Witch
Template:Expand A Witch is a male or female practitioner of Wicca or witchcraft.
In the past many witches were burnt at the stake - most of, if not all, these witches knew nothing of Wicca or witchcraft, and were witches only in the imaginations of those accusing them. In Exodus 22:18 the Bible specifically bans witchcraft under penalty of death. A famous case is the British Pendle Witch trials of 1612 AD.
The most infamous case of witchcraft trials was the Salem Witch Trails in which dozens of women and man were all executed by the colony of Massachusettes for the practice of witchcraft. The trials are considered one of the most obsene miscarrages of justice in American history, because the accused had no way of proving thier guilt and had to choose between admitting to a crime they did not commit or be executed.
In romantic times, witches became popular figures of novels and fairy-tales. Most of the times they were of evil and dangerous character, but there are also examples of benevolent character. At about the same time they became popular carneval figures.
Modern Usage
The term "witchhunt" is also used to denote a political crusade against a particular group.
See also:
- Harry Potter characters, female
