August 19 th : George Jacobs, Sr., Martha Carrier, George Burroughs, John Proctor, and John Willard are hanged on Gallows Hill.
September 9 th : Martha Corey, Mary Easty, Alice Parker, Ann Pudeator, Dorcas Hoar, and Mary Bradbury are tried and condemned.
September 17 th : Margaret Scott, Wilmott Redd, Samuel Wardwell, Mary Parker, Abigail Faulkner, Rebecca Eames, Mary Lacy, Ann Foster, and Abigail Hobbs are tried and condemned.
September 19 th : Giles Corey is pressed to death for refusing a trial.
September 21 st : Dorcas Hoar is the first of those pleading innocent to confess. Her execution is delayed.
September 22 nd : Martha Corey, Margaret Scott, Mary Easty, Alice Parker, Ann Pudeator, Wilmott Redd, Samuel Wardwell, and Mary Parker are hanged.
October 8 th : After 20 people had been executed in the Salem Witch Hunt, Thomas Brattle writes a letter criticizing the witchcraft trials. This letter has a great impact on Governor Phips, who orders that reliance on spectral and intangible evidence no longer be allowed in the trials
October 29 th : Governor Phips dissolves the Court of Oyer and Terminer.
November 25 th : The General Court of the colony created the Superior court to try the remaining witchcraft cases which took place in May, 1693. This time no one is convicted.
Bridget Bishop: Hanged June 10th
Rev. George Burroughs: Hanged August 19th
Martha Carrier: Hanged August 19th
Giles Cory: Pressed to death September 19th
Martha Cory: Hanged September 22nd
Mary Esty: Hanged September 22nd
Ann Foster: Died in Prison
Sarah Good: Hanged July 19th
Elizabeth How: Hanged July 19th
George Jacobs: Hanged August 19th
Susanna Martin: Hanged July 19th
Rebecca Nurse: Hanged July 19th
Sarah Osborne: Died in Prison
Alice Parker: Hanged September 22nd
Mary Parker: Hanged September 22nd
John Proctor: Hanged August 19th
Ann Pudeator: Hanged September 22nd
Wilmot Reed: Hanged September 22nd
Margaret Scott: Hanged September 22nd
Samuel Wardwell: Hanged September 22nd
Sarah Wilds: Hanged July 19th
John Willard: Hanged August 19th
- National Geographic Society. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/97/salem/: National Geographic has made a site where you can travel through the trial as one accused. It is very good and worth looking at!
- Boyer, Paul & Stephen Nissenbaum. Salem Possessed: The Social Origins of Witchcraft. Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1974. A good text that examines the Social origins of Witchcraft in New England.
- Karlsen, Carol F. The Devil in the Shape of a Woman. New York: Random House, 1987. A text that deals with witchcraft in colonial New England.
- Robbins, Rossell Hope. The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft & Demonology. New York: Bonanza Books, 1959. A good source with a lot of documentation concerning the trials.
Salem Witch Trials Timeline
This is The History Junkie's Salem Witch Trials Timeline. It gives the years and approximations of what happened. There is an eerie feeling when one sees the mass hangings.
Additionally, there is a popular belief that witches used their broomsticks to fly to their meetings or Sabbats, where they would commune with other witches and engage in dark magic. It was believed that witches would mount their brooms and then use various incantations or potions to enable them to take flight. The idea of witches flying on broomsticks gained significant traction during the witch trials of the 16th and 17th centuries in Europe and North America.
Prior To The Trials
1688: Ann Glover is executed in Boston for accusations of being a witch. This occurred due to several children in the Goodwin family displaying signs of demon possession.
1689: Cotton Mather publishes "Memorable Providences, Relating to Witchcrafts and Possessions." His book contains the story of the Goodwin Family. Samuel Parris, who resided in Boston at the time of Mather's writings being published, becomes the minister of Salem Village.
1691: Many of the villagers in Salem become dissatisfied with Parris and refuse to pay his salary.
Accused witches were often described as flying on broomsticks to their meetings and performing acts of malevolence. These testimonies formed a significant part of the evidence used against suspected witches, as they were seen as proof of their involvement in witchcraft. Despite the fantastical nature of witches riding broomsticks, it is important to note that these descriptions were largely fictional and exaggerated. The association between witches and broomsticks has become deeply ingrained in popular culture and continues to be a defining aspect of the witch archetype. In contemporary times, broomsticks are commonly used as decorative items during Halloween and other witch-themed events. They serve as a visual representation of the mythical and supernatural aspects of witchcraft, adding to the overall ambiance and aesthetic appeal. In conclusion, a witch's broom, also known as a broomstick, is a symbolic object closely associated with witchcraft. The concept of witches riding broomsticks has its roots in ancient folklore and has persisted through the centuries, becoming a prominent element in popular culture's perception of witches. While the notion of flying on broomsticks may be fictional, it remains an iconic and enduring image of witchcraft today..
Reviews for "The Magical Implement: Exploring the Name of a Witch's Broomstick in Different Cultures"
1. Alex - 2/5 ⭐
I found "What is a witches broom called" to be quite disappointing. The book promised to provide an in-depth exploration of the topic, but it fell short in delivering any substantial information. The content felt superficial and lacked depth, leaving me wanting more. Additionally, the writing style was dry and did not engage my attention. Overall, I was left unsatisfied with this book and wouldn't recommend it to those looking for a comprehensive study on witchcraft.
2. Emily - 1/5 ⭐
As someone interested in witchcraft, I was excited to read "What is a witches broom called," but it turned out to be a huge letdown. The book barely scratched the surface of the subject matter, only providing basic and trivial information that is widely known. The author failed to offer any original insights or delve into the deeper aspects of the topic. Furthermore, the book was poorly organized, making it difficult to follow and retain any useful knowledge. I must say, this book was a waste of time and falls short of what it claims to be.
3. Ryan - 2/5 ⭐
"What is a witches broom called" failed to deliver on its promise to explore the history and significance of brooms in witchcraft. The book was repetitive and lacked coherent structure, making it hard to follow. The author seemed to jump from one topic to another without providing any clear connections. Moreover, the book lacked proper citations and references, making it difficult to evaluate the information presented. Overall, I found this book to be a shallow and unconvincing attempt at discussing witches' brooms, leaving me disappointed.
4. Sarah - 3/5 ⭐
I was expecting "What is a witches broom called" to be a detailed and informative read, but it fell short of my expectations. The book provided some interesting anecdotes and historical facts, but it lacked depth in its analysis of the subject matter. The writing style was not engaging, making it hard to stay interested throughout the book. Although it had a few redeeming qualities, I wouldn't recommend it to serious students of witchcraft who seek a more comprehensive understanding of the topic.