What are the key differences between traditional witchcraft and Wicca?

Question

I know the big difference is that traditional witchcraft is centuries years old and that Wicca was developed in the 1950s by Gardner. Beyond that, what are the differences between the sabbats, gods/goddesses that are worshiped, or rituals that are performed? Please be thorough in your explanations! Thanks. :-)

Answer 1

Wicca is a religion. Witchcraft can be practiced by anyone. I've known many Christians, Jewish people, and Muslims who unwittingly practiced witchcraft. Many superstitions are based on witchcraft, as well as many present-day rituals. (Don't get me started on all of the Christmas festivities that were "borrowed" from Pagan practices.)

Even repeating a daily affirmation has, at its core, some of the same principles of witchcraft. Witchcraft does not have to be about calling corners or being in a circle. Focusing on your intent and "aligning yourself" with the Universe or God/dess is a way to practice witchcraft. Even wrighting down your goals or developing a 5-year plan is a pretty witchy thing to do, whether you talk to God about it or not.

And every coven or person has their own versions of what and how to celebrate. Many do the Four Sabbats, many more do the Eight. And lots celebrate the Esbats (full moon). Of course, many Buddhists celebrate on the full moon, too. :)

Answer 2

Easy one. Witchcraft is a practice & a religion. It depends on what way you look at it. Wicca is a religion. It was founded by a Gerald Gardner and the people of his time who had a desire to rebuild the old Traditions of English Witchcraft, Familiar Witchcraft is somewhat diverse. Not many *real* fam-trad Witches will admit that they are part of such a group. But, for the ones who do, they rarely share what they are taught. It can be anything from lighting candles to saints, all the way to sacrificing a goat for a Deity. P.S Before you say "wicca doesn't do bad stuff, harm none"....well, guess what....fam trad Witchcraft really has nothing to do with Gardnerian BTW Craft.

Answer 3

Well, there really isn't any Witchcraft that is centuries old. Traditional Witchcraft is a bit different from Wicca, though. Wicca was founded by Gerald Gardner. From what little I know of traditional witchcraft, it was based on the work of Robert Cochran and others, and the focus is more on the underworld Gods and the Ancestors (the "pale folk" under the mound). So, in Trad Witchcraft the God of the Witches is the God of the Dead. In Wicca, he is more a Nature God, and there is more emphasis on nature worship and the Goddess. Both have some form of quarter calls, but in Wicca they are related to the elements, and in trad witchcraft it's just directions. Also, Wiccans actively invoke their Gods, and then tell them they can leave at the end of the ritual. In Trad witchcraft, they don't order the Gods around, and they don't say "Hail and Farewell" at the end. There are more differences, I am sure, but I'm really rather new to Trad Witchcraft (and I like it). Wicca has more ceremonial magick and Golden Dawn influence as well.

Answer 4

This is a difficult question to answer, because we don't really have a lot of facts about "traditional" witchcraft. What we once considered our "history" has in fact been revealed to be our lore. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it does cloud the issue.

I think that perhaps the biggest difference, is that "witchcraft", as such, is NOT a religion. It is a magical practice, that can be integrated with any number of religious beliefs. Many Wiccans are also witches, because Wicca supports and encourages magic, many Wiccans also practice their faith and never turn to magic. Similarly, I know witches who are Christian, and even a Buddist who is the most practical "kitchen witch" I've ever met.

Answer 5

There are differences. I am including a link that was given me when I asked the same question. It is very educational.

Here are some quick points:
~Traditional Witchcraft does not use deities.
~Traditional Witches believe in fate.
~They celebrate sabbats but do not tie them with any mythology.
~Magic is essential to Traditional Witchcraft and it is done simply with no big ritual surrounding it.
~Traditional Witches have few rites of passages if any at all.
~There is no "threefold law" or "wiccan rede" in Traditional Witchcraft.
~Traditional Witches does not have craftnames.
~They do not cast a circle when doing rituals.

Answer 6

Heathenry is the reconstruction of the practices of the ancient pre-Christian indigenous Northern European (aka Germanic which includes, but is not limited to, Norse). Heathenry is also sometimes referred to as Asatru or Forn Sed.

Try the website of the Asatru Folk Assembly.

http://www.runestone.org

They have a good online basic introduction primer on Asatru for beginners:

http://www.runestone.org/introduction/primer.html

Wicca was invented by Gerald Gardner in the 1940's and 1950's. While inspired by ancient European pagan religions, much of his material came from Freemasonry, 19th and early 20th Century Western ceremonial magick (Golden Dawn and Crowley which is where circle casting, calling quarters, athames, etc. came from), and Theosophy as well as the academically discredited theories of Margaret Murray (Horned God and Goddess duality, ancient universal "matriarchal" agrarian society claims, etc.). He cobbled it together into a workable system which many folks find useful.

Answer 7

What you ask is way to in depth to really cover here. The following link is to a really good article on what many consider to be the real meaning of the term "Traditional Witchcraft."

And to Frater Pan; "Witching Way of the Hollow Hill" is an EXCELLENT book. Surrounded in controversy, yes, but excellent all the same. (Then again, most of the really interesting books are controversial. ;)

Answer 8

I don't know as much about traditional witchcraft as I probably should, but from what I've seen they're basically witches who've decided that Wicca is a bad thing and are eager to distance themselves from it. I do know that they don't hold with the Wiccan Rede.

Answer 9

"Witchcraft" is a broader title like "Christianity" that has sub sects of which "Wicca" is one like "Protestant" is a sub sect for Christians. There are further delineations but I think you get the idea.

Interestingly enough there are traditions in Witchcraft that invoke Jesus to heal. A Correndara for one is a Mexican Healing Witch

And of course all Witches are not Wiccan.

Answer 10

tradital witchcraft was used to do things that was against someone's will. Another words they tried to make them do things teir way and their way was the only way. They used vodoo dolls,chants and spells to make this happen for them.This was considered to be evil. That was the reason for burning the salem witches. The problem was they thought everyone who used herbals were witches. The wicca religon believes harm none,herbal remedies,and helping others.They do not believe in pushing anything. Everthing has it's time and place.The wicca follow the earth. They bother nothing. And only take what they need. There is so many differances there is too many to name. 1.I just you read salem wicthes and come forward.