A Disappointing Halloween night in Salem
My Halloween was pretty uneventful. All I really did was go downtown and be in the mix of the crowded area of costumes and other interesting displays of Halloween. I must say that the costumes were really cool. There was many unique ideas that I myself wouldn’t think about. There were plenty of group costumes that would only work together though. I myself don’t think I could handle group costumes due to the fact that I like to wonder on my own. As I pushed through the crowd’s downtown, I noticed interesting attractions like the “Argue with an Idiot” booth where people would argue with an advocate for Christian morals and lifestyles which I stayed around to hear. It was entertaining to say the least. One part of downtown contained a section with a Beetles cover band, dressed as the Beetles. I stayed for a few songs and had a hotdog from the nearby stand. The hot dog was quite enjoyable and the music was on par with the actual beetles. After viewing their plays, I continued my venture through downtown. I came across a giant fair, complete with flashing neon lights, and rides for thrills. The Ferris wheel towered high for miles to see if it weren’t for the building surrounding it. The lights showered the air with bright colors of the spectrum in a way only neon can do. Almost breathe taking. I wish I had the funds to take part in the rides but, the hot dog was more expensive than I thought and drained my allowance for the night. They seemed really intense though and if I had the money to ride them, I definitely would have. But sustenance is more important than fun at sometimes and this was one of those times. Eventually, I decided I had enough of the pushing and shoving through the crowds and called it a night. The walk back to the dormitory was a trek indeed. The costumes I was once enthused about, were becoming more and more relevant to my sight making them lose their full potential. The thousands of people flooding the streets made navigation a pain. Once I finally got out of downtown, the walk back home was a lot more enjoyable. The kids were running happily to houses with bags toppling with candy treats. It reminded me of my young years and made me reflect on my past costumes. These memories made the walk fly by as I reminisced down the street. Though the memories were great, I snapped back to reality and was reminded of how mediocre this Halloween was for Salem in my opinion. I expected a lot, but it was too much, too many people specifically. Being downtown is fun, for about five minutes. I’m glad I got to experience it nonetheless. I have something to compare my other Halloweens with. Maybe next year will be better, or maybe it’ll be the same. Either way, I’m sure ill be somewhat excited about it.
Myths Vs. Facts of Salem Witch Trials
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When it comes to the Salem Witch Trials, there are many misconceptions associated with the era. Incorrect information spreads and causes a lot of confusions for those who are actually interested and looking for the facts that come with The Salem Witch Trials. One of those myths that get easily spread is the myth that witches were burned alive at the stake in Salem, MA. It did occur, but not in Salem Massachusetts.
The most common way of witch execution was hanging, beheading, and drowning. In one instance, a witch was executed, by being pressed by heavy stones. The burning myth may have come from what the authorities did after the executions and that was burning the corpses. Authorities believed that burning the bodies of accused witches, that would protect the town from the evil that a witch may wish upon before death. (No Witches) Another myth, is the over exaggeration of number of executions. Many people believe that the number is somewhere in the hundreds when in reality, only twenty accused witches were executed. (No Witches) The first accusations began in January of 1692, when three young girls dabbled in fortune telling, which was frowned upon during the time period due to its "evil nature." After their experience with fortune telling, they were exhibiting strange behaviors. Some claimed to have heard barking noises and growls coming from their rooms. When attempting to get their attention they would snarl and jerk around. After many tests and failed prayers, the town Reverend declared the reasoning for their behavior to be "The Devil's Work." Thus started the witch hunts. (No Witches) The first person to be formally executed was Bridget Bishop. Eventually eighteen more followed in her foot steps. (No Witches) Another common myth, is that all of accused witches were female. This is not true. Altogether, 150 men, women, and children were accused of being witches. (7 Common Myths) Today, people believe witch trials have ended and they have here in Salem Massachusetts, but in other parts of the world, witch trials are relevant. 21st Century witch hunts mainly occur in South America, Middle East, Africa, and Western Europe. Mutilation and beheading is a very common thing in these parts of the world when it comes to the execution of accused witches. In 2013, a court in Saudi Arabia sentenced two housemaids to ten years in person for casting spells against their employees. (Horowitz, Mitch) Hopefully, the world will understand that witches are nothing to be afraid of and shouldn't be executed. We realized that in Salem and we have embraced the nature of witches and made it part of our community. In a perfect world, witches can come out of hiding and be appreciated like the rest of the interesting Wiccan people we come across here in Salem Massachusetts. |
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Works Cited
"No Witches Were Burned During the Salem Witch Trials." Today I Found Out RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2014.
"7 Common Myths about the Witch Trials." Examiner.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2014.
Horowitz, Mitch. "The Persecution of Witches, 21st-Century Style." The New York Times. The New York Times, 04 July 2014. Web. 10 Dec. 2014.