Witching You a Very Merry Christmas!

It's time for a Witchy Wednesday: Christmas Edition.  Now THIS is the kind of Christmas greeting card I would have loved to receive! Around the Victorian era through the early 1900's, holiday greeting cards were a lot more hard core, and sometimes, downright WEIRD.  This example isn't too far out there, but it certainly doesn't scream CHRISTMAS, at least by modern standards.  Don't quote me on this, but I BELIEVE this particular holiday postcard was put out by De La Rue. De La Rue was an English company dating back to around 1813.  They made Christmas cards (and some of their work is REALLY odd!) from about 1872 to 1885. 

 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Witches!

Want MORE creepy, crazy Victorian Christmas cards? Bored Panda has collected at least 57 examples of dead birds, devils, and lots and lots of frogs, all wishing YOU a very merry holiday season!

The Witch's Broom Nebula

Today's Witchy Wednesday is a beautiful example of the wonders of space! I've always had a minor interest in astronomy, and have decided to make this the year I delve deeper into that field.

This stunning image was captured by Martin Pugh Astrophotography. This Veil Nebula, properly named NGC 6960, is the resulting debris cloud from a supernova. It is about 1400 light years away from earth. Check out the NASA site for further explanation of The Witch's Broom Nebula! And, if you love space as much as I do, be sure to check out my blog post for the Halloween Asteroid.

Slutty Witch

Be careful what you say to a witch! Happy Witchy Wednesday, everyone!

The Girls of Bewitched

I love this old photograph of Elizabeth Montgomery, Erin Murphy, and Agnes Moorehead! I couldn't find much information about it, but it appears to be a promotional photo for either the Season 3 or Season 4 Halloween episode of Bewitched, which would have aired around 1966-1967. There's even a slightly different version, with a more intimidated-looking Tabitha, as seen below. Happy Witchy Wednesday! 

Retail Witches

You've probably seen this photo floating around Facebook and other social media sites. I gotta admit...its pretty darn funny! Trust me, I've certainly run into my fair share of witches at Target. Unfortunately, they weren't the kind that ride broomsticks and respect nature, lol. Happy Witchy Wednesday, ya'll!

Witchy Wednesday: Kitty Meme

This is the cutest lil' witch I've ever seen! Happy Witchy Wednesday, y'all. 

Pinup Witches Volume 2

This Glamour Witch is actress Joyce Holden. Photo taken in 1950. Happy Witchy Wednesday! 

6 Historic Witchy Documentaries

Salem Witch Trials

I love all the awesome documentaries that can be seen FOR FREE on Youtube!  I've picked six of my favorites regarding the topic of witches, but I'm sure there are plenty more...if you have a favorite, let us know! 

1. The Blitz Witch--The Unexplained:  During the Second World War, Helen Duncan was known throughout England as being a spiritualist and a psychic medium.  But, when the dead started telling her things the government would have liked to have kept secret, she was suspected to be a spy. But, instead of actually trying her for espionage, she became the last person to be jailed under the Witchcraft Act of 1735.

2.The Pendle Witch Child: Nine year old Jennet Device was a key witness in the 1612 Pendle Witch Trials.  Her testimony led to the execution of ten people, including her whole family.  But why did she do it?

3. Witchcraft--Myth and Reality: An interesting cultural look at the history of witchcraft through the ages.

4. Witches: Leonard Nimoy hosts this Ancient Mysteries documentary on witches and witchcraft.

5. Salem Witch Trials: In Search of History takes a look at the unpleasant period in Puritan New England now known as the Salem Witch Trials.  What caused such a panic? Can it happen it again?

6. Witch Hunter's Bible: This National Geographic documentary explores the creation and the impact of the Witch Hunter's Bible, also known as the Malleus Maleficarum. 

What's Your Witch Name?

So what's your witch name?  Mine is Bewitched Light.

A Very Witchy Illustration

Happy Witchy Wednesday! The focus of today's post is this beautiful illustration from artist Ida Rentoul Outhwaite, who was an Australian illustrator of children's book.  This particular work, which is untitled, comes from her 1916 book, Elves and Fairies, published by Lothian. Outhwaite provided the wonderful illustrations that were accompanied by poems written by her sister, Annie Rentoul.

Pinup Witches, Volume I

Welcome to the very first Witchy Wednesday!  This beautiful enchantress may seem a little out of place sitting on a stool in what looks like an artist's workshop.  There's a good reason for her surroundings, but first...

This model is Marilyn Hanold.  She was born in New York in 1938 into a rather large family of six children.  Cashing in on her hauntingly good looks, Marilyn starred in a number of film productions in the late 1950s and early 1960s, including the B-level favorite, The Brain That Wouldn't Die.  She was even named Playboy Magazine's Playmate of the Month for June 1959.  And as we can see below, she was also the model for pinup artist, Gil Elvgren!

Photo study for Gil Elvgren

The painting below was painted from the photograph of Marilyn in 1958 and entitled Riding High. Elvgren was a prolific pinup artist throughout the 1940s into the 1960s.  This is a wonderful piece of American culture and an excellent salute to the sexy witch!

Riding High (1958) by Gil Elvgren