In Honor of Halloween
Deadline: Monday, November 5, 2012 by 08:00

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Since witches have been the theme of our Halloween festivities for October 2012, this blog post is in connection to the symbolism behind a witch's wardrobe and appearance.

Please read the directions below carefully before you post on this week's blog.





1. The paragraphs below all connect to the secret symbolism of a witch's wardrobe and appearance.  Write the missing word in regards to an item or appearance of a witch in the blog post. (See my example post for assistance).

2. All boldfaced words are vocabulary words. Write a short definition or synonym for each word on the blog post. 

3. Can you find where I found this information? Do a search online for the article and post the following information on the blog:

  • The title of the article
  • The author of the article
  • The weblink to the article

4. Finally, write what you thought about the article and the research behind the symbolism behind a witch's wardrobe and appearance. (For example: What was the most interesting fact from the article? Did you know any of this information before? Is there a part of the article worth researching further?)



Item number one: WITCH  __ __ __ __

Some of the earliest images of witches feature them wearing brimless, cone-shaped __ __ __ __, similar to the __ __ __ __ we associate with wizards today. In pagan societies, these __ __ __ __ were reserved for shamen, who were spiritual leaders or healers who used natural herbs to cure disease. Witches were valuable members of pagan communities, because they knew a great deal about the Earth and how to use its resources.

During the Victorian era, illustrations in children's books added a brim to the witch's __ __ __ . These                 __ __ __ __ were often used to identify evil characters and the __ __ __ __ quickly became a symbol of a wicked witch.


Item number two: WITCH  __ __ __ __ __ __

In medieval Europe, everyone owned a __ __ __ __ __ to keep their home clean. __ __ __ __ __ __ weren't associated with witchraft until 1453, when a Frenchman, Guillaume Edelin, confessed under torture that he had made a pact with the Devil that allowed him to fly around on his __ __ __ __ __. During a wave of witch hysteria, investigators would torture alleged witches and try to get them to confess to flying on
__ __ __ __ __ __. Some did, no doubt to escape the torture, adding the __ __ __ __ __ to the witch legend.

Wiccans, who are modern witches, use __ __ __ __ __ __ in some ceremonies to represent the air element. A Wiccan __ __ __ __ __, known as a besom, is a rounded __ __ __ __ __ made with twigs rather than straw. Sweeping with the besom removes negative energy from a room.


Item number three: WITCH __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
The __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ is a symbol of fertility in many non-Christian faiths, including European pagan religions and some African religions. It's also a practical object that can be used to create potions.

The association of __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __with witches stems largely from William Shakespeare's Macbeth, which opens with a trio of witches creating a mysterious potion in a __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __. Although much of Shakespeare's view of witches was intended only for dramatic effect, it became the popular image of witches during the Elizabethan era.


Witch's appearance:  __ __ __ __ __  and  __ __ __ __ __    __ __ __ __
From the beginning, literature portrayed witches as shriveled, ancient hags filled with superstition and anger at the world. Some writers describe witches as near-skeletal, with leathery skin pulled tight over their bones.    __ __ __ __ __ were a common affliction in the Middle Ages, but many people still saw them as evidence of disease or unclean living. As with witch hats, Victorian-era illustrators would use __ __ __ __ __ to represent evil people.

It's interesting to note that the Malleus Maleficarum, a handbook for the detection and prosecution of witches published in 1487, explains that witches aren't all elderly, haglike or covered with __ __ __ __ __ . Beautiful young women are among the most dangerous witches in this book, because they can lure men to their doom.

The idea of witches with __ __ __ __ __   __ __ __ __ doesn't take hold until the 20th century. The first         __ __ __ __ __-__ __ __ __ __ __ __ witch appears in the film version of The Wizard of Oz, even though the original book never describes The Wicked Witch of the West with __ __ __ __ __   __ __ __ __ . This was most likely a decision made by the filmmakers to show off the potential of brand-new color film.

The color __ __ __ __ __ has been associated with witches since the time of the Ancient Celts. In Celtic tradition, __ __ __ __ __ is the color of the fairies, with whom witches shared a strong association. Witches were depicted wearing __ __ __ __ __ as a symbol of their otherworldly nature.



