10 Weird Facts About Witches That Will Make You Think They Are Real

Something wicked this way comes. . . 

Are you interested in witchcraft and wizardry?

Did you grow up reading Harry Potter, watching The Craft, and reading Anne Rice books? Did you set up Ouija boards with your friends, lighting candles, giggling nervously? Do you remember the incantation “light as a feather, stiff as a board”?

Then this one’s for you!

We’ve got some awesome facts about witches for all the curious. And let’s admit — we’re all a tiny bit curious about what goes on in those mysterious covens. (That’s a group of witches, for those not in the know.)

Witches are an intriguing part of our collective history. They’ve been whispered about, feared, and recorded since at least 931 B.C.!

We’re going to keep up the tradition right here, right now.

Here are 10 crazy, witchy facts for anyone interested in a little toil and trouble!

1. Ingredients for Potions Got Renamed for a Reason

Calf’s snout, blood leather, devil’s flower. . . These are only a few of the many made-up names of herbs that witches used in potions.

Some got renamed to suit their physical descriptions and be easier to remember. Others speculate that they were re-labeled to hide their true names. This way others could not duplicate sacred recipes.

“Heart” means walnut and “Tears of a Baboon” is actually dill juice. If we’re being honest, the faux names are more fun, anyway.

2. Most Witches Got Hanged, Not Burned at the Stake

How did most witches get punished for their witchcraft and wizardry? By getting burned at the stake, right?

The answer is mostly a resounding no.

Preparing a stake took much more time and effort than a simple noose, which could get reused all day long! More witches got hanged to death than burned alive.

3. Men Are Witches, Too!

When most of us think of witches, what comes to mind?

The three cackling ladies of the cult classic Hocus Pocus, perhaps. Wide-brimmed hats atop scraggly locks, attached to wart-riddled faces of — yep — women.

But men are witches, too. They also went by names such as sorcerer, warlock, or wizard. No fewer than 6 men got convicted of witchcraft and were then executed. 

Sometimes all it took was speaking out against the Salem Witch Trials. This was enough to get one John Proctor hanged in 1692.

4. Some Witches Got the “Good” Clearance 

It doesn’t seem fair, right?

Glenda was the “good witch” while her poor counterpart got ostracized left and right. We guess Glenda never did anything wrong, had a negative thought, or made a mistake?

It’s a common misconception that there are “black” witches and “white” ones. Not only is this overtly racist, but it’s also incorrect. We’re all a little bit of both — witch or not!

5. Modern Witchcraft Is Still Practiced

Think we’re wrong?

Explain how this article about 8 essential crystals made it onto the Goop website!

Modern witchcraft is everywhere — from your yogi friend’s tarot cards to your crystal-loving, enlightened gal pal.

6. Witches Don’t Worship Satan

Contrary to popular belief, witches and Wiccans don’t worship Satan. The devil is a part of Christian theology and doesn’t exist within the Wiccan religion.

Rather, Wiccans believe in the idea of many gods and goddesses. This is known as polytheism. They also draw energy from things like the moon and its phases. 

7. Joan of Arc Was Used. . . to Death

Joan of Arc, “acting under divine guidance,” led the French army to victory when she was only 18 years old. It seemed no one had a problem with her visions the entire time. But once they achieved victory, the tables turned.

A year later, Joan got captured by English and French collaborators. They then burned her at the stake, labeling her a heretic.

8. Millions of People Practice the Wicca Religion

Not only is Wicca a recognized, established religion, but it’s growing in popularity.

A 2014 study by the Pew Research Center reveals almost 1.5 million Americans identify as Wicca or Pagan. This is a huge increase from the data of prior years. In 1990, only 8,000 people identified as Wicca.

You might say that the increase in popularity is because of millennial women. Witchcraft is unlike its stiff religious counterparts. Instead, it’s more “new-age,” mindful, sensual, and spiritual.

9. You Can Slip Witchcraft Into Your Daily Routine

We mentioned that over a million Americans study witchcraft in some sense. But how? Are they at home dancing around fire pits, howling at the moon? 

The answer is a firm no.

Instead, they’re slipping it into their daily routines. Whether cooking, taking a bath, or brewing some tea, there are many instances where incantations can get slipped in.

Take this magical spell that embodies everyday witchcraft:

Money flows easily to me today
More checks to cash will come my way

Next time you’re doing something like writing a check, see if there’s any way you can stick a little “magick” in there.

10. Religious Folk Hated Witches

Don’t believe us? Check out these 2 telling bible verses.

Exodus 22:18 says, “You must not allow a sorceress to live.” Leviticus 20:27 laments, “A man or woman who is a medium or spiritist among you must be put to death. You are to stone them; their blood will be on their own heads.” 

This explains why so much hatred of witches came from within the church. It was a framework almost single-handedly created by religious groups like Christians. They practically invented witch hunts!

We Conjured up These Facts About Witches Just for You

You love mystical stuff. We love mystical stuff. It was only a matter of time before we touched on the supernatural, magical world of witchcraft.

Now that you’re armed with all these facts about witches, what other divine things can you learn?

Check out our all-encompassing article about the dark characteristics of each Zodiac sign!

Weirdomatic is the place where all weird things come to life through the amazing world of photographs – a corner of our wild imagination or the whimsical face of the reality?