tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post1576628065890479826..comments2024-03-23T12:38:46.260+00:00Comments on The History Girls: Protection Against Witches - Celia ReesMary Hoffmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241989732624913706noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-7106337258990957122013-09-20T13:09:49.068+01:002013-09-20T13:09:49.068+01:00Oh, horror, Nikki-ann and me married to a Welshman...Oh, horror, Nikki-ann and me married to a Welshman, too! I was holidaying with staunch a Welsh speaker when I saw the shoes. Hope she doesn't read this!Celia Reeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05059549379622664741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-34281296737413304442013-09-18T22:06:32.719+01:002013-09-18T22:06:32.719+01:00Very interesting!
Though I do have to point out t...Very interesting!<br /><br />Though I do have to point out that "Mach" is in Mid Wales rather than North :)Nikki - Notes of Lifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15116292112164268244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-7235099420745106942013-09-18T15:33:09.529+01:002013-09-18T15:33:09.529+01:00great word, isn't it, Penny! I thought that, t...great word, isn't it, Penny! I thought that, too, Sue. If you can't bury Gran under the hearth, you can bury her shoes.<br /><br />Thanks to all who have commented. Glad the post has sparked interest. Celia Reeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05059549379622664741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-14624281078840371122013-09-18T12:30:47.783+01:002013-09-18T12:30:47.783+01:00A local artist found a shoe and made her residency...A local artist found a shoe and made her residency about the whole experience, and shared paper shoes in memory of it! http://strathnaver.blogspot.co.uk/p/joanne-b-kaar.html well worth a look.<br />one of the other things was a fishing bouy made of dog skin!Ruan Peathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17999492027801288004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-61512593661879742842013-09-18T11:43:54.957+01:002013-09-18T11:43:54.957+01:00Very interesting! I grew up in Hove so loved that ...Very interesting! I grew up in Hove so loved that link. I also have a witch ball in the window, here in Newcastle. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13976765090064593093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-18243322801827255082013-09-18T11:08:21.096+01:002013-09-18T11:08:21.096+01:00We're still a superstitious species. I see the...We're still a superstitious species. I see these "evil eyes" often:<br />http://www.natashascafe.com/html/evil_eye.htmlPetrea Burchardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13043950465171821852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-23941586172573166682013-09-18T09:49:31.150+01:002013-09-18T09:49:31.150+01:00In the Highlands, Stone Age houses have been found...In the Highlands, Stone Age houses have been found, with human burials beneath the floor. Presumably Auntie or Uncle was buried there so they could keep an eye on the household and protect and advise after death. Perhaps the worn shoes were a continuation of this? - When it was no longer considered okay to bury Auntie under the kitchen, you made a gesture by burying her shoes there instead.<br />I'm puzzled by the cats, though. If protection was the object, surely a dog would have been a better choice?<br />I like the 'witch bowl' mentioned above. I have a Scottish glass float hung above the big window in my living room, which is supposed to do the same thing, though I just think it's beautiful.<br />A mountain ash planted outside is what you really need - 'Rowan berries and red thread, Keep the witches from their speed.'Susan Pricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738737493756183909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-72588079616234292602013-09-18T08:44:34.198+01:002013-09-18T08:44:34.198+01:00Witch bottles. Shoes? Cats? Far better to be safe...Witch bottles. Shoes? Cats? Far better to be safe than sorry, I feel, and I do quite like the thought of that servant thinking she'd found some small way of getting her own back. <br /><br />I recall my gran talking about the almost spherical greenish glass bowl she owned as her "witch bowl" It was placed near a window to catch the light - presumably an echo of "turning the evil eye back on itself"? Fascinating post.Penny Dolanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16386668303428008498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-2815712532587530952013-09-18T07:55:42.332+01:002013-09-18T07:55:42.332+01:00Fascinating! But not surprising, considering what ...Fascinating! But not surprising, considering what else was used to protect houses over the centuries, sometimes a lot nastier than a bottle!Sue Bursztynskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09362273418897882971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-29766441727285074682013-09-18T05:04:42.939+01:002013-09-18T05:04:42.939+01:00Thanks for the new word, "apotropaic." I...Thanks for the new word, "apotropaic." I'm quite sure I'll use it. What a delightful post. I love the picture of the silver bilobed bottle.Petrea Burchardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13043950465171821852noreply@blogger.com