The Salem Witch Trials

I visited Salem a few weeks ago. At once, the good energy and fun that the city exuded infected me. At every corner people were partying in costumes and having a good time. Groups gathered together to go on haunted walking tours. Long queues formed at the entrance of dozens of shops that sold magic and esoteric items. There were fairs where you consulted a psychic. They would lay out your future in front of you using Tarot cards. You had the chance also to choose palm reading or scrying (crystal ball gazing). Mostly, everything was a good humored take on the Salem witch trials. What I liked the most is that you had the opportunity to be whoever you wanted. You got to choose to be a witch or a warlock. The city offered all these options.

Nonetheless, this community has not always lent this liberty to its visitors or inhabitants. On the contrary, it was the site of the deadliest witch hunt in colonial North America.

So many deaths

To this day, people devote themselves to understand what caused that witch phobia. You see, they were not condemning people who truly practiced witchcraft to death. This wouldn’t have justified their actions anyway. They were executing people that had a good standing in the society, old ladies, hard working fathers, caring mothers. More than two hundred people were accused, thirty were condemned, and nineteen were hanged. One was tortured to death. At least five more died in the disease-ridden jails.

Today, it is nice that we can celebrate Halloween. Our children can go trick or treating dressed in their favorite costumes. Fortunately, we see relatively enough religious freedom and tolerance as a result of the Salem witch trials. Let’s take a moment to remember that some people paved the way with their life for this to happen.