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The Witches Caldron

"Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog"
"Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg, and owlet's wing"

"For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and babble"

"Double, double, toil and trouble,
Fire burn, and caldron bubble"

William Shakespeare

It is Halloween on the 31st October and witches are well associated with the event. It was legendary for witches to gather twice a year when seasons changed, on 30th of April and the eve of May Day and also on the eve of November 1st (All Saints Day), called 'All Hallow's Eve'.

All Hallows is a pagan festival with strong Celtic roots, that marks the end of the harvest season in northern climes and is associated with an abundance of legend. The Celtic pagans believed the date marked a blurring of the distinction between the living and the dead, the latter of which might come out and damage crops if not properly appeased. The tradition grew up of putting a light inside a hollowed-out turnip; this is the "Jack-o-Lantern", designed to frighten off evil spirits by resembling a fearsome face, and it's a lot more convenient than having to wear a fright mask all night. When the tradition moved to North America the turnip was replaced by the pumpkin, a larger and somewhat easier vegetable to carve as well as being conveniently orange, the colour of Autumn. Black, the other Halloween colour, is of course that of death.

Witches would arrive on broomsticks celebrating a party hosted by the devil himself. Black cats also became associated with witches, who it was believed could turn into cats. There is the old superstition about bad luck coming your way should a black cat cross in front of you. Witches were also associated with cauldrons, casting spells and other evil witchcraft doings. Witches would wear pointed black hats, have crooked noses and warts... how nice!

Witches who were captured were burnt at the stake or thrown into the river. If they floated to the top it was taken as proof of their guilt. They could only prove their innocence by drowning, which was more than a little unfair but in those days served to demonstrate that you didn't mess with the legal system.

Things seem to be a little more civilised today. There are many who believe themselves to be 'white witches' who are considered to be healers and seers.

A famous witch film is: The Witches of Eastwick

Famous TV witches are: Bewitched, Sabrina The Teenage Witch and Charmed

For a fun Witches dish:

Try black spaghetti served with a creamy seafood sauce.

To celebrate Halloween this year, the Irish community here on the Riviera are having a wonderful Halloween party in Nice.

As for the Halloween lantern, it's said that one Stingy Jack, a hard-drinking, mean old Irish farmer, trapped the devil up a tree by carving a cross on the trunk. The devil responded by condemning Jack to wander the earth with a light inside a turnip; just the kind of imaginative punishment you'd expect from the Anti-Christ. "Hey Jack, what's that for?", they asked at the pub. "Oh, I'm carrying it for Old Nick. I left him stuck up a tree and he's a bit cross."

The Irish Association, also known as Pacairish are having a Halloween party in Nice.
Everyone is welcome. It is a real family get together.

The date: Saturday 31st October

The venue: CCU 25 RUE GIOFFREDO, 06000 Nice (map)

The time: 6.30pm until 11.00pm

Entry fee: €7.00 per person and children are free.

Please bring something for the bar and buffet.

Entertainment will be supplied.

Contact: Mary on 09.53.29.20.72 or Nick on 04.93.52.17.82

Whatever you're doing on Halloween, The Riviera Woman wishes you a really spooky time.