Halloween Witches

[MankyCat]

I don't know if this topic was brought up before. I found a long lost box that had some very cute, comical little Halloween Witch statues and dolls the other day (the day after Midsummer and after my working, I know the symbolism here). Finding that, and then reading an article in Witchvox reminded me of some things I thought about a while back.

Why do we get so upset about the witches that are protrayed by society, especially the Halloween witches? I understand that a lot of people feel that it wrongly represents us, but there are so many other representations of us, especially nowadays. Even old fairy tales did have some good fairies, good witches, heck... look at Cinderella's fairy godmother. There's no questions what she is. As the person on Witchvox brought up, the Wizard of Oz has the Wicked Witch of the West, but also had the Good Witch Glendola (that's her name, right?).

Nowadays, we have Willow from Buffy, the Charmed sisters... we also have the good/evil polarities in the Craft. (Please don't hurt me for bringing them up. *ducking*) Even Barbie dolls are making dolls that represent us in a better light, even though it's still not completely accurate.

I adore the comical witches of Halloween. The cute ones that look like little old grannies. Some remind me of my mother (she'd smack me for that one, but she is a beautiful and very comforting woman). And even the green skinned ones have lessons to teach, hidden secrets for us to discover if we only look.

Just how I feel. It's hard for me explain.

I have cutesy little witches (normal skin and green skin) around my apartment, I have a candle holder in the shape of a witch's shoe and a statue of a big fat toad with a witches hat that sits next to it (kinda like she messed up her spell... naughty girl!). My BOS has an etching of three silly comical witches brewing something in a huge cauldron.

I think... to me... it represents not to take things (life, magic, and myself) too seriously. Be careful so I don't turn into a toad (the green skinned witches must've fizzled their spells too), but don't get too hung up on things. Be playful, have fun, and just enjoy.

:bouncysmi

I'm curious how every one else feels about this sort of thing.

[Crysiira]

Myself, I'm not too offended by it. When I first became Pagan, I was a little indigant; I felt like I had to be for the sake of all witches that came before me. But I learned to lighten up; you're right, there are good witches portrayed as well as not-so-good ones. I even have stickers of little green-skinned witches decorating my BOS binder along with all my faerie stickers.... It's all a matter of opinion I guess, and I don't think it's quite a big deal anymore.

[Baye]

I use to collect old Halloween postcards mostly ones from Salem, Mass. I had them dispalyed as a colage (sp?) in frames. I always feared someone may be offended. A woman I worked with (We are now great friends) who is Pagan and a Witch thought they were cute and even said some Pagans may find it offensive but it was too bad because she said they were really nce art work.
Here is one of them.

http://images.cafepress.com/product/19003309_240x240_F.jpg

[Silverfire Darkmoon]

Why do we get so upset about the witches that are protrayed by society, especially the Halloween witches?
Because people need to feel persecuted over something. Really, it's insane. I don't see jolly fat men getting pissed off at Santa Claus or rabbits organizing a petition to remove the Easter Bunny from commercials.
Sometimes I think I belong to the religion infested with whinging little twits, to be honest.

[MankyCat]

Crysiira and all - What bothers me is also the nay-sayers (from the pagan community) that got Halloween celebrations at schools banned. Now it's autumn parties, which are nice and all, but I remember I loved the halloween parties. Get to dress up in costumes, walk in the school parades, have spooky treats... Now there will be kids who won't have that, and my nieces may be some of them.

Baye - I love vintage Halloween cards. Some of them are the most creative bits of artwork I've seen, in regards to any holiday. I know a woman who collects them too. Don't be worried if you offend other pagans with them. I've learned a long time ago, you are bound to offend a few no matter what you do. I personally would have loved to see those cards hanging up. :)

Silverfire - My family used to eat rabbit on easter... and goose on New Years (a celebration from denmark or sweden honored mother goose on new years... and she'd bring gifts that evening... and so... we ate mother goose, go figure), we had venison for Christmas... and so forth. I'm sure some would have been offended by that, but we didn't think anything of it. Even made jokes. My mother had an interesting way of viewing what should be eatten on those holidays, that's for sure. (She has the best holiday dinners... and celebrates even the ones that don't really apply to her. It's cute.) :yayah:



Editted for clarification.