Bonus House Point Challenge

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For those who would like a House point challenge worth 1oo points, can you find the answers to the questions below regarding the world's largest pumpkin? Please write your answers on this week's blog post.

Thank you, Elliott, for providing the questions for this House point challenge!



1. What is the weight of the world's largest pumpkin as of October 2012?
2. In which state was the world's biggest pumpkin grown in the United States?
3. Who is the owner of the world's biggest pumpkin?
4.
Find a picture of the pumpkin and the owner online and post the weblink on the blog post.

Mr. Hendricks
1/11/2012 04:49:10 am

Example of how your answers should be on this blog post:

Item number one: WITCH __ __ __ __
Item number two: WITCH __ __ __ __ __ __
Item number three: WITCH __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Witch's appearance: __ __ __ __ __ and __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

Vocabulary words from this article
brimless:
pagan:
torture:
pact:
hysteria:
alleged:
twigs:
straw:
potions:
Macbeth:
shriveled:
hags:
skeletal:
elderly:
doom:
Celts:
fairies:

Article information
The title of the article: _____________________
The author of the article: _____________________
The weblink to the article: _____________________

Sample comments about article
What I liked about this article was....
I did not know that ...
I would like to know more about...

Reply
Jonesy
3/11/2012 12:12:59 am

Item 1 : Witch hats
Item 2 : Witch brooms
Item 3 : Witch Cauldrons
Appearance : Witch's Warts and Green Skin

Vocabulary :

Brimless - the upper border of something hollow
Pagan - Polytheist
Torture - to have the intention of inflicting pain on someone, without killing them
Pact : an agreement
Hysteria - an unmanageable outburst of any type of emotion
Alleged - something declared or stated
Twigs - a small piece of wood or branch
Straw - a single stem or stalk
Potions - a combination of ingredients that are used to make something
Macbeth - a tragedy or a King of Scotland
Shriveled - to contract and wrinkle
Hags - Ugly old women that are harsh and mean
Skeletal - bones by themselves or their outline
Elderly - People older than you
Doom - a horrible fate
Celts - an axe of metal or something sharp
Fairies - small supernatural people that have wings

Title of article : ' The Secret Symbolism of a Witch's Wardrobe '
Author of article : Derek Gerry
Link of article : http://www.life123.com/holidays/halloween/witches/witch-symbolism.shtml

I like this article because it explains thoroughly what each item is whilst including more vocabulary connecting to Witches.

I never knew about the story about Guillaume Edelin and the fact that he made a pact with the Devil. I also never knew that the arm Cauldron came from Shakespeare.

I would like to know more about why the colour green was chosen and not yellow ( like the Simpsons ). Maybe it is because green is sometimes classed as a sickly colour and not a exciting colour. I would also like to know about the Malleus Maleficarum handbook it seems very exciting and interesting, it also seems really mysterious.


Reply
Jonesy
3/11/2012 03:41:55 am

Sorry, I meant to put term cauldron, not arm hahahahaha

Reply
Jonesy
3/11/2012 04:05:00 am

House points :

Weight > 2,009 pounds
State grown in > New England
Owner > Ron Wallace, from Greene, Rhode Island
Link > http://www.squidoo.com/worlds-largest-pumpkin

Reply
Francesca Jones
4/11/2012 02:21:23 am

I need to correct myself !

The state it was grown in was Rhode Island, Greene

Sorry

Reply
luca
3/11/2012 06:33:49 pm

Item number one: WITCH Hats
Item number two: WITCH brooms
Item number three: WITCH cauldrons
Witch's appearance: WITCH warts and green skin
Vocabulary:
brimless:The upper section of something empty or hollow
pagan: polytheist religion
torture: to give pain intentionally with out killing them
pact: an agreement
hysteria: behaviour exhibiting excessive or uncontrollable emotion, such as fear or panic.
alleged: a phrase that is sated or mentioned
twigs: a thin like of bark or wood usually of trees
straw: a thin strip of compacted grass
potions: mixes of items to make something magical.
Macbeth: a king or scotland
shrivelled: to make or become something smaller or wrinkled
hags: an old woman usually ugly or frightful
skeletal:Of, relating to, forming, or of the nature of a skeleton.
elderly: the older form of a human
doom:Inevitable destruction or ruin
Celts: a sharp axe of metal
fairies: fly like fairytale creatures that are filled with magic

