Las Hijas de Juan

Victoria Martinez Dr. Patricia Perea English 101 25, October 2012 Are witches real? The witch is defined as,” a person believed to have magical powers; a mean, ugly, old woman.” Webster’s Dictionary .Landoll, Inc. Ashland, Ohio. 1997.(441). In other words, the stereotypical crone with pointed black hat, wart on her nose, flying with her black cat or familiar, on a broom. This cartoon interpretation of the word reaches far back into Western civilization and is reinforced by movies such as The Wizard of Oz ,or Scary/comic witch and cat symbols are used throughout our culture, and the interpretation is particularly prevalent at Halloween. The story of witchcraft is almost as old as human history itself, and was even tolerated by early Catholics until the Roman Catholic Church stepped in. Witchcraft to some, is not a simple formal religion; it lacks a consistent or standardized body of belief. It is also closely believed to be linked to evil. To primitive peoples, witchcraft assigns meaning to the inexplicable by providing a native theory of failure, misfortune, and death. It is an attempt to decode the darker aspects of life that chill the souls of man and to explain through improbable answers, the nature of the vast unknown. Witchcraft evolved in Europe and was later carried to the New World. It consisted of an amorphous body of magical lore closely tied to Devil worship, fertility rites, fortune telling, hexes, and incantations, and problems of health and sickness. The craft was divided for purposes of classification. The first, is the practice of white magic, provided charms or spells for benevolent purposes. The second is witchcraft, black magic, perpetuated evil and was used by persons whose intent was entirely malicious. Finally, is the third degree, the witch went beyond invoking the aid of the Devil and made an actual deal to become his servant. Marc, Simmons. Witchcraft in the Southwest. Northland Press: Flagstaff.1974. Marc Simmons writes:

References: Simmons M. Witchcraft in the Southwest; Spanish and Indian supernaturalism on the Rio Grande [monograph on the Internet]. [place unknown]: Flagstaff [Ariz.] Northland Press [1974]; 1974. [cited November 1, 2012]. Available from: UNM LIBROS Catalog. National Geographic: Salem Witch-Hunt--Interactive www.nationalgeographic.com/salem/