[Autumn Clair]

Where we live in Pa. the school still has Halloween Parties. I guess it depends on where you live who bans you.

[MankyCat]

Sorry, Autumn. I think I wasn't clear enough about the nay-sayers. Thank you. I think it depends on the school systems and how many complaints they are getting about misrepresentation and such.

[Amythyst]

I feel the same way you do, Yuli. lt doesn't bother me at all. In fact, I love all the little statues and things you were describing and have things like that all over my house, too. My kids love those cute little witch statues, also...and unicorns and fairies and gnomes. It's fun and lighthearted and usually very pretty.

[MankyCat]

Aw!!! That's so cute!

I expecially love the witches with red frizzy/curly hair like that. My mother's hair is like that, which is probably why they are my favorite. (My mom is gonna seriously smack me!) After than, I love the grey haired ones.

I so need to put up a picture of some of mine. :hahugh:

[Zephyrstorm]

Every Halloween, I buy one witch or black cat. :) I haven't been doing it for very many years, so I only have a few - some are cutesy, some just are. I adore them all. One of my favorite parts of the holidays is the decorating. ;)

[MysticWitch]

Im not offended by it. I love it :yayah:

[Meadhbh]

It doesn't bother me. Come on people unless you learn to laugh at yourself a bit your life isn't going to be that enjoyable. I'll admit I have some halloween witches that get taken out during that time of the year.

[amakaliani]

I looooooooooooooooove ALL manners of Witch decorations. I have so many....they get snatched up at garage sales, thrift stores, clearance,....

:D

[Ancient Wisdom]

I love all kinds of witches! We can't be offended by something so realistic...There are good witches and there are bad ones, this is a fact. Maybe not green but it's just a representation of the bad ones !.. I personally dresss up as a witch every year for Halloween i feel it's the day when i can scream out.... I'M A WITCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!:boing: :boing: :boing:

[Amythyst]

Aw!!! That's so cute!

I expecially love the witches with red frizzy/curly hair like that. My mother's hair is like that, which is probably why they are my favorite. (My mom is gonna seriously smack me!) After than, I love the grey haired ones.

I so need to put up a picture of some of mine. :hahugh:

How neat!-- My oldest daughter has red hair, I have dark auburn hair that I just dyed a really deep wine red. And our hair is naturally curly too.

I love all kinds of witches! We can't be offended by something so realistic...There are good witches and there are bad ones, this is a fact. Maybe not green but it's just a representation of the bad ones !.. I personally dresss up as a witch every year for Halloween i feel it's the day when i can scream out.... I'M A WITCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!:boing: :boing: :boing:

Me too! Isn't that a hoot?!

[jcldragon]

When my GrandMother was visiting Denmark, she bought an Old Crone. My Mom has her now, and she has had the Old Crone hanging in the Kitchen window...

Let's just say that while she doesn't know it yet, in her next incarnation, my Mom is going to be very deep into Witchcraft. hehehe

[Invidosa]

I don't see jolly fat men getting pissed off at Santa Claus or rabbits organizing a petition to remove the Easter Bunny from commercials.
Sometimes I think I belong to the religion infested with whinging little twits, to be honest.

He he,:lol: I love it! I agree, I think people have taken the whole "don't tread on my religion" thing to the very extreme, when we are demanding the eradication of Halloween parties and getting books banned (specifically, The Witches by Roland Dahl) we are making ourselves look like a band of loonies! I personally love the Halloween witches, If we take ourselves too seriously we'll be no better than any other disgruntled fundie religious group.

[elfmage]

I have quite a few little comical witches... including one with curly red hair that I got when I was younger, and that generally travels with me!

I don't see anything wrong with being able to poke fun at yourself... in fact, I think it's when you can't do that that there is an issue.

[Cindlady2]

I collect the little statues... sometimes my kids find them for me. Some of them sit by the computer year round. I also 'swiped' the witch out of the kids Lego's! hehehe.

[jcldragon]

Seeing as how so many of us are collecting these popular image Witches, it seems that the Divine Sense of Humor is expressing itself through Chaos Magick. ;)