I never wanted to be a witch for Halloween. Why make myself scary, dressed in black, with a prominent, warty nose? I preferred picking quirky characters and making my own costumes, like a ladybug, menu, and sombrero. Dressing up like a witch seemed like an unoriginal and boring choice.
A month ago, my little town of Pownal had a special celebration in honor of the one and only witch trial that happened in Vermont. The trial took place at the river - a woman who was accused of being a witch was thrown in. She sank, which was the appropriate behavior, and she was pulled out to live another day. My daughter went with a friend, and they had fun dressing up and doing make up to look like witches. The woman who was tried was known simply as “Widow Krieger.” Her given name was Margarete Schumacher, and when she married, she was fourteen years younger than her husband. When he died, she inherited a good bit of land that she managed on her own. In her will, she left eighteen sheep to her grandchildren. According to neighbors, she was an “exceptional” woman which “brought upon her the envy and suspicion of the good people.” She was around the age of sixty when she was put on trial.
It really got me thinking about all of the women who were tried as witches by being dumped into bodies of water, burned at the stake, and meant to endure all sorts of physical contests to their well being. I assume these women were doing their best to live authentic lives. Maybe they were herbalists, or dancers, or artists. I believe that they were women who were following their hearts, maybe living alone or widowed (as in the Pownal widow), maybe with no children. While witches are viewed as many things - crones, the but of many a joke - I see them now as women unapologetically living their lives. Until, of course, someone tries to drown them.
When I think about the women that I know living life on their own terms, I wonder if they would’ve been considered witches in that time period. I do plenty of things that probably would’ve aroused suspicion. Would I have been a witch? Would we all have been tried?
One of the strong women in my dance troupe shared this song with me. It’s called W.I.T.C.H., and stands for Woman in Total Control of Herself. It’s a great song, and that acronym sums up my thoughts perfectly. I hope girls young and old keep on dressing up like witches, and being as scary, fierce, and unabashedly themselves as they dare.