Article information
The title of the article: Frau Trude
The author of the article: wilhelm Grimm
The weblink to the articlehttp://www.pitt.edu/~dash/witch.html#revenge


Sample comments about article
What I liked about this article was: I liked the part when the girl said i didn't see you and i saw the devil insted
I did not know that witches could turn into devils
I would like to know more about why the little girl always didnt obey their pear aunts. because the begging of the story just said she never followed her pearaunts.

Reply
LOLxxxx (Lauren)
3/11/2012 06:44:00 pm

Item 1: a witch's hat
Item 2: A witch's broom
Item 3: a witch's cauldron
Appearance: witch warts and green skin
Vocabulary:

Brimless: Without a brim.
Pagan: a person with no religion.
Torture: To punish someone through pain.
Pact: a formal treaty between nations.
Hysteria: a form of behavior, which expresses your inner emotions, in fear or pain.
Alleged: to be declared but not proven.
Twigs: A thin piece of wood or branch is known as a twig.
Straw: Stalks of threshed grain, used as food and bedding for animals.
Potions: a liquid or mixture, which is generally chemical or magical.
Macbeth: once was the king of scotland, and it was also one of Shakespeare's plays.
Shriveled: To make or become winkler and shrunken often by drying.
Hags: An old woman, considered to be scary or frightful.
Skeletal: to be formed by a skeleton.
Elderly: To be old.
Doom: To destine to n unhappy end.
Celts: A European empire.
Fairies: a small magical human/ creature, often known as mischievous.

Article information:
Title of article: The secret symbolism of a witch's wardrobe.
Author of article: Derek Gerry
Web link to article:
Www.life123.com> holidays and entertaining> Halloween> witches
What I thought about the article:

I thought that the article was very info heavy, and it would be better if it had a bit more creativity in it.
Although it is not very long, it gave me a lot of things that I didn't know, but in a fun way.
I liked it because it takes general things that we know to explain other things.
Also, because it was all true and I believed it, it was a lot more fun to read.

House points:
Weight: 2009 pounds
State ground in: Greene, Rhode Island
Owner: Ron Wallace
Link: pumpkinnook.com/giants/giantpumkins.htm

Reply
Meee xxx :)
3/11/2012 08:08:42 pm

Item 1: Witch hats
Item 2: Witch Broom
Item 3: Witch cauldron
Appearance : witch warts and green skin
Vocabulary:
Brimless: without a brim "a brimless hat"
Pagan: not acknowledging the God of Christianity and Judaism and Islam
Torture: the action or practice of inflicting severe pain on someone as a punishment or in order to force them to do or say something
Pact: a written agreement between two states or sovereigns
Hysteria: state of violent mental agitation
Alleged: declared but not proved
Twigs: a thing which is on the tree
Straw: plant fiber used e.g. for making baskets and hats or as fodder
Potions: a medicinal or magical or poisonous beverage
Macbeth: king of Scotland (died in 1057)
Shriveled: (used especially of vegetation) having lost all moisture; "dried-up grass"; "the desert was edged with sere vegetation"; "shriveled leaves on the unwatered seedlings"; "withered vines"
Hags: an ugly evil-looking old woman
Skeletal: of or relating to or forming or attached to a skeleton; "the skeletal system"; "skeletal bones"; "skeletal muscles"
Elderly: people who are old collectively; "special arrangements were available for the aged"
Doom: an unpleasant or disastrous destiny; "everyone was aware of the approaching doom but was helpless to avoid it"; "that's unfortunate but it isn't the end of the world"
Celts: a member of a European people who once occupied Britain and Spain and Gaul prior to Roman times
Fairies: a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers
Article information:
Title of article: The Secret Symbolism of a Witch's Wardrobe.
Author of article: Derek Gerry
http://www.life123.com/holidays/halloween/witches/witch-symbolism.shtml
House Points :
1.2009 pound
2. Rhode Island
3. Ron Wallace, from Greene

http://pumpkinnook.com/giants/giantpumpkins.htm










Reply
Cristiano Ronaldo!!!!!!!!
4/11/2012 12:22:47 am

Item number one: WITCH hats
Item number two: WITCH brooms
Item number three: WITCH cauldrons
Witch's appearance: warts and green skin

