Why were witches depicted riding a broom?
For centuries, witches have been the heroes of legends, fairy tales and superstitions. They were depicted in different ways, but their most common attribute was a broom. Even today, most of us imagine a witch riding this simple household item. But why a broom, and not a scythe, rake or paddle?
People believed in the existence of witches thousands of years ago. But the peak of interest in them came in the Middle Ages. The witch hunts carried out by the Inquisition for several centuries cost the lives of many women in Europe and the New World. They were considered a serious threat to society and the church, and the image of a witch riding a broom was firmly ingrained in the popular consciousness.
In the 17th century in Scotland, during another witchcraft trial, a certain Isabel Gowdy admitted that she had attended witches’ sabbaths. The woman said that she flew to a gathering of evil spirits on a broom at night while her husband was sleeping peacefully. Of course, Isabel did not come up with this herself - in folklore, witches got to the Sabbath on Bald Mountain in exactly this way.
The roots of this myth must be sought in antiquity. In the Aztec pantheon of gods was Tlazolteotl, revered as a mother goddess. She was responsible for fertility and sex life. She was depicted as a woman with yellow skin and a broom in her hand. The goddess took upon herself all the carnal sins of the dead, cleansing them before moving on to another world. Therefore, she was sometimes called the “dirt eater.”
Many peoples have long associated a broom with a tool that covers tracks. That is why most often witches sit on a broom with its rods facing backwards. So she could hide in an unknown direction, confusing her pursuers. Less common is the option with a broom facing forward. In this case, a candle is stuck into the rods. This was necessary in order to move in the darkness of the night, illuminating the way.
The broom played an important role in pagan beliefs. In ancient times, priests used it in rituals of purification and protection from evil spirits. People believed that the broom brought good luck and warded off evil. With the advent of Christianity, persecution of pagans began, and therefore the broom found itself among the symbols of witchcraft and black magic.
In folklore, witches could fly using a broom. This choice of vehicle had several explanations. Firstly, as we have already said, the broom was associated with magic. Secondly, the broom, as an instrument of protection and purification, could protect the witch from trouble. And thirdly, the broom was the most common household item that is found in every home. She did not arouse the slightest suspicion in anyone.
The image of a witch with a broom was firmly entrenched in the minds of Europeans during the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Artists often used it in paintings, and writers often used it in novels and poems.