The Witches' Sabbath

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The Witches' Sabbath: this term evokes images of secret nighttime gatherings, occult rituals, and mysterious figures dancing under the moon. Also called the Witches' Ball, it inspires both fear and fascination. However, I would like to point out that this article should be viewed with some perspective, as the information available today may have been created to justify the witch hunts. Let us therefore delve together into this legendary celebration.

1. The origin of the Witches' Sabbath

The origins of the Witches' Sabbath date back to medieval beliefs in Europe, a time when magic and witchcraft were often viewed through the lens of religion and superstition. The term "sabbath" itself is derived from the Hebrew shabbath, meaning "rest", but its use in the context of witchcraft has a much darker connotation. In the texts of the time, these Sabbaths were described as gatherings of people accused of witchcraft who renounced Christianity and pledged allegiance to the devil.

The first notable mention of the Sabbath comes from the writings of the Inquisition, where witches' testimonies claimed that they took part in these gatherings. These accounts were widely used to justify persecutions during the witch hunts, particularly in Europe between the 15th and 17th centuries.

2. The tools of the Sabbath

The instruments used during Sabbaths and the symbols associated with these gatherings clearly refer to witchcraft:

• The broom: the image of witches flying on broomsticks is one of the most iconic. The broom, an everyday object, was supposedly used to apply magical ointments that enabled witches to "fly" to the Sabbath.

• The cauldrons: cauldrons were used to prepare magical potions and decoctions. This symbol of transformation is central to witch mythology, representing the ability to transform natural substances into enchantments.

• Familiars: witches were often accompanied by familiars, spirits or demons taking the form of animals (cats, dogs, frogs, or ravens). These familiars assisted in the practice of magic and also served as protective companions.

3. The course of the Sabbath

The few surviving writings describe scenes of intense ritual activity, in which the norms of medieval Christian society were not only overturned but openly flouted. Accounts of these nighttime gatherings are saturated with symbols of rebellion against the religious order and communion with dark forces.

These gatherings included several key ritual elements:

• Renunciation of faith: one of the most blasphemous acts reported during Sabbaths was the renunciation of Christianity. Participants were said to swear an oath of allegiance to the devil, often by kissing him, sometimes depicted as kissing the devil's anus, an ultimate act of defiance against Christian norms.

• Pacts with the devil: newcomers were often described as signing a pact with the devil, sometimes written in their own blood. This pact was a contract in which the sorcerer or witch promised their soul in exchange for supernatural powers.

• Witchcraft and curses: Sabbaths were also an opportunity to devise spells and curses against enemies, practice divination, and engage in other forms of magic that the Church condemned as heretical.

4. Goya's painting

Francisco Goya, one of the most renowned painters of the 18th century, explored the theme of the Witches' Sabbath in several of his works, notably in his famous painting Witches' Sabbath (also known as El Aquelarre or The Great He-Goat). This work is part of the series of Black Paintings that Goya created toward the end of his life, painted directly onto the walls of his home, the Quinta del Sordo, in Madrid.

Goya depicts a nighttime gathering of shadowy figures, dominated by an imposing goat figure representing the devil. The witches, mainly women of various ages, kneel or present children as sacrifices to this central figure. The scene is dramatically lit, highlighting expressions of fear and adoration on the participants' faces. The atmosphere is dark and oppressive, evoking a feeling of terror and mystery.

The painting is rich in symbolism. The goat, traditionally associated with the devil in Christian culture, is here a manifestation of darkness and evil. By offering children, the witches seem to perpetuate fertility or sacrificial rites, recurring themes in legends surrounding Sabbaths. Here, Goya criticizes not only the rural superstitions of his time but also the manipulation of fear by the Church and the state.

That, then, is the explanation of the Witches' Sabbath, which was a propaganda weapon but is ultimately being reused today to organize certain Sabbaths, as a counterpoint to oppression.