Catemaco, Mexico hosts the annual International Congress of Witches, where thousands bus in from all over Mexico to enlist local sorcerers to cast a spell or read a fortune.
Catemaco, Mexico —
Catemaco, Mexico hosts the annual International Congress of Witches, where thousands bus in from all over Mexico to enlist local sorcerers to cast a spell or read a fortune.
Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images
In 1612, ten individuals were tried and found guilty of witchcraft in Lancashire, England. The group, known as the Pendle Witches, were mainly guilty of creating home remedies from local plants, or living outside the norms of the Protestant church. Today, visitors can glean some local history on the Pendle Witch walking trail.
Lancashire, UK —
In 1612, ten individuals were tried and found guilty of witchcraft in Lancashire, England. The group, known as the Pendle Witches, were mainly guilty of creating home remedies from local plants, or living outside the norms of the Protestant church. Today, visitors can glean some local history on the Pendle Witch walking trail.
Visit Lancashire
In 2008, archeologists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem discovered a 12,000 year old grave of a witch, or female shaman, in northern Israel. She was buried with fifty tortoises, a human foot, a leopard pelvis, the wing tip of an eagle, a cow's tail, and other possible talismans.
Israel —
In 2008, archeologists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem discovered a 12,000 year old grave of a witch, or female shaman, in northern Israel. She was buried with fifty tortoises, a human foot, a leopard pelvis, the wing tip of an eagle, a cow's tail, and other possible talismans.
Naftali Hilger/Hebrew University via Getty Images
The Blocksberg (or Brocken) mountain has long been thought of as a gathering place for witches, especially on Walpurgis Night (April 30). Locals used to try to ward them off by hanging crucifixes and herbs on their door. Today, The Brocken fills up with revelers in witch costumes every Walpurgis.
The Brocken, Germany —
The Blocksberg (or Brocken) mountain has long been thought of as a gathering place for witches, especially on Walpurgis Night (April 30). Locals used to try to ward them off by hanging crucifixes and herbs on their door. Today, The Brocken fills up with revelers in witch costumes every Walpurgis.
Jens Schlueter/AFP/Getty Images
Shamanism has a strong tradition in Tuva, a republic in Eastern Siberia. Though many shaman were executed when Tuva was enfolded into the Soviet Union, the tradition is once again finding its legs. Visitors eager for a purification or reading can visit the Shaman Center, in the capital of Kyzyl.
Tuva Republic —
Shamanism has a strong tradition in Tuva, a republic in Eastern Siberia. Though many shaman were executed when Tuva was enfolded into the Soviet Union, the tradition is once again finding its legs. Visitors eager for a purification or reading can visit the Shaman Center, in the capital of Kyzyl.
Valery Titievsky/AFP/Getty Images
As in many parts of Asia, a belief in the supernatural is widespread in Malaysia, but the practice has a different twist in the Muslim-majority country, where meddling with the occult is banned under Islam. Malay Bomohs (or witch doctors) inject Koran reading into their practice to exorcise jinns, or spirits.
Malaysia —
As in many parts of Asia, a belief in the supernatural is widespread in Malaysia, but the practice has a different twist in the Muslim-majority country, where meddling with the occult is banned under Islam. Malay Bomohs (or witch doctors) inject Koran reading into their practice to exorcise jinns, or spirits.
Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images
Shamans are a traditional sight around the Han River in South Korea, where the rite is believed to be passed through the blood line. Every year, a shaman will perform a blessing ceremony on the embankment to bestow good luck on an old cargo ship.
Han River, South Korea —
Shamans are a traditional sight around the Han River in South Korea, where the rite is believed to be passed through the blood line. Every year, a shaman will perform a blessing ceremony on the embankment to bestow good luck on an old cargo ship.
Choi Jae-Ku/AFP/Getty Image
The TV show 'Most Haunted' visited the Wookey Caves in Somerset in 2009. The legend of the Wookey witch is based partly on a witch-shaped stalagmite, and partly on a 1,000-year-old female skeleton found in the cave.
Wookey Hole, UK —
The TV show 'Most Haunted' visited the Wookey Caves in Somerset in 2009. The legend of the Wookey witch is based partly on a witch-shaped stalagmite, and partly on a 1,000-year-old female skeleton found in the cave.
Visit Britain
The Witch Market makes for a large tourist draw in La Paz, Bolivia, where local witches carry medicinal herbs and spell-making ingredients. Dried llama fetuses and toads are some of the items available for sale.
The Witch Market, Bolivia —
The Witch Market makes for a large tourist draw in La Paz, Bolivia, where local witches carry medicinal herbs and spell-making ingredients. Dried llama fetuses and toads are some of the items available for sale.
Aizar Raldes/AFP/Getty Images
Thousands of witch-trussed revelers descend on Historic 25th Street -- a street supposedly 'too wild' for Al Capone -- to engage in Witchstock, a witch-themed celebration in the month of October.
Witchstock, USA —
Thousands of witch-trussed revelers descend on Historic 25th Street -- a street supposedly 'too wild' for Al Capone -- to engage in Witchstock, a witch-themed celebration in the month of October.
Historic 25th Street