The usage of ‘Zincalis’ in ethnographic literature and its relation to Romani identity, language, and migration across Eurasia Zincalis is a historical term used in Spain and parts of the Orient to refer to the Romani people, commonly known in English as Gypsies. The word appears in 19th-century ethnographic and literary works, most notably in … Read more
Witch’s Flight is a motif in European folklore describing witches traveling to the sabbath on supernatural mounts, such as goats, black sheep, or demons. For other excursions, witches are commonly said to ride on broomsticks. This imagery appears in legal records, trial accounts, and popular iconography from the Middle Ages onward, reflecting anxieties about witchcraft … Read more
The Flying Dutchman (Voltigeur hollandais) is a legendary ghost ship from Dutch maritime folklore. The crew is condemned to sail the oceans eternally as punishment for piracy and atrocities. The appearance of the ship is considered an omen of disaster. The legend was popularized in seafaring narratives and later adapted in literature and opera, notably … Read more
Volac (also Valak) is a demon described in grimoires such as the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum and the Lesser Key of Solomon. Volac is depicted as a child with angel’s wings, riding a two-headed dragon. He possesses knowledge of the locations of planets and hidden serpents. Volac is said to command thirty legions of demons. This figure … Read more
Vocératrices (voceratrici, buccratrici) in Corsica are women who perform improvised laments, known as vocero (or buceru, buceratu), during funerals, particularly when the deceased was the victim of homicide. The custom involves placing the body on a table while female relatives, friends, or renowned local women with poetic talent deliver verses in the Corsican dialect. Sometimes … Read more
Verre d’eau (water glass) divination refers to scrying or crystal gazing techniques practiced in Europe and the Middle East, involving the use of a glass of water or other liquids to predict the future. This method became especially popular in France during the Regency era. Related practices include ink scrying in Egypt, and hydromancy recorded … Read more
Jean de Vaulx of Stavelot in the region of Liège was a reputed sorcerer who presided over gatherings identified as sabbats in early modern witchcraft lore. He used the term ‘loges’ for these occult assemblies. Records connect his activities to popular beliefs about witches’ sabbats in the early modern Low Countries. Related Posts:Mythological Anatomy: The … Read more
Vapors in Knisteneaux (Cree) belief are considered the souls of the newly dead. According to accounts of the Cree people in Canada, vapor or mist hovering over swamps is thought to represent spirits of the deceased. In some European folklore, ignited vapors are interpreted as will-o’-the-wisps or mischievous spirits. Ethnographic reports from the 18th and … Read more
Thirteen is regarded as an unlucky number in European superstition. It was believed that in a group of thirteen at a table, one would die within a year. This belief influenced social customs and is cited in various anecdotes and records of early modern Europe. Related Posts:Mythological Anatomy: The Hidden Vocabulary of the…The Werewolf in … Read more
Transport of witches describes the supernatural movement of witches to sabbaths, either through flight or, in France, by riding a goat. Accounts from early modern witch trials often feature witches abducting children and traveling great distances with the aid of animal familiars, reflecting deep-seated fears and fantastical beliefs about witchcraft. Related Posts:Mythological Anatomy: The Hidden … Read more