In folklore and fairy tales, witches are often portrayed as powerful and wicked individuals who practice magic and inflict harm on others. One particular concept associated with witches is the "witch's diles" or "witch's dillies." The term "diles" is derived from the Middle English word "dil," which means "devil." According to popular belief, the witch's diles are small objects used by witches to cast spells or work their magic. These objects can take various forms, such as stones, herbs, bones, or other enchanted items. They are believed to possess magical powers and are used by the witch to manipulate and control the natural forces around them.
The main event is the spectacular tree-lighting parade — Grand Marshals Mickey and Minnie Mouse lead the procession, followed by festive floats and Santa himself. It all leads up to the jaw-dropping moment when more than one million lights illuminate the street’s 200 trees. The evening ends with a festive fireworks display.
During ZooLights , more than two million twinkling lights illuminate the sprawling grounds, including larger-than-life animal designs and light shows set to holiday music. The weekend kicks off with Lights Festival Lane, where you ll find free family-friendly activities like photos with Santa and special live performances.
They are believed to possess magical powers and are used by the witch to manipulate and control the natural forces around them. The witch's diles are often hidden or concealed within the witch's dwelling or carried with them in a small pouch or container. It is said that these objects hold the key to the witch's power and can be used to bring good or bad fortune, depending on the intentions of the witch.
Leax magic chucago ridge
Jaap van Zweden, who conducted the Chicago Symphony in recent concerts at Orchestra Hall, will lead the CSO during Amsterdam’s Mahler festival in 2025. (Todd Rosenberg photos)
Report: The international festival in May 2025 will spotlight five orchestras from three continents; Chicago is sole U.S. ensemble.
By Lawrence B. Johnson
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, which under Georg Solti built a formidable reputation in the symphonies of Gustav Mahler that continues undiminished to the present day, has been invited to an ambitious international Mahler festival in May 2025 to be hosted by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam. Five orchestras from three continents will contribute to a complete cycle of Mahler’s nine completed symphonies, plus “Das Lied von der Erde” and the Adagio from the unfinished Tenth.
The CSO, which will play Mahler’s Sixth and Seventh Symphonies under the baton of Jaap van Zweden, will be the only American orchestra in the mix. Also participating will be the Concertegbouw Orchestra with principal conductor-designate Klaus Mäkelä, in the First and Eighth Symphonies, the Berlin Philharmonic in the Ninth Symphony under music director Kirill Petrenko as well as “Das Lied von der Erde” and the Adagio from the Tenth Symphony led by Daniel Barenboim, the Budapest Festival Orchestra conducted by Iván Fischer in the Second and Fifth Symphonies, and the Tokyo NHK Symphony under Fabio Luisi playing the Third and Fourth Symphonies.
Story lines and connections are multifarious in the prospect of van Zweden taking the Chicago Symphony and Mahler to Amsterdam. In the golden era of Bernard Haitink’s reign as the Concertgebouw Orchestra’s principal conductor, van Zweden did a stint as concertmaster there. That’s quite a training ground on which to develop one’s Mahler chops. The Concertgebouw arguably owns the most distinguished historical association with Mahler of any orchestra in the world. The composer conducted his own symphonies there several times, and Mahler’s greatest champion during his lifetime was the Concertgebouw’s chief conductor, Willem Mengelberg.
Baritone Christian Gerhaher sang selections from Mahler’s “Des Knaben Wunderhorn.”
Van Zweden is a compelling interpreter of Mahler’s music. After a blazing account of the Sixth Symphony with the Chicago Symphony at Orchestra Hall last year, he returned last weekend with baritone Christian Gerhaher for a splendid clutch of songs from “Des Knaben Wunderhorn” (The Youth’s Magic Horn), Mahler’s evocative and eloquent settings of verses from a collection of German folk ballads.
