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September 2010_june_july_2009.qxd 29/09/2010 10:59 PM Page 19 Going on a witch hunt 19 Going on a witch hunt The Washington Times The witching hour is upon us. Christine O'Donnell, who put a spell on the Republican Party to win the GOP nomination in Delaware's U.S. Senate race, has been stirring the political pot in recent days. An 11-year-old video clip has Ms. O'Donnell saying she once "dabbled into witchcraft." The "professionally outraged" class seems out to dunk this popular "tea party" politician. In the spirit of the hour, we list some famous witches in popular culture of past and present. Queen Grimhilde - This Disney villain seeks to kill Snow White in the 1937 cartoon "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Sometimes known simply as "the Witch," the evil queen is ranked No. 10 in the American Film Institute's list of the 50 Best Movie Villains of All Time and is the highest-ranked animated villain. From the top; The Wicked Witch of the West, Hermione Granger, Queen Grimhilde, Wilhelmina W. Witchiepoo, Samantha in Bewitched, Scarlet Witch and The Witch of Endor Samantha in Bewitched - Played by Elizabeth Hayes. Witchiepoo rode on a broomsticklike Beginners" (Llewellyn Worldwide, 2006). Montgomery, Samantha is a friendly witch who marries a mortal in the supernaturally long- vehicle called the Vroom Broom. The show was 3. Wicca isn't a real religion : Wicca is running sitcom of the 1960s and '70s. "I'm not a broadcast between 1969 and 1972 and produced recognized by the U.S. government as an bad witch! I'm a good witch!" she says. by Sid and Marty Krofft. official religion, with the observation of Wiccan holidays varying from state to state. For Maleficent - This self-proclaimed "Mistress of example, the New Jersey Department of Elizabeth Proctor - During the Salem witch trials in 1692, she was accused of witchcraft and All Evil" in Disney's 1959 "Sleeping Beauty" is Education recognizes eight Wiccan holidays later executed by hanging. She also is one of Disney's darkest villains. (including Mabon, which marks the beginning dramatized fictitiously in Arthur Miller's play of autumn and is celebrated Sept. 23) and "The Crucible." The Witches of Eastwick - In this 1987 comic- excuses Wiccan children from attending school horror film, Cher, Susan Sarandon and Michelle on those days. Pfeiffer use witchcraft to rid themselves finally 4. Wiccans worship the devil : Often Witches in Macbeth - These witches predict events and conjure up spirits in the Shakespeare of serial seducer Daryl Van Horne, played by confused with Satanists, followers of Wicca do tragedy. "Double, double toil and trouble. Fire Jack Nicholson. not believe in the devil. The concepts of the burn, and caldron bubble" is their famed chant. devil and hell are part of Christian theology and What's Witchcraft? 6 have never existed in the Wiccan religion, Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff) - Well- Misconceptions about according to "Wiccan Beliefs and Practices" known in the comic-book world, this former (Llewellyn Worldwide, 2001). Wiccans also do member of the Avengers was ranked the 97th Wiccans not believe in one almighty God, but in many Greatest Comic Book Character Ever in Wizard gods and goddesses, according to "Essential Wicca" (The Crossing Press, 2001). This places Magazine's 200 Greatest Comic Book `1. Witches are evil : The negative Characters of all Time list. connotations of witchcraft have led its followers Wicca in the same category as Buddhism and to stop referring to themselves as witches and Hinduism as a polytheistic religion. The Witch of Endor - She called up the ghost go by "Wiccans" instead, according to "Wicca A 5. Wiccans sacrifice animals : Since of the prophet Samuel at the command of King to Z" (Citadel Press, 1998). Wicca opposes the Wicca is a nature-based religion, followers are encouraged to respect all living things. Wiccans Saul, the first king of Israel, who seeks advice use of negative, harmful magic and discourages on how to beat the Philistines. Instead, the ghost people from hurting others physically or make sacrifices or offerings to their chosen predicts Saul's downfall. emotionally, according to "Wicca for Life" deities, but these offerings are usually bread, (Citadel Press, 2003). Wiccans believe in the fruit, wine or flowers, according to "A Wiccan The Wicked Witch of the West - She has given ethical guideline called the "Threefold Law," Bible" (Career Press, 2003). "Witches love animals. We never harm or kill them in our rites kids nightmares over the years. Played by which states that whatever a person wishes upon Margaret Hamilton in the 1939 film "The someone else returns to them three times over, or spells. Blood sacrifice of any sort is against Wizard of Oz," she is green-skinned and dressed according to "Wiccan Spirituality" (Green our law. That 'eye of newt and toe of frog' stuff entirely in black with a black pointed hat. "I'll Magic, 2002). is nonsense," according to "The Wicca get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too!" she `2. Wicca is an ancient religion : Although Handbook" (Weiser, 2000). 6. Wiccans have a "dark Bible" : says as she puts the fear in Dorothy. it's based on ancient beliefs, including aspects of paganism and nature-based spirituality, There is no bible that Wiccans follow. Wiccans Glinda, the Good Witch of the North - The Wicca was founded by anthropologist Gerald may make a "Book of Shadows" for themselves, kindest witch in all of history. How can we not Gardner in the early 1950s, according to or may pass one down from a teacher of the love the beautiful Glinda, played by Billie "Magico-Religious Groups and Ritualistic faith to his or her student, but that BoS serves as a reference book, according to "Living Wicca" Burke in "The Wizard of Oz." "Only bad Activities" (CRC Press, 2008). "Wicca is a new witches are ugly," she says. religion that combines surviving folk traditions (Llewellyn Worldwide, 1993). Also referred to and more modern elements. It is loosely based as a grimoire, mirror book or magical diary, a Hermione Granger - This Hogwart student and on Western European pagan rites and rituals that BoS is a customized book in which a Wiccan know-it-all friend of Harry Potter is the smartest have been performed for centuries — before, records information he or she finds useful to practicing the faith. While not every Wiccan has witch of her age. during and after the time of Jesus — such as reverence of nature, observance of the cycle of a BoS, those that do fill theirs with myths, Wilhelmina W. Witchiepoo - From the TV the seasons, celebration of the harvest, and ceremonies, spells, religious ritual instructions, show "H.R. Pufnstuf" and played by Billie doing magic," according to "Wicca for prayers, herbal lore or personal records of dreams, according to "Living Wicca." []