what's Witches like in medieval times?

Question

mean, kind, broom stick, flying, pets

Answer 1

In the Middle Ages, witches were considered to be in league with the devil, and therefore evil. Nonetheless, almost every village had a "wise woman" or two, who were generally very well-versed in the curative properties of herbs and other naturally-based remedies for various ailments. As long as things remained status quo, these women were pretty much left alone, but if an epidemic broke out, they were often suspected of using dark magic.

Interestingly enough, the witch hysteria in Europe peaked between the 15th and 17th centuries (1400's-1600's). The victims were disproportionately women, who were usually older and poor. I'm sure that this demographic is significant, but I'm just not sure how--it certainly does seem to indicate a prejudice against elderly women who were economically challenged!

Answer 2

Have you ever watched an epidode of Desperate Housewives? How are elderly old women portrayed? As strange odd eccentric dotty holding conversations with their pets & photos of dead people? Occassionaly stashing dead people in their freezers.

Throughout history in nearly every culture older 'spinster' women have a reputation - - - an image built upon the very things that set them apart from society around them. Sometimes ones habits can be viewed as quaint eccentricties but when things are stressfull society turns against outsiders accussing them of committing horrible acts.

In certain societies, especially Italy and up into Austria and when one follows the natural passage of people & goods on through Bohemia into Hungary and Romanai. It was never polite to call a woman a witch to her faces but there was much whispering around them - - - and most everyone said that if one were kind to them they would be kind in return, but to be mean to a Witch would bring horrendous curses. There are many wonderful folktales about strappling young Men who had reason to take shelter in some isolated mountain hut, home of a woman rumoured to be a Witch. These men had to find creative yet polite ways to leave or risk assorted troubles. At least one Bohemian tales involves a Man who resolves the problem by the man introducing a cat to the woman thus assuring her of having a companion, all that she really wanted, allowing the man to go away and much later discovering that her parting gift was a purse that would never empty of coin.

The broom is largely a modern invention - - - as is the whole flying routine - - - yes one can find medieval precedents but the idea was not that widespread. Wtches were pretty much grounded.

As for Pets - - - during Medieval times people held strange views about Cats despite their value as mouse & rat killers. It was easy to condemn a woman with cats as being a witch but then that is still done in these modern times. Who hasn't heard about some 'crazy Cat woman' with dozens of felines. There was even an episode of CSI featuring one such 'witch.'

Enough - - - - Peace...

Answer 3

"What WERE witches like in medieval times?
Were they mean, kind, did they have flying broom sticks, and/or pets?"

No, the image you have described has nothing to do with the women (and men) who were called "witches", and were falsely accused of being so - and often burned alive or tortured.