Gerhaher breathes the irony, whimsy and tragedy of Mahler’s songs. I heard him in a full evening of Mahler with piano at Tully Hull in New York pre-pandemic. The baritone is the true Mahlerian successor to the great Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. I’ve always had the feeling that when Gerhaher sings Mahler, the critic’s obligation is not to assess but to listen and learn. That said, in the “Wunderhorn” concerts Feb 12-14, Gerhaher enjoyed a keenly sensitive collaborator in van Zweden and orchestral support that captured the full nuanced spectrum of Mahler’s vivid score.
The other major work on that CSO program, Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, reminded one of how driven van Zweden can be on the podium – and yet how astutely he manages to convert energy to potent effect. Van Zweden is a consistently muscular conductor: crisp and clear in his direction, urgent and vivid in musical aspect. This was a brillant, headlong Fifth Symphony, but not for a moment did it feel heedless. Van Zweden went with something like Beethoven’s high-speed tempo markings; no overblown Victorian-era drama here. This was heady, hang on for dear life Beethoven, and yet always under control, always thoughtfully and engagingly shaped.
Gerhaher and van Zweden share the ovation after their Mahler performance at Orchestra Hall.
And with the air at Orchestra Hall still ringing, we now hear that it will be the Dutch conductor at the helm when the Chicagoans play Mahler in Amsterdam in May 2025. Might this be an augury of what happens next with the CSO music directorship up for grabs? Van Zweden, who will step down as music director of the New York Philharmonic in 2024, begins an initial five-year engagement with the Seoul Philharmonic later that year. Does that take him out of the running for the CSO directorship? For that matter, does Klaus Mäkelä,’s ascendancy to the podium in Amsterdam in 2027 remove him from contention in Chicago?
However the CSO directorship may shake out, we know this: Mid-quest, there’s going to be one grand celebration of Mahler in Amsterdam, and the Chicago Symphony will be smack in the center of it.
Walk the one-mile path and enjoy the dazzling show. Then warm up by the crackling fire pits, make s’mores, and visit the concessions tent for festive treats. Get your timed tickets in advance and check out special events like the craft-beer-focused IllumiBrew and late-night house music events.
In folklore, it is believed that if one were to find and possess a witch's dile, it could be used to counteract the witch's magic or even gain control over them. However, great caution must be taken as these objects are also said to carry curses and can bring misfortune to those who misuse them. The concept of the witch's diles is deeply rooted in the history and mythology surrounding witchcraft. It reflects the fear and fascination humans have had for witches over the centuries. The belief in these objects contributes to the mystique and intrigue surrounding witches and their supposed supernatural powers. While the existence of witch's diles is a product of folklore, their significance in witchcraft and popular imagination cannot be denied. They continue to be an integral part of the lore and mythology surrounding witches, enchanting and captivating audiences to this day..
Reviews for "The Trials of Tituba: The First Accused Witch in Salem"
1. John - 2 stars
I found "The Witch Files" to be quite disappointing. The plot was slow-paced and lacked originality. The characters were one-dimensional and seemed to lack depth. The movie failed to create a sense of suspense or thrill that is expected from a supernatural thriller. Overall, I found it to be a forgettable and uninteresting film.
2. Samantha - 1 star
"The Witch Files" was utterly terrible in my opinion. The acting was cringe-worthy, and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. The story was predictable and lacked any creativity. The special effects were poorly done, and it was evident that the budget for this film was low. I wouldn't recommend wasting your time on this uninspiring and dull movie.
3. David - 2 stars
I was quite disappointed with "The Witch Files". The storyline had potential, but it fell flat due to poor execution. The pacing was inconsistent, with slow moments that made the movie drag. The character development was lacking, and I struggled to connect with any of the protagonists. The ending was anticlimactic and left me unsatisfied. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this film, as there are much better supernatural thrillers out there.
4. Jessica - 1 star
In my opinion, "The Witch Files" was a complete waste of time. The plot was unoriginal and predictable, offering nothing new to the genre. The acting was average at best, and the characters were poorly developed. The movie lacked a sense of suspense and failed to keep me engaged. I regret watching this film and would advise others to avoid it.