Witches, often associated with magic and the supernatural, have been portrayed in various forms throughout history. One common aspect of their depiction is the color of their attire. While there is no definitive answer as to what colors witches wear, certain colors are commonly associated with them. Black is perhaps the most popular color associated with witches. This connection can be traced back to historical beliefs that witches dressed in black to blend in with the night and go unnoticed. Black is often associated with mystery, darkness, and the unknown, all of which are elements commonly associated with witches.
Black is often associated with mystery, darkness, and the unknown, all of which are elements commonly associated with witches. In addition to black, witches are also often depicted wearing other dark colors such as dark purple, deep red, or dark green. These colors are often seen as representing the occult, magic, and mysticism.
Dark Shadows in a Glittering Metropolis: Magic and Religion in Jaclyn Dolamore’s Dark Metropolis Series (a guest post for #FSYALit)
Today I am very excited to host a guest post as part of the #FSYALit Discussion on the Dark Metropolis series by Jaclyn Dolamore. Dark Metropolis is a book that I became familiar with as a Cybils judge and it is truly a fascinating book. Set in a dark world of fantasy, it adds a very interesting twist to the zombie tale while taking a very hard look at the issue of economic inequality. I could talk about this book forever, but instead let’s listen to what L. N. Holmes has to say. I’ve always been a fan of magic. As a Christian, that might be a controversial statement. The Bible has many verses rebuking magic and its practitioners. However, the fictional magic of fantasy novels is what I truly like, because it is an excellent literary device for examining the human condition.
SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENTTake, for example, the Harry Potter series. Some Christians despised it, but other Christians defended it as a “Book of Virtues with a preadolescent funny bone” and “a meaningful connection to the most significant principles of Christianity.” In the books, J. K. Rowling used magic as an avenue to discuss abuses of power and the consequences of good and evil choices. Jaclyn Dolamore also uses magic to discuss big ideas with her readers in her young adult series, Dark Metropolis. The heroine Thea, a waitress at a cabaret club in an alternate 1930s Germany, becomes unintentionally involved in a government conspiracy when her best friend, Nan, disappears. Freddy, a “reviver” that brings people back to life with his magical power, is connected to this conspiracy. When he starts frequenting the club where Thea works, the two form an unlikely duo against a city where people are gradually disappearing. Although not as famous or as polished as the Harry Potter series, Dolamore’s fantasy strongly relies on magic as a plot device. Neither inherently good nor evil, enchantments oftentimes serve the whims of the caster. There are people who choose to abuse it—the government in the first book and Ingrid and King Otto in Glittering Shadows (book two)—and others who simply use it for practical purposes. Many non-magic users are directly affected by these actions. In the books, Christianity and magic are not at odds. On the contrary, in Dark Metropolis, Thea notes that Father Gruneman of her church “reminded her of a fairy-tale creature himself, a wizard who had crawled out of a magic cave” (Dolamore 21) after he hands her a book of fairy tales. He later refers to Freddy’s magic as “a gift” (Dolamore 144). Father Gruneman embracing magic allows for him to deal with its existence objectively and take necessary action to help Thea and Freddy when they need it. Dolamore’s books focus more on Norse mythology than Christianity, however. This is subtly mentioned in Dark Metropolis and further explored in Glittering Shadows. Without giving too much away, the origin story of magic in book two is a direct nod to a specific Norse legend. The characters mirror the plot as they focus more on this mythology than religion. Ironically, it is an important character of book two that is connected to the Norse mythology that tries to explain the purpose of Christianity. Ingrid argues with Nan in book two that “even as you are looking for humanity in yourself, humans are looking to transcend those feelings inside of themselves. That’s why they go to church” (Dolamore, 194). While Ingrid’s motivations are not entirely pure during this argument, her ideas about religion may ring true for some Christians. Admittedly, the books were not always enjoyable reads. Oftentimes the plot dragged. Thea was irritatingly indecisive at times. There were many instances where the plot and character development could have been stronger. While the first book focused mostly on Thea and Freddy, Nan’s story was far more interesting. Finally, there were too many instances where the characters were too passive in their actions. That being said, Dolamore did well with portraying old stories in new ways. Her exploration into folklore, mythology, and religion—and how they intertwine—may be stimulating enough to readers to keep their interest. Fans of Cassandra Clare may also appreciate Dolamore’s style. Dolamore’s descriptions of magic were vastly different from Rowling’s, and yet I found it to be an interesting commentary. The serious tone in the Dark Metropolis series encouraged philosophical thought about these subjects without dictating answers for the readers. It created a world where magic and religion could co-exist.
Dark purple, for example, is associated with royalty and power, while deep red can symbolize passion and intensity. Dark green is often associated with nature and the earth, which is a common theme in witchcraft. However, it is important to note that not all witches are portrayed as wearing dark colors. Different cultures and traditions may depict witches wearing a variety of colors depending on their beliefs and practices. For example, in some traditions, witches may be depicted wearing white or light-colored robes, which can symbolize purity and spirituality. Ultimately, the choice of colors worn by witches can vary depending on the context and culture. While black and other dark colors are commonly associated with witches, it is important to remember that depictions of witches can differ greatly and there is no one-size-fits-all answer to what colors witches wear..
Reviews for "The Witch's Palette: The Evolution of Color Preferences in Witchcraft"
- John - 1 star - I found "What colors do witches wear" to be incredibly dull and uninteresting. The plot was weak and the characters felt underdeveloped. I couldn't connect with any of them and found myself not caring about their fates. The writing itself was also lackluster, with repetitive phrases and cliched descriptions. Overall, I was disappointed by this book and wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for an engaging read.
- Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "What colors do witches wear" based on the intriguing title, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The story lacked depth and substance, and the pacing was incredibly slow. I found myself losing interest multiple times throughout the book and had to force myself to finish it. The characters were forgettable and the dialogue felt forced. Overall, while the concept had potential, the execution was lacking, making it a forgettable read for me.
- Sarah - 2.5 stars - "What colors do witches wear" had an interesting premise, but it failed to deliver on its potential. The story started off promising, but quickly became predictable and formulaic. I felt like I've read similar books before, and there was nothing that made this one stand out. The writing style was decent, but couldn't make up for the lackluster plot and unremarkable characters. While it wasn't a terrible book, it definitely didn't leave a lasting impression on me.