Chloe Adams
In folklore, the witching hour is a time of night associated with supernatural events and when witches are thought to be at their most powerful. The timing of the witching hour is debated, with some saying it is between 12:00 am and 1:00 am, while others claim it is between sunset and sunrise, or more specifically, between 3:00 am and 4:00 am. The idea of witches flying at night is also present in European folklore and early modern witch trials, where witches were believed to use flying ointments to fly on broomsticks to witches' sabbaths. The When Night Comes, Witches Fly candle may draw on these ideas, alluding to the magical and supernatural world of witches, and perhaps even serving as a playful reminder of the power of witches during the witching hour.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | When Night Comes, Witches Fly Candle |
| Manufacturer | Red Leaf Home Candle |
| Scent | Apple Spice |
| Weight | 24 oz |
| Scent Profile | Frozen lime, grapefruit, and sweet sugar |
| Burn Time | Up to 45 hours |
| Ingredients | Soy wax blend, fragrance oils, essential oils |
| Wick Type | 100% lead-free wicks |
| Number of Wicks | 3 |
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What You'll Learn
European folklore and early modern witch trials
The "When Night Comes, Witches Fly" candle likely draws its inspiration from European folklore and the early modern witch trials. The period of the European witch trials that saw the most active phase and the largest number of fatalities occurred between 1560 and 1630, with more than 40,000 deaths. This period saw the proliferation of witch panics and prosecutions, particularly in parts of the Holy Roman Empire, Scotland, the Alpine lands, and South German ecclesiastical principalities.
European folklore and the early modern witch trials were marked by a genuine fear of witchcraft and the belief that those suspected of consorting with the Devil should be put on trial and executed. This fear of witches and witchcraft can be traced back to the medieval period, when the Roman Catholic Church taught about the dangers of witchcraft, and printed texts, such as the Malleus Maleficarum, illustrated the horrors of witchcraft. The Malleus Maleficarum, written by Dominicans Heinricus Institoris and Jacobus Sprenge in 1486, served multiple purposes: refuting arguments claiming that witchcraft did not exist, educating magistrates on procedures to identify and convict witches, and providing a theoretical and practical framework for understanding and combating witchcraft.
In early modern Europe, differences in the development of legal systems influenced the course of witch trials across different countries. For example, the relatively few prosecutions in Spain, Italy, and France were due to the skepticism of the Spanish and Roman inquisitions regarding the provability of witchcraft. In contrast, secular courts in regions with small, weak states, such as Scotland and South German ecclesiastical principalities, actively prosecuted heresy cases.
The intensity of witch-trial activity has been a subject of debate among authors and scholars, with some attributing it to the conflicts between Roman Catholics and Protestants. However, a 2017 study examining a large number of witch trials across Europe over five and a half centuries found that intense religious-market contestation was a more significant factor than religious affiliation in driving witch-trial activity.
During times of uncertainty, upheaval, war, and famine, accusations of witchcraft increased, and these accusations often originated within local communities. Women were more likely to be accused due to the church's teaching that women were more vulnerable to the seductive powers of the Devil. However, men were also accused and prosecuted for witchcraft, as in the case of the male witches of Edmonton. Accusations of witchcraft became a way to oppress women and settle grievances and disputes within communities.
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Hallucinogenic plants and drugs
The idea of witches flying at night is a common trope in European folklore and early modern witch trials. This act of nocturnal flight was often associated with witches' sabbaths and black magic. To enable their flight, witches were believed to use flying ointments or salves, which contained hallucinogenic plants and drugs.
These hallucinogenic substances were thought to induce a deathlike trance, during which the witches' souls left their bodies and flew to distant lands to perform dark magic. The Renaissance scholar Giambattista della Porta was an early proponent of this theory, suggesting that the entheogenic effects of potent drugs absorbed through the skin facilitated the witches' flight.
One of the key ingredients in these flying ointments was belladonna, also known as deadly nightshade. Other poisonous ingredients commonly listed in ethnobotanical works include henbane bell, jimson weed, black henbane, mandrake, hemlock, and wolfsbane. These plants contain toxic substances such as atropine, hyoscyamine, and scopolamine, which can induce hallucinations and trance-like states.
In addition to plants, other ingredients used in flying ointments included various unspecified herbs, powders, and candles made of fat. Some recipes also called for more macabre components, such as the entrails of cocks sacrificed to demons, worms, dead men's nails, and the hair and brains of unbaptized boys. These ingredients were cooked with incantations over a fire of oak logs, further enhancing their supposed magical properties.
The concept of witches flying at night and using hallucinogenic substances has been explored in various works of fiction, such as Mikhail Bulgakov's "The Master and Margarita," Clayton Rawson's "Death from a Top Hat," and Jodi Picoult's "Salem Falls." These stories contribute to the enduring fascination with witchcraft and its association with nocturnal flight and hallucinogenic drugs.
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Witch's Sabbath
The Witch's Sabbath, or Witches' Sabbath, is a historical concept that emerged in the narratives and records of the 15th century, referring to a gathering of witches for dark rituals and purported meetings with Satan and other demonic entities. The concept of the Witches' Sabbath is rooted in the social and religious tensions between monotheistic religions, such as Judaism and Christianity, and the traditional pagan practices that were often viewed with disdain.
