Besom

What it is

A besom is a type of broom designed for sweeping floors or clearing land. It typically features a rounded brush head made from bundled twigs attached to a sturdy handle. The name comes from the plant Genista, which was once commonly used for these tools. While modern versions use wire bindings, traditional ones rely on split wood and wooden dowels to hold the bristles in place. This simple household item has taken on significant roles in various cultural practices across Europe.

Where it comes from

The term 'besom' derives from the word for the Genista plant, reflecting its early construction materials. Over time, the name shifted to 'broom' for the general tool. Historical records show that besoms were standard household items for centuries. Their association with witchcraft emerged in early modern Europe, where they became central to stereotypes of female practitioners using them for flight. These images likely stem from rituals involving psychotropic ointments applied with broomsticks, rather than actual aerial travel.

How it is done

Besoms are constructed by tying bundles of twigs, such as birch or heather, around a central pole. Traditionally, the handle is made of hazel wood. In some regions, they are stacked at forest edges to be used quickly during fire outbreaks. In Russian culture, a venik may be ceremonially burned during the Maslenitsa festival rather than discarded. Some traditions view the space beneath a besom as a hiding place for spirits.

Tools and materials

The primary materials are natural plant fibers. Birch twigs form the brushing head, while hazel wood provides the handle. Modern iterations might use steel nails and wire instead of traditional wooden joints. In magical contexts, besoms are linked to flying ointments containing plants like deadly nightshade, henbane, and wolfsbane. These substances contain alkaloids that can be absorbed through the skin, potentially causing hallucinations.

What it is for

Besoms serve practical cleaning duties and hold symbolic value in folk belief. They are sometimes used as protective amulets against negative forces. In Russia, they are associated with fortune-telling and the domestic spirit known as a domovoy. Witchcraft lore often depicts them as vehicles for astral travel, though this is a cultural stereotype rather than a literal function. Their use in fire response highlights their role in community safety.

Who does it

Households traditionally make and use besoms for daily chores. Folk practitioners incorporate them into rituals, such as burning them during specific festivals. Scholars study their role in historical witchcraft accusations and the development of magical stereotypes. In Ukraine, local communities maintain the tradition through monuments, such as the large venik statue in Savran, which commemorates the town's founding.

Peoples and places

Russians and Ukrainians associate the venik with domestic spirits and protective magic. Bulgarians and people in other Eastern European regions keep besoms ready for emergency fire response. Northern English songs reference broom buzzems, indicating their presence in folk music. The distinction between the practical tool and the magical symbol varies by region, with some areas emphasizing protection and others focusing on the witchcraft narrative.

What people believe

In Slavic folklore, the domovoy is a household spirit that may hide under or behind a besom. The broom is seen as a boundary object, capable of both inviting and repelling spiritual forces. Early modern European beliefs linked besoms to witchcraft, particularly through the use of psychoactive ointments. These ointments, derived from nightshade plants, were believed to enable flight when applied via the broomstick, creating a lasting image in popular culture.

When it is done

Besoms are used during the Maslenitsa festival in Russia, where they are ceremonially burned. They are also kept ready for use during fire outbreaks, particularly in forested areas of Bulgaria and Eastern Europe. Their presence in households makes them part of daily life, but their ritual significance peaks during specific seasonal or emergency events.

How scholars and sceptics see it

Researchers analyze besoms in the context of early modern witchcraft trials and folklore. Some speculate that the flying broomstick image originates from the transdermal application of hallucinogenic ointments by women. These ointments contained tropane alkaloids from plants like Atropa belladonna and Hyoscyamus niger. Anthropologists note the dual role of the besom as both a mundane tool and a potent magical symbol in European tradition.

Compare and confuse

The besom is often confused with the jumping broom used in weddings, which has different origins. It is distinct from the kumade rake, another tool with cultural significance. In English, the term 'broom' replaced 'besom' over time, though both refer to similar objects. The Russian venik shares functional similarities with other European twig brooms but holds unique spiritual associations with the domovoy.

Questions people ask about Besom

Good reading and sources

• Besom on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data