Witches have captivated human imagination for centuries, appearing in folklore, literature, and history as figures of power, danger, and mystery. From the witch trials that swept through Europe and colonial America to the wise women and healers of legend, the figure of the witch reflects our deepest fears and fascinations with the unknown. Whether portrayed as malevolent sorcerers or misunderstood herbalists, witches continue to intrigue us through their complex cultural significance and enduring presence in our stories. See how much you know about their history, mythology, and place in our collective consciousness.
▶ Play today's quizIn fairy tales, what flying object is a witch most often shown riding?
Source: The broomstick became the witch's vehicle of choice partly because brooms symbolized domestic life turned wild and supernatural.
In which American town did the infamous 1692 witch trials take place?
Source: Salem's trials hanged 19 people, yet not a single 'witch' was ever burned there, contrary to popular belief.
What container does a witch traditionally use to brew her potions?
Source: The bubbling cauldron came from real medieval cooking pots, the largest object in any peasant kitchen.
In 'The Wizard of Oz', what color is the Wicked Witch of the West?
Source: Her green skin was invented for the 1939 film; the book never describes the witch as green at all.
What animal is the most classic 'familiar' companion of a witch?
Source: Black cats were thought to be witches' spirit helpers, which fueled centuries of bad-luck superstition still alive today.
What modern nature-based religion revived witchcraft in the 20th century?
Source: Wicca was largely popularized by Gerald Gardner in the 1950s, making 'witch' a chosen identity rather than an accusation.
What was the most common method of executing convicted witches in Europe?
Source: Continental Europe favored burning, while England and its colonies usually hanged the accused instead.
In the Harry Potter series, what is the term for a witch born to non-magical parents?
Source: A Squib is the opposite: a non-magical person born to magical parents, a detail many casual fans mix up.
What three witches open Shakespeare's play 'Macbeth'?
Source: Their name 'Weird' comes from the Old English 'wyrd', meaning fate or destiny, not 'strange'.
On which night are witches said to gather for a great sabbath in German folklore?
Source: Walpurgis Night, April 30th, supposedly drew witches to the Brocken peak, a legend immortalized in Goethe's 'Faust'.
In Slavic folklore, what witch lives in a hut standing on chicken legs?
Source: Baba Yaga's hut can spin and walk, and she flies in a mortar steering with a pestle rather than a broom.
What test threw suspected witches into water to see if they floated as 'guilty'?
Source: In 'swimming', floating meant guilt and sinking meant innocence, a lose-lose horror for the accused.
How many people were executed at the actual Salem witch trials?
Source: Nineteen were hanged and one, Giles Corey, was crushed to death by stones for refusing to plead.
What spot on the body did witch-hunters call the 'devil's mark'?
Source: Hunters pricked moles or blemishes; any insensitive spot that didn't bleed was 'proof' of a pact with the devil.
Which classical goddess was revered as a patron of witchcraft and crossroads?
Source: Hecate ruled magic and the night; Circe was a famous sorceress but a mortal-born enchantress, not the goddess of witchcraft itself.
What 1486 book became the most notorious manual for hunting witches?
Source: Its title means 'Hammer of the Witches', and it spread faster than almost any book of its era thanks to the new printing press.
What herb in 'flying ointments' may explain witches' sensations of flight?
Source: Belladonna and other nightshades cause hallucinations and a floating feeling, possibly the real source of 'flying' legends.
What was the supposed purpose of carved 'witch bottles' buried under homes?
Source: Filled with pins, nails and urine, these bottles were counter-magic meant to send a curse painfully back to its caster.
In Macbeth, what 'finger' do the witches add to their bubbling brew?
Source: The grisly recipe includes 'finger of birth-strangled babe', part of Shakespeare's deliberately shocking cauldron chant.
Which European region saw the deadliest witch hunts, with thousands executed?
Source: German-speaking lands accounted for roughly half of all European witch executions, far more than the Spanish Inquisition ever carried out.