Preliminary communication

Which Woman is a Witch? The Stereotypic Notions about Witches in Croatian Traditional Beliefs

Luka Šešo ; Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Department of Ethnology, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

The results of a recent field research showed that the breaking of taboos or social, moral or religious values, causes women to "become'" witches. It all starts with a rumor and gossip about some ugly, unmarried, divorced, promiscuous, old or too pretty women in the village. But they are still not branded as witches until a certain negative incident or misfortunate event occurs. Then those women next-door, who were previously marked as undesirable, are accused for the disaster and the accusers are hence resolved of all responsibility.

Keywords

traditional beliefs; witches; Croatia; Dalmatian hinterland; modernity

Hrčak ID:

93972

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/93972

Publication date:

20.12.2012.

Article data in other languages: croatian

Visits: 6.700 *