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Seeing beyond pink and blue to decode the mysteries of men and women.
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Announcer
Welcome to Stuff Mom Never Told You from howstuffworks.com.
Cristen
Hey there and welcome to the podcast. This is Cristen.
Molly
This is Molly.
Cristen
So Molly -
Molly
Yes.
Cristen
Halloween season is upon us.
Molly
Yes. This is supposed to be our spooky podcast.
Cristen
Spooky podcast. And you know what? This time of year makes me think of what song comes to mind?
Molly
Witchy Woman by the Eagles?
Cristen
Or Season of the Witch by Donovan.
Molly
Oh.
Cristen
Yeah.
Molly
I’m trying to think if I can name any other songs, more songs about witches.
Cristen
Well, when we think about all these songs about witches, like Witchy Woman, Season of the Witch, what comes to mind? A woman.
Molly
Yes. Why are witches always associated with women?
Cristen
Yeah because I used to think that well a witch is a woman because a warlock is a man. But nay, Molly, two different things entirely. Both men and women can be witches. So I think for this Halloween, let’s set the record straight on witches.
Molly
Okay. Let’s do it. Do they have green faces? Do they ride on brooms? These are things I need to know.
Cristen
Yes.
Molly
Do they really like black cats? Is it still a great Halloween costume? That one I can answer. Yes.
Cristen
Yes.
Molly
Okay. So now we started researching witches, and we found out that there’s really no one definition for a witch. It means different things to different people. But there are some notable characteristics that have emerged. These are people who meet secretly at night, indulge in cannibalism, have sex with the devil, and perform black magic.
Cristen
And they usually don’t wear many clothes I have realized from my readings.
Molly
Right. We have this stereotypical witch costume in mind, but I mean if you really want to be a witch for Halloween, walk around naked.
Cristen
Sexy witch. So they also use incantations, which are formulas or chants to invoke evil spirits. They use divination and oracles, amulets and charms, potions, dolls.
Molly
And they can use all of this for good, as the Wizard of Oz pointed out, or for evil.
Cristen
Evil.
Molly
Now they had all of these things in all sorts of cultures dating back. In all culture through history, there have been people who have used incantations, who have had like these elements of sorcery. It’s always been part of folklore. But the idea of a witch itself only emerged in Europe at the end of the Middle Ages.