Re: Witches

Posted by Questionalbe intentions on February 02, 2002

In Reply to: Re: Witches posted by Barney on December 28, 2001

: : : : : I see that someone asked before for the meaning of this phrase - I understand the meaning, but does anyone know the origin of "colder than a witches tit"

: : : : The simple explanation is that "colder than a witch's tit" is just a vivid metaphor, like "hotter than the hinges of hell." Since a
: : : : witch is in league with Satan, presumably she has no maternal feelings. Thus the medium by which she would suckle a child is,
: : : : well, cold as a witch's tit.

: : : : But there's some history behind this wisecrack. A witch's tit (or witch's teat, to use the older spelling) supposedly left a marking
: : : : that witch hunters and courts would look for on the body of an accused person. Supposedly, witches would suckle their
: : : : familiars, and sometimes the Devil himself, from this "unholy" body part. To find these marks, as well as insensitive spots on the
: : : : skin called devil's marks--caused by the Devil's claws or teeth--the suspects were stripped, shaven, then closely examined for
: : : : any blemishes, moles, or even scars that could be labeled as diabolical. To find marks invisible to the eye, the examiner would
: : : : poke the victim inch by inch with a blunt needle (called a bodkin) until they found a spot that didn't feel pain or bled. Discovery
: : : : of these marks or spots--one supposes they would be considered cold since they were a sign of communion with the
: : : : Devil--would be "proof" of the person's dealings with Scratch, so they would be shown in full court before the execution.

: : : One of my more politically correct offspring has just finished chastising me for being, in her words, "insensitive, boorish and just plain dumb" for associating witches with Satan.

: : : Witchcraft (Wicca Craeft), is also called Wicca, or alternatively, The Craft. This previously underground religion has much to teach every human about survival and about the ethical use of natural innate powers.

: : : Satan, or "the Devil," is a concept not to be found outside of Judeo-Christianity, Islam, and Zoroastrianism. A person must be working through the paradigm of a Holy Bible in order to believe in Satan. He is not a part of Native American religions, Shinto, Buddhism, Animism or (of course) Wicca.

: : : So a portion of my previous post should read "Since SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE a witch is in league with Satan....".

: : : Thank You, Janice

: : Quite right. By the way, witches are the victims of inflation just like everyone else. I was looking at a holiday catalog and found a witch's broom going for $69.99.

: Hey, that's a crazy price you can get good quality witches brooms for £15 down any London East End market. £15 is about $22 so come to London, enjoy the treasures of a great world city and buy a broom - it's a real bargin.

Although all of your posts were extremely amusing, there is a rest of the story so to speak. By claiming that a woman was a witch it gave officials the right to look for the cold spots, and since women were thought of quite lowly, they were quite defenselss as well. If an official saw a girl that he took a particular fancy to, this accusation gave him and anyone else the right to fondle her at will. If she protested then she was said to be guily and burned anyway. Quite a catch-22 if you ask me. Lechery, public humiliation, or death hmmmm decisions, decisions.....whats a poor witch to do? (Buy one of those brooms and get the heck out of there girl...)