Hazel witch

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The hazel witch is the title character of an alpine South Tyrolean legend that goes back to ancient models.

content

A farmhand living in Seis secretly observed a stable-maid, disreputed as a witch , who was driving through the fireplace on a stove fork. He was able to follow her by smearing a kitchen broom with an ointment used by the maid, so he also climbed through the chimney into the air and finally reached the Schlern , a South Tyrolean witch's dance floor . There the maid danced with other witches, but was then slaughtered and consumed by them. The servant received a roast rib, which he did not eat but secretly pocketed. After the feast, the witches collected the bones and brought the maid back to life, but now the rib hidden by the servant was missing. Instead of her, the witches put a piece of hazel wood, and the servant learned from them that the resuscitated maid would die immediately if she were called the "hazel witch". This was the name given by the servant to the maid the next day when she returned to the farm and dined with the others, whereupon she instantly sank dead to the ground.

Originating from ancient models

A model for the legend of the hazel witch was the story of Pelops , which occurs in Greek mythology , who was killed by his father Tantalus and served as a meal to the gods of Olympus at a banquet. Tantalos wanted to put the wisdom of the gods to the test, but was immediately seen through by them and punished with severe agony. In contrast, the gods resurrected Pelops and replaced the shoulder blade that Demeter had consumed with one made of ivory .

Furthermore, it is reported in Germanic mythology of Thor that he slaughtered, roasted and ate his goats, but brought them back to life the following day. However, since a farmer's son had stolen the long bones of a goat and splintered it, this animal was now paralyzed.

The legend of the hazel witch is also based on very old mythical beliefs that bones are the seat of life. In Tyrol this approach was combined with the magical role of the hazelnut bush in popular magic ; after all, the hazel whip was seen as a rod of life and also used for punishment.

literature

  • Johann Adolf Heyl: Folk tales, customs and opinions from Tyrol , Brixen 1897, p. 435 f. ( online ).
  • Hazel witch . In: Leander Petzoldt : Kleines Lexikon der demonen und Elementargeister , 1990, p. 89 ( online on Google Books ).