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Author
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Comment
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nenafay
Registered User
(1/4/06 1:05 pm)
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witches
Is anyone familiar with any fairytales containing witches outside the European fairytale tradition? Do these stories have Western counterparts? What sort of imagery is associated with the witches?
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AliceCEB
Registered User
(1/4/06 1:54 pm)
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Re: witches
Witches appear in many cultures. From Japan, I have hanging on my wall a poster of a glorious Tsukioka Yoshitoshi print of a green witch, her long white hair held back by a multicolor bandana, flying with her sack, making her sky blue with red, dark blue, white and beige print kimono flap behind her, and revealing her white under-kimono (don't know the word for it), as well as talons on her feet. Here's a link to another Yoshitoshi print of a cat witch. I do not know the stories of these witches, but the images are powerful.
Best,
Alice
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JennyGreenteeth
Registered User
(1/4/06 2:31 pm)
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Re: witches
This is the story of Likele, a witch from the island of Mele, New Hibredes, Melanesia.
Likele is a canibalistic witch whom feeds itself on children. She lived close to the sea and was unable to leave the beach. Only here she could capture her victims, little children. This witch was used by parents as a nursery boogy to keep their children away from the dangerous sea. She looked like one of the natives of the island except for her extraordinairy long hair.
There is one well known story on Likele about a brother and a sister called Bogifini and Bogitini:
Their parents had to work but had warned their children not to wander off near the sea. But while the children played they wandered from their path and arrived near the forbidden sea. There she was, Likele, the feared witch whom at the girl. Her brother climbed a tree and called for his mother and father. His calls of dispair where carried to his parents by the wind. They understood something was terribly wrong and when they arrived and found their son he told them the story of his experience. The father searched for the witch, found her and muredered her after which the mother slit her belly and freed the girl whom was still alive.
While reading this you can see the comparisons with European folk-tales like Little red riding hood etc.
Hope you enjoyed this one,
Greets,
Jenny Greenteeth
Edited by: JennyGreenteeth at: 1/4/06 2:32 pm
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princessterribel
Registered User
(1/6/06 11:35 am)
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Baba Yaga
The Baba Yaga is a witch...a Cinderella-like story featuring a wicked stepmother who sends her stepdaughter to visit her sister, the Baba Yaga, who lives in the woods...v. scary.
The story is on this site somewhere.
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nenafay
Registered User
(1/6/06 4:55 pm)
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Re: Baba Yaga
some interesting witches -- thank you! :) One of the things I've been looking at for a dissertation has to do with similarities of fairytales worldwide and how these came to be. Since my degree is going to be in illustration, I'm looking mainly at imagery - of villains in particular (they're so exciting!)- but I am dedicating one section to the origins of fairytales themselves. The Likele story makes me want to tilt more toward Joseph Campbell and his 'monomyth'. The elements are too similar to ignore, but too different to have come from the same orignal story.
As for the cat witch, I'd heard of them before, but never seen an image like that. I love the way her face is actually made of cats - not evil-looking cats, just normal cats doing what normal cats do. The cat witch image I have (yay google image search!) just looks like a print of a normal japanese woman wearing a rather elaborate golden head-dress. I wish I'd saved the URL. Either way, it's fascinating stuff.
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AliceCEB
Registered User
(1/6/06 6:56 pm)
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Re: Baba Yaga
If you are interested in looking for illustrations of villains, then I definitely recommend looking at more Yoshitoshi prints. The green witch I described comes from a series he did of all kinds of mythical villains--in fact a large number were brought together back in 1990 for an exhibit on the topic (where I got the poster). Some of my favorites were of ghosts and evil warlords--but the witch, of course, for me ranked first.
Best,
Alice
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Gypsy
Unregistered User
(1/11/06 10:03 pm)
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witches
I know a little about Italian witches. Apparently, to ward the off, you need to leave a bowl of salt or sand, or a broom, in front of your window or door. Before the witch (who's name is Lainara [not sure of proper spelling: pronounced lie-yin-ar-a]) can enter your room (or house) she has to count every grain of salt or sand, or every straw on a broom. If she doesn't finish counting before the sun comes up, she has to flee. But if somhow she does manage to enter, she will either spirit you away or eat you.
Personally, I find a bowl of salt or sand more suited to the task. Brooms are too easy to count.
-Gypsy
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DawnReiser
Registered User
(1/12/06 4:51 pm)
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witches in myth
Try Greek myth: Medea, Circe, etc.
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AlienEeeter
Unregistered User
(1/12/06 9:40 pm)
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witches
I just picked up "The Silver Bullet and other American Withc Stories" at the thrift store a few days ago. I havent had a lot of time to sit down and read it, but it's witch folklore collected back in the 30's. You can get it cheap online:
www.amazon.com/gp/product...e&n=283155
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nenafay
Registered User
(1/18/06 8:06 am)
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silver bullet
Silver Bullet? I think I know that one. Does it have a story about women that turn into cats and say "sop doll", or am I thinking of something else?
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