There are various types of witches throughout history, each with their own unique beliefs and practices. One common type is the traditional witch, who follows the ancient pagan traditions and worships nature and the elements. These witches often perform rituals and spells to connect with the natural world and harness its energy. Another type of witch is the ceremonial witch, who focuses on performing rituals and ceremonies with specific intentions, often drawing from various occult traditions such as Hermeticism or ceremonial magic. These witches may work with tools such as wands, athames, and crystals to channel their intentions during ceremonies. Kitchen witches are another type, who practice their craft primarily within the home.
Another example of the “witch’s hat” in antiquity is the pointed hats worn by the Tarim mummies. A series of mummified humans have been found in the Tarim Basin in China in a lost city called Subeshi. Three of the female mummies wear tall, black pointed hats. One of the “Subeshi witches” also wore a thick, black glove indicating she hunted with raptors (something a shaman or mystical woman might have done during Iron Age China). While we don’t know if these women were witches, we know their hats look an awful lot like the traditional witch’s hat.
Another theory was the cone hats were filled with herbs and perfumes, that as the Egyptian went about their day, would perfume and cover any body odors. Assigned to the kitchen where they only used wood-burning fire and cooked with ingredients available way back when, Sarah became fascinated with historical food.
Kitchen witches are another type, who practice their craft primarily within the home. They may use herbs, spices, and other kitchen ingredients in their spells and rituals, and are skilled in creating potions, herbal remedies, and magical recipes. Kitchen witches often work with the energies of the hearth and home.
On Psychedelics and Bad PR: How Witches Got Their Pointy Hats
Look for images of witches this time of year and, though there are a sprinkling of sleekly glamorous ones—perhaps Melisandre from Game of Thrones—the vast majority are hook-nosed, humpbacked, bewhiskered crones. It’s depressing and also feels like cultural ageism and even a misogynous slur. As it happens, historical gastronomist Sarah Lohman has plenty to say about that, as well as all things witchy and Halloween.
Sarah grew up in Ohio where her first job, at 16, was at a living history museum. Assigned to the kitchen where they only used wood-burning fire and cooked with ingredients available way back when, Sarah became fascinated with historical food. Since then she’s hosted Colonial dinners, done events and a podcast with The Masters of Social Gastronomy and written the bestselling Eight Flavors: The Untold Story of American Cuisine . Interestingly enough, Sarah said almost everything about witches and their portrayal can be traced back to food.
Take the main elements of witchiness: the hat, the cat, and the broom. In the Middle Ages, alewives were often women who stirred their water, malt, yeast and hops in the yard. And the tools of their trade? A cauldron big enough to hold their ingredients, a cat to keep away rats, and a broomstick to hang outside the door when the beer was done. These enterprising women even wore tall peaked hats so the crowds at the market could see where they sold their wares. Now enter the first brewers’ guild: a men-only association which framed these women as ugly, poison-peddling, and dangerous; a marketing gambit that happened to stick like a burr.
Speaking of witches, the Salem witch trials were supposed to be the result of a rash of hysteria amongst young girls. As Sarah Lohman says, we are often told “they were teenagers who wanted attention and all these other tropes about women that are now kind of tired.” Over the years, anthropologists have also put the accusations down to the politics, the place, and the times, but others have cited something more visceral, real, and misunderstood. Anthropologist Linda Caporael has made a strong case for ergotism as a possible cause. Ergot, a black fungus that grows on grains such as rye, has LSD-like properties. Ingesting ergot can cause hallucinations, convulsions, and a prickling pinching sensation from vascular constriction, severe enough to cause gangrene. Caporael studied weather records of the time as well as the land composition around Salem. The wettest, lowest farms in the area also happened to be owned by families with only daughters, the ones who were accused. And, to make the case even more compelling, in 1691 there was a long hot summer after an astronomical amount of rain, perfect ergot conditions, and the witch-possessions occurred only after the harvest. Children and pregnant women were generally the most susceptible, and the ergot would have had just enough time to build up in their systems and cause the havoc that ended up being so fatally misunderstood. It’s a circumstantial idea, but also one that is as credible as mass female hysteria. Who knew? Sometimes life altering events can come down to the unlikeliest things: smear campaigns and agricultural flukes.
For more of Sarah’s fascinating culinary sleuth-work and recipes (make your own candy corn!) take one of her Zoom classes at the Brooklyn Brainery or pick up her latest book.
Vintage card with witch wearing truncated hat
Hedge witches are known for their ability to cross between the physical and spiritual realms, often connecting with spirits, guides, and ancestors for guidance and support. They may practice divination, trance work, and astral projection to explore the otherworldly realms and gain spiritual insights. Wiccan witches follow the modern pagan religion of Wicca, which was founded in the mid-20th century. They worship a goddess and god, and follow the principles of harm none and the Wiccan Rede. Wiccans often practice their craft in covens and celebrate the cycles of the moon and seasonal holidays. Lastly, solitary witches are those who practice their craft alone, without belonging to a coven or specific tradition. They may follow their own personal beliefs and practices, drawing from various sources and adapting their craft to fit their individual needs and preferences. Overall, the types of witches are diverse and varied, but all share a common connection to the spiritual and mystical realms. Whether practicing in traditional ways or modern interpretations, witches continue to play a significant role in the world of magic and spirituality..
Reviews for "Witch Hat Traditions from Around the World"
- Amy - 1 star rating - I was really disappointed with "Types of Witch Hats". The book promised to provide a comprehensive guide to different types of witch hats, but instead it was just a collection of poorly written descriptions and random images. There was no depth or insight into the history or significance of each hat. It felt like the author didn't do any research and just compiled whatever they found on the internet. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a genuine exploration of witch hats.
- John - 2 stars rating - "Types of Witch Hats" left a lot to be desired. While the book did provide some information about different types of witch hats, it lacked organization and coherence. The descriptions were vague and repetitive, making it difficult to truly understand the distinguishing features of each hat. Additionally, the book was filled with grammatical errors and typos, which was distracting and took away from the overall reading experience. I expected a more thorough and polished book on this subject.
- Sarah - 3 stars rating - I have mixed feelings about "Types of Witch Hats". On one hand, I appreciated the variety of hats showcased in the book, as it provided a visual reference for different styles. However, the lack of accompanying text or context made it difficult to fully understand the relevance and history of each hat. It felt like a missed opportunity to delve deeper into the symbolism and cultural significance of witch hats. Overall, it was an average book that could have been so much better with more in-depth information.