The idea of the Witches' Sabbath is first recorded in the mid-14th century during the Inquisition, with the earliest English usage of "Sabbath" referring to sorcery appearing in 1660. The phrase "Witches' Sabbath" was introduced to the English language in 1613 through a translation of Sébastien Michaëlis's "Admirable History of Possession and Conversion of a Penitent Woman". The concept gained traction during the peak of witch-phobia and persecutions, which led to the execution of an estimated 40,000-100,000 people, predominantly women.
Witches were believed to travel to these gatherings by smearing themselves with a special ointment, enabling them to fly, or by riding animals provided by the devil, such as goats, rams, or dogs. These meetings were thought to occur on significant dates, including traditional Druid festivals like May Day Eve and All Hallows' Eve, as well as seasonal festivals marking the changes from winter to spring, summer, and fall.
The Witches' Sabbath was often depicted as a sinister nocturnal event characterised by group sexual activities, human sacrifices, particularly of infants, and the renewal of loyalty to Satan in exchange for knowledge of black magic. These descriptions contributed to widespread fear and persecution, resulting in severe consequences for those accused of witchcraft, including harassment, banishment, imprisonment, torture, and execution.
While the existence of such gatherings remains uncertain, the concept of the Witches' Sabbath has left a lasting impact on popular culture and artistic works, with references appearing in literature, artwork, and music.
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Witching hour
The witching hour is a time of night associated with supernatural events and the appearance of witches, demons, and ghosts, who are thought to be at their most powerful. The term "witching hour" was first used in 1762 in Elizabeth Carolina Keene's poem "Nightmare" from her collection "Miscellaneous Poems". However, an earlier reference to the concept appears in William Shakespeare's "Hamlet", written between 1599 and 1601, in which Prince Hamlet says:
> 'Tis now the very witching time of night,
> When churchyards yawn, and hell itself breathes out
> Contagion to this world.
The witching hour is often associated with midnight or the time immediately after it, due to folk beliefs that supernatural phenomena are most prevalent at certain times of the day and year. Midnight was deemed to evoke magic and unpredictable, possibly malevolent, occurrences. It is believed that during the witching hour, the boundary between the living and the dead blurs, and the living become more sensitive to the spirits of the dead.
There are varying definitions of the exact time of the witching hour, with some claiming it is between 12:00 am and 1:00 am, 12:00 am and 3:00 am, or 3:00 am and 4:00 am. The time of 3:00 am is specifically referred to as the "devil's hour", as it is considered the inversion of the time of Jesus's death at 3:00 pm. Psychological literature also suggests that apparitional experiences and sensed presences are most common between 2:00 am and 4:00 am, which may be related to the sleep cycle and the body's REM sleep during this time.
In modern times, the term "witching hour" has taken on colloquial meanings unrelated to its supernatural origins. It is used to describe periods of unpredictable or troublesome activity, such as the fussy period in infancy when babies tend to cry continuously, or the last hour of stock trading before certain contracts expire, which is characterised by high levels of volatility.
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Witch flight explanations
The concept of witches flying at night is a common theme in European folklore and early modern witch trials. This act of "witch flight" is often associated with the use of magical ointments, potions, and candles, as well as the supernatural occurrences of the "witching hour." Here are some explanations for witch flight:
Flying Ointments and Potions:
According to folklore, witches would apply ointments or ingest potions to enable them to fly, often on broomsticks. These substances were believed to contain hallucinogenic and poisonous plants such as belladonna, henbane, mandrake, and hemlock. In his book, Renaissance scholar Giambattista della Porta described the effects of these ointments as inducing deathlike trances in users, who later recounted experiences of nocturnal revelry and magic.
Supernatural Explanations:
The "witching hour" refers to a time of night, typically between midnight and 1:00 am or 3:00 am and 4:00 am, when supernatural events are thought to occur, and witches are believed to be at their most powerful. This belief is tied to the human sleep cycle, where sudden awakening from REM sleep during these hours can cause fear and disorientation, possibly explaining the association with supernatural forces.
Clergymen's Interpretations:
Clergymen have offered alternative explanations for witch flight. Some suggested that it was a delusion created by the Devil, while others believed it to be the souls of witches leaving their bodies to fly in spirit to the Sabbath. These interpretations reflect the influence of religion on the understanding of supernatural phenomena.
Literary and Cultural References:
Witch flight has been a source of inspiration for writers and filmmakers. For example, in Mikhail Bulgakov's "The Master and Margarita," the character Margarita uses an ointment to become a witch and fly. Additionally, songs and poems, such as "Witches Come on Halloween" and Elizabeth Carolina Keene's "Miscellaneous Poems", perpetuate the idea of witches flying in the night, contributing to the cultural fascination with witchcraft and the supernatural.
Witchcraft and Sorcery Charges:
Historically, during the witch trials, charges of witchcraft were laid against individuals like Dame Alice Kyteler, accusing them of using powders, ointments, and candles made from abominable ingredients to cast spells and inflict harm. These accusations highlight the intersection of superstition, folklore, and legal persecution in early modern society.
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Frequently asked questions
The "When Night Comes, Witches Fly" candle is used to capture the feeling of soaring through the air. Its refreshing potion fragrance features notes of frozen lime, grapefruit, and sweet sugar.
In Mikhail Bulgakov's *The Master and Margarita,* Margarita uses an ointment to become a witch and fly to a ball. In Clayton Rawson's *Death from a Top Hat*, a footnote includes two recipes for "flying ointment" by 16th-century demonologist Johann Weyer.
The "witching hour" or "devil's hour" is a time of night associated with supernatural events and increased witch activity. Definitions vary, but it typically refers to the hour after midnight or the time between 3:00 am and 4:00 am.
