Cuntius, Johannes (Pentsch Vampire)
Johannes Cuntius: The Pentsch Vampire Johannes Cuntius, also known as the Pentsch Vampire, is one of the stranger cases in early modern vampire lore. His story comes from Silesia and was recorded
Devil’s Pact
A Devil’s pact is a pledge to serve the Devil or one of his Demons. The pact may be made orally, but according to lore it is best to write it on virgin parchment and sign it in blood. The
Padilha, Maria
Maria Padilha: Queen of Pomba Gira In the sixteenth century, Portugal became the first European nation
Minona
ORIGIN: Fon (Benin, formerly Dahomey) Minona is a powerful forest-dwelling spirit of magic, fertility, and domestic
Hazel
hazel The hazel tree is one of powerful magic, according to ancient beliefs. Hermes’ caduceus, a gift from Apollo, was made of hazel. The early roman naturalist, Pliny, wrote of how to
Hawthorne, Nathaniel
Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804–1864) was a native of Salem, Massachusetts, and one of the great masters of American fiction, Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote one of his best-known works, The House of Seven Gables, perhaps
Hawkins, Jane
JaneHawkins (17th century) Massachusetts midwife and healer expelled on suspicions of witchcraft in the delivery of a deformed, stillborn fetus. The witchcraft accusations were mixed with a religious controversy affecting Jane Hawkins
HARE
A hare is in folklore, a witch’s Familiar or a witch metamorphosed in disguise (see metamorphosis). It is still bad luck in the British Isles for one’s path to be crossed by
HAND OF GLORY
Hand of Glory The Hand of Glory is one of the most sinister charms in European magic folklore. It was believed to be the severed and magically preserved hand of a hanged
Hair and Nails
Hair and Nails in Magic and Folklore Hair and nails have long been regarded as magically significant parts of the human body. In many traditions, they are believed to contain something of
HAG STONE
A hag stone is in folk magic, a stone with a hole in it hung in homes and stables to keep away hAgs or witches, at night. Hung on the bedpost, a
Hag
A hag is an old, ugly woman believed to be a witch or sorceress; also, a supernatural, Demonic being whose powers enable her to live an incredibly long time. The origin of
Gypsies
Gypsies are nomadic people who probably emerged out of northern India around the 10th century and spread throughout Europe, the British Isles and eventually America. Gypsy tradition has little in the way
Gwydion the Wizard
Gwydion the Wizard In Welsh Celtic mythology, the heroic wizard (see Wizard) and bard of North Wales, whose tales are told in The Mabinogion. Gwydion the Wizard was the son of Don,
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