I had mentioned changing Vampire Wednesday to something like Werewolf Wednesday or Witch Wednesday. Vampires would be changed to another day of the week. My friend,Julie, from Deadly Ever After mentioned Wee Hour Wednesday and it posting in the Wee Hours. I liked it, and was thinking about it when something came to me.
The Witching Hour.
The Witching Hour is believed to be in the middle of the night. The exact time varies depending on who you talk to. Some believe it is at midnight, others believe it is at 2 A.M or 3 A.M. (3 A.M. is also called the Devil’s hour. )
So what is the Witching Hour? It is the time that witches are at their most powerful and their magic is most effective, and when supernatural beings are said to roam, they are also at their most powerful.
I love
’Tis now the very witching time of night,
When churchyards yawn, and hell itself breathes out
Contagion to this world: now could I drink hot blood
And do such bitter business as the day
Would quake to look on.
Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, 1603
and
THESEUS: The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve.
Lovers, to bed; ’tis almost fairy time.
.…
PUCK: Now it is the time of night
That the graves, all gaping wide,
Every one lets forth his sprite.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, by William Shakespeare, 1600
Or this
Now Midnight spreads her sable vest
With starry rays light tissu’d o’er;
Now from the Desart’s thistled breast
The chilling dews begin to soar;
The owl shrieks from the tott’ring tow’r,
Dread watch-bird of the witching hour!
A Fragment, by Mary Robinson 1793
So What does this all mean, now that I’ve had a chance to vent my little pieces of literature. I will be posting Witch related info on the second Tuesday of the month, maybe also on the fourth Tuesday. I’m not sure if I could gather enough information to post twice a month.
“Why Tuesday?” you may ask.
It’s simple really. Old myths say witches would meet with their covens at a crossroad on Tuesdays and Fridays. Since I’m already doing something on Fridays..Friday Fictioneers, I will do it on Tuesdays at the Witching Hour. (My witching hour, It maybe daytime to the rest of the world, but I should be fast asleep.)
I just had to get this in here
ALL. Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and caldron bubble.
2 WITCH. Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the caldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder’s fork, and blind-worm’s sting,
Lizard’s leg, and owlet’s wing,—
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.
ALL. Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and caldron bubble.
3 WITCH. Scale of dragon; tooth of wolf;
Witches’ mummy; maw and gulf
Macbeth, by William Shakespeare 1603
Please join me on Tuesdays for The Witching Hour.
If you happen to know Witchy business and would care to join in on the Witchy fun, feel free to join in. Leave me a comment, tell me what you think.
Mari Wells 