Vocabulary words from this article:

brimless: Without a brim.

pagan: a person holding religious beliefs other than those of the main world religions.

torture: the action or practice of inflicting severe pain on someone as a punishment or to force them to do or say something, or for the pleasure of the person inflicting the pain.

pact: a formal agreement between individuals or parties.

hysteria: exaggerated or uncontrollable emotion or excitement, esp. among a group of people.

alleged: without proof, to have taken place or to have a specified illegal or undesirable quality.

twigs: a slender woody shoot growing from a branch or stem of a tree or shrub.

straw: dried stalks of grain, used esp. as fodder or as material for thatching, packing, or weaving.

potions: a liquid with healing, magical, or poisonous properties.

Macbeth: king of Scotland 1040–57. He came to the throne after killing his cousin Duncan I in battle and was himself defeated and killed by Malcolm III.

shriveled: wrinkled and contracted, esp. due to loss of moisture or old age.

hags: a witch, esp. one in the form of an ugly old woman (often used as a term of disparagement for a woman).

skeletal: of, relating to, or functioning as a skeleton.

elderly: old or aging.

doom: death, destruction, or some other terrible fate.

Celts: a member of a group of peoples inhabiting much of Europe and Asia Minor in pre-Roman times. Their culture developed in the late Bronze Age around the upper Danube, and reached its height in the La Tène culture (5th to 1st centuries bc) before being overrun by the Romans and various Germanic peoples.

fairies: a small imaginary being of human form that has magical powers, esp. a female one.

Article information
The title of the article: The Secret Symbolism of a Witch's Wardrobe
The author of the article: Derek Gerry
The weblink to the article: http://www.life123.com/holidays/halloween/witches/witch-symbolism.shtml

Sample comments about article:
What I liked about this article was that it gave me a lot information that I did not know, it was not so heavy to read, as a result I did not stop reading.

I did not know that in medieval Europe, brooms weren't associated with witchraft until 1453, when a Frenchman, Guillaume Edelin, confessed under torture that he had made a pact with the Devil that allowed him to fly around on his broom.

I would like to know more about cauldrons. I choosed cauldrons because the cauldron is a symbol of fertility in many non-Christian faiths, including European pagan religions and some African religions.

Reply
PRETTY GIRL
5/11/2012 02:42:04 am

Messi and Barça are so much better !

Reply
hey xxx
10/11/2012 05:30:12 am

thats true !!!

Artur Ganeev
4/11/2012 01:14:10 am

Item number one: WITCH HATS
Item number two: WITCH BROOM
Item number three: WITCH CAULDRON
Witch's appearance: WARTS and GREEN SKIN

Vocabulary words from this article

brimless:immagrinate

pagan:unbeliever

torture:infliction of torture (physical and mental) in order to obtain information or to punish.

pact:contract

hysteria:fit

alleged:supposed

twigs:associated in bundles of willow branches

straw:halm

potions:creature

Macbeth:

shriveled:stale

hags:witch

skeletal:bony

elderly:aged

doom:loss

Celts:kelt

fairies:little people

Article information
The title of the article:
The Secret Symbolism of a Witch's Wardrobe
The author of the article: Derek Gerry
The weblink to the article: http://www.life123.com/holidays/halloween/witches/witch-symbolism.shtml

Sample comments about article
I like Witch brooms in this article. I liked that Sweeping with the besom removes negative energy from a room.I did not know all, because I celebrate Halloween for the first time and this is new for me.
I would like to know more about witch. which clothes they wear, where they live, how do they spend their free tome, what are they doing…..

