witches' Sabbath

witches' Sabbath
Sabbat.
[1670-80]

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rite
      nocturnal gathering of witches (witchcraft), a colourful and intriguing part of the lore surrounding them in Christian European tradition. The concept dates from the mid-14th century when it first appeared in Inquisition records, although revels and feasts mentioned by such classical authors as the Romans Apuleius and Petronius Arbiter may have served as inspiration. The sabbath, or sabbat, derived probably from the term for the seventh day used by the Jews, might be held on any day of the week, though Saturday was considered rare as being sacred to the Virgin Mary.

      Reports of attendance at sabbaths varied; one confessed witch reported a gathering of 10,000. Witches reputedly traveled to the sabbath by smearing themselves with special ointment that enabled them to fly through the air, or they rode on a goat, ram, or dog supplied by the devil. Favourite locations included the Brocken, in the Harz Mountains, Germany; the Bald Mountain, near Kiev, Russia; the Blocula, Sweden; and the Département du Puy-de-Dôme, Auvergne, France. Typical dates included the two traditional Druid festivals, the eve of May Day (April 30) and All Hallows Eve (October 31), and the seasonal festivals of winter (February 2), spring (June 23), summer (August 1), and fall (December 21).

      Occurrences at the sabbath were represented by inquisitors as including obeisance to the devil by kissing him under his tail, dancing, feasting, and indiscriminate intercourse.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • witches'Sabbath — n. A meeting of witches, supposed by medieval Christians to be a demonic orgy. * * * …   Universalium

  • witches' Sabbath — n. [sometimes w s ] a midnight meeting of witches, devil worshipers, demons, etc., esp. when held on certain festivals as a demonic orgy …   English World dictionary

  • Witches' Sabbath — The Witches Sabbath or Sabbat is a supposed meeting of those who practice witchcraft, Satanism, or other rites. European records tell of innumerable cases of persons being accused or tried for taking part in Sabbat gatherings, from the Middle… …   Wikipedia

  • witches' Sabbath — noun Date: circa 1676 a midnight assembly of witches, devils, and sorcerers for the celebration of rites and orgies …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • witches' Sabbath — noun A supposed meeting of witches at midnight to practice sorcery or to take part in a demonic orgy. Syn: sabbat …   Wiktionary

  • witches sabbath — n. midnight meeting of witches and sorcerers held for worshipping the devils or for other rites (medieval Christians believed it to be a demonic orgy) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • witches' Sabbath — witch′es Sab′bath (or sab′bath) n. myt (in European folklore) a secret rendezvous of witches and sorcerers, characterized by orgiastic rites, dances, feasting, etc • Etymology: 1670–80 …   From formal English to slang

  • witches' Sabbath — noun a midnight meeting of witches to practice witchcraft and sorcery; in the Middle Ages it was supposed to be a demonic orgy • Syn: ↑sabbat • Hypernyms: ↑assembly …   Useful english dictionary

  • witches' sabbath — noun see sabbath (sense 2) …   English new terms dictionary

  • sabbath — ► NOUN 1) (often the Sabbath) a day of religious observance and abstinence from work, kept by Jews from Friday evening to Saturday evening, and by most Christians on Sunday. 2) (also witches sabbath) a midnight pagan ritual held by witches.… …   English terms dictionary

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