There's A Reason Behind Witches And Their Broomsticks And It's Actually Fascinating

by N/A, 10 years ago | 2 min read

| 1650

How did this weird fictional depiction come about? The answer might surprise you.

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Witches are almost always depicted with brooms.

But where does this tradition come from?

One theory has roots in pagan rituals. People would jump around in the fields with sticks and brooms to make the crops grow higher.

Anyone witnessing this bizarre ritual might think those people were actually flying.

Another theory is a little more complex.

During the Middle Ages, some women would make potions and ointments that had hallucinogenic properties. It made them feel like they were floating or flying.

Because hostility was high, these women didn't want to be seen taking the potions orally. Therefore, they found more discreet ways to get it inside their bodies with everyday household objects, like the broom.

If the broom was rubbed against the sweat glands under the arms and on the mucus membranes of the genital regions, it would have a bigger effect and be more discreet. That's how witches began to be depicted riding brooms.

Kinda gross, but hey, whatever works.

So there you have it! That's why our modern day witches are depicted with brooms.