BONUS HOUSE POINT CHALLENGE

1-1 TON
2-MASSACHUSETTS
3-RON WALLACE
4-http://www.squidoo.com/worlds-largest-pumpkin

Reply
Marc
4/11/2012 03:04:56 am

Item 1 hats
Item 2 brooms
Item 3 cauldron
Witch’s appearances warts and green skin

Vocabulary words
I. brimless: that there are no brims
II. pagan: unchristian
III. torture: pain
IV. pact: compact
V. hysteria: frenzy
VI. alleged: affirm
VII. twigs: sprig
VIII. straw: fodder
IX. potions: liquid
X. Macbeth: novel of William Shakespeare
XI. shriveled .contract
XII. hags: crone
XIII. skeletal: cadaverous
XIV. elderly: retired
XV. doom: destiny
XVI. Celts: a society the lived in the Middle Ages in Europe
XVII. fairies: sprite
Article information:
Name of the article: THE SECRET SYMBOLISM OF A WITCH’S WARDROBE
The author of the article: DEREK GERRY
The web link of the article: http://www.life123.com/holidays/halloween/witches/witch- symbolism.shtml
I think that the article was interesting because everybody knows that the witches have warts, green skin, brooms… but anyone knows why, so I can everyone that information, before I didn’t know that information but because of this blog I learned. If not I wouldn’t know it. For me the most interesting fact was when it speaks about the brooms,, how a normal object like that could become an object to fly for witches.

Reply
batman
4/11/2012 03:41:34 am

Item number one: WITCH hats
Item number two: WITCH brooms
Item number three: WITCH cauldrons
Witch's appearance: warts and green skin
Vocabulary-
Wiccan
Straw
Potion
Hags
Boldfaced
Brimless
Pagan
Torture
Pact
Hysteria
Alleged
Twigs

Reply
Jonesu
4/11/2012 01:05:48 pm

Batman ! You did it wrong ! The words in bold are the vocabulary, and you need to write the definition !

Reply
giodi:)
5/11/2012 03:23:32 am

Item number one:Witch hat
Item number two:Wicth Brooms
Item number three:Wicth cauldrans
Wicth´s appearence:warts and green skin
vocabulary words in this article:
brimmless:no brimles
pagan:uncistian
torture: pain
pact:compact
hysteria:frenzy
alleged:affirm
twigs:sprig
straw:grass
potion:liquid
mathbeth:is a novel of Willian shakespear
shriveled:contract
hags:crone
skeletone:cadaveras
elderly:old
doom:destiny
celts:a societis the lived in the middle ages
fairis:fantasy
Name of the article:the secret symbolisim of a Wicth's Wardrobe
The auther of the article:Dreek Geery
the weblink of the article:http://www.life com/holidays /halloween/wicthes/wicth- syimbolism.shtml. Everyone knows what's needed to make a witch costume at Halloween. You need a pointed a hat, a broom, a cloak, a cauldron and perhaps a wart or some green makeup if you want to create a scary witch.

Reply
Batman vs Superman
5/11/2012 04:24:15 am

If you prefere Batman post: B
If you prefere Superman post: S

Waiting for replies!!!!!
Teachers also count!!

Reply
Jonesy
6/11/2012 02:44:17 am

B

Reply
Ronaldo
16/11/2012 09:59:32 pm

S

Chris :)
5/11/2012 04:27:18 pm

Item number one:Witch hat
Item number two:Wicth Brooms
Item number three:Wicth cauldrans
Wicth´s appearence:warts and green skin
vocabulary words
Brimless:without a brim
Pegan:uncristian
Torture:push other
a written agreement between two states or sovereigns
Hysteria:fit
Alleged:without proof
Twigs:sprig
Staw:dried
Potion: mix of something
Macbeth:a novel
Shriveled:contact
hags:a witch
Skeletone: the skeletal sspystem
Elderly:age
Doom:a type of density
Celt: a member of a group
Fairis:small people
Article information

The title of the article: The Secret Symbolism of a Witch's Wardrobe
The author of the article: Derek Gerry
The weblink to the article: http://www.life123.com/holidays/halloween/witches/witch-symbolism.shtml
I like the witch brooms

Reply
Lauren.T
6/11/2012 06:13:06 pm

I <3 history
Xxxxxxxxxx

Reply
Jonesy
7/11/2012 05:12:57 pm

I completely agree !!! xxxxxxxx

Reply
Sindlerova
10/11/2012 05:29:23 am

Me too xxxxxxxxxx

Reply



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