Magic in Europe
Cunning folk and grimoires, alchemy, runes and seidr, the fairy faith, the witch trials, and the folk calendar of fire and fertility. 830 entries on EveryJaadu so far.
Places of magic
London 18Paris 18Delphi 13Athens 12Cairo 5Dodona 5Edinburgh 4Krak贸w 4Olympia 4Praeneste 4Prague 4Amsterdam 3Bamberg 3Capitoline Hill 3Cumae 3Dartmoor 3Egyptian Hall 3Eleusis 3Logro帽o 3Lyon 3Milan 3New York 3Quebec 3Santiago de Compostela 3Trier 3Val Camonica 3Veii 3Vilnius 3W眉rzburg 3York 3
Rites of the region
Midsummer and St John's Eve herbs and firesWalpurgis Night and May Day firesSamhain and Halloween divination gamesFirst-footing at HogmanayWitch bottleKnocking on wood and horseshoe customsThe Sator squareIcelandic galdrastafirMalocchio removal with oil and waterMatiasma and ftou ftou
Countries
馃嚘馃嚤 Albania 30馃嚘馃嚛 Andorra 1馃嚘馃嚬 Austria 34馃嚙馃嚲 Belarus 21馃嚙馃嚜 Belgium 11馃嚙馃嚘 Bosnia and Herzegovina 4馃嚙馃嚞 Bulgaria 37馃嚟馃嚪 Croatia 16馃嚚馃嚳 Czech Republic 14馃嚜馃嚜 Estonia 28馃嚝馃嚠 Finland 38馃嚝馃嚪 France 157馃嚛馃嚜 Germany 137馃嚞馃嚪 Greece 135馃嚟馃嚭 Hungary 13馃嚠馃嚫 Iceland 47馃嚠馃嚜 Ireland 105馃嚠馃嚬 Italy 138馃嚱馃嚢 Kosovo 5馃嚤馃嚮 Latvia 10馃嚤馃嚬 Lithuania 20馃嚤馃嚭 Luxembourg 2馃嚥馃嚬 Malta 2馃嚥馃嚛 Moldova 4馃嚥馃嚜 Montenegro 4馃嚦馃嚤 Netherlands 32馃嚥馃嚢 North Macedonia 6馃嚦馃嚧 Norway 44馃嚨馃嚤 Poland 45馃嚨馃嚬 Portugal 17馃嚪馃嚧 Romania 42馃嚪馃嚭 Russia 117馃嚪馃嚫 Serbia 37馃嚫馃嚢 Slovakia 4馃嚫馃嚠 Slovenia 7馃嚜馃嚫 Spain 75馃嚫馃嚜 Sweden 85馃嚚馃嚟 Switzerland 30馃嚭馃嚘 Ukraine 25馃嚞馃嚙 United Kingdom 231馃嚮馃嚘 Vatican City 1
PurposeProtectionHealingSeeing and foretellingLuck and prosperityLove and attractionCursing and harmCleansing and purificationSpeaking with spirits and the deadChange and initiationBinding and oathsPower and authorityWonder and entertainment
WhoShamansFolk healersPriests and ritual specialistsWitches, sorcerers and cunning folkDiviners and readersMediums and the possessedCeremonial magicians and alchemistsHouseholds and ordinary peopleStage magiciansScholars and sceptics
BeliefHindu and TantricBuddhistJainMuslim and SufiJewishChristianSikhZoroastrianShinto and TaoistIndigenous and shamanicAfrican and Afro-diasporicPagan and NeopaganEsoteric and occultFolk and village customSecular and stageOther traditions
馃嚠馃嚜 IrelandMerrowmur煤ch
A sea creature from Irish folklore, known for its magical cap and singing voice.Figure 路 Wonder and entertainment Legendary
馃嚞馃嚙 United KingdomBoobrie
A shapeshifting loch monster from Scottish folklore that preys on livestock and horses.Being 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚝馃嚪 France and 3 moreLes Lavandi猫resKannerez-Noz
Supernatural washerwomen who wash shrouds or bloodstained clothes for those about to die.Being 路 Seeing and foretelling Legendary
馃嚪馃嚭 RussiaShishiga褕懈褕懈谐邪
A female swamp spirit of Russian and Komi folklore that brings misfortune and death.Being 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚪馃嚫 SerbiaCikavac褑懈泻邪胁邪褑
A winged creature from Serbian folklore that fetches honey and milk for its ownerBeing 路 Luck and prosperity 路 Power and authority Legendary
馃嚫馃嚜 Sweden and 1 moreSkogsr氓
A forest spirit in Swedish folklore who appears as a beautiful woman but hides a hollow back and animal feet.Being 路 Luck and prosperity 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚪馃嚧 RomaniaZ芒n膬
A Romanian woodland spirit linked to Diana that guides travelers and blesses children.Being 路 Protection 路 Luck and prosperity Legendary
馃嚪馃嚭 Russia and 1 moreLikhoradka袥懈褏芯褉邪写泻邪
A fever spirit in Slavic myth who brings illness and sicknessBeing 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚠馃嚬 ItalyAnguane
Cloven-footed water nymphs from Northern Italian folklore who nurse infants with their backs.Being 路 Love and attraction 路 Healing Legendary
馃嚪馃嚧 RomaniaC膬pc膬un
A Romanian ogre with a dog head known for kidnapping children and eating peopleBeing 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚫馃嚜 SwedenAskafroa
A Scandinavian tree spirit believed to guard the ash and demand appeasement.Being 路 Cursing and harm 路 Protection Legendary
馃嚠馃嚬 ItalySquasc
A small, tawny creature from Eastern Lombardy folklore that frightens children and plays jokes on young girlsBeing 路 Cursing and harm 路 Wonder and entertainment Legendary
馃嚠馃嚬 ItalyMonacielloMunaciello
A Neapolitan sprite linked to the city's underground waterways and hidden wealth.Figure 路 Luck and prosperity 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚪馃嚭 Russia and 2 moreSupernatural beings in Slavic religion
Mythic entities of nature, death, and fate in Slavic folklore and belief.Being 路 Protection 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚘馃嚤 AlbaniaXhindi
Invisible spirits in Albanian mythology that appear at night and may help or harm.Being 路 Cursing and harm 路 Power and authority Legendary
馃嚠馃嚜 IrelandSleih beggey
Manx fairies and little people of the Isle of ManBeing 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚪馃嚭 RussiaMeduza袦械写褍蟹邪
A Russian mythic figure with a woman's head and a serpent body, linked to trickery.Being 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚞馃嚙 United KingdomTom Thumb
A tiny English folk hero who outwits giants and serves King ArthurFigure 路 Wonder and entertainment Legendary
馃嚘馃嚬 Austria and 3 moreSalige Frau
A blissful Alpine spirit who guides farmers and guards mountain gameFigure 路 Protection 路 Healing Legendary
馃嚠馃嚜 IrelandDeath coachc贸iste bodhar
A spectral carriage that signals an unavoidable death in European folkloreBelief 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚪馃嚫 Serbia and 1 moreVampire pumpkins and watermelons
A Balkan folk tale about ground fruit that turns into vampires.Belief 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚠馃嚜 IrelandChildren of LirOidheadh chloinne Lir
An Irish myth about four siblings transformed into swans by a jealous stepmotherFigure 路 Wonder and entertainment Legendary
馃嚫馃嚜 SwedenVittra
A forest spirit from northern Sweden linked to livestock and seductionBeing 路 Cursing and harm 路 Love and attraction Legendary
馃嚝馃嚠 FinlandAjatar
An evil female spirit of Finnish folklore associated with serpents and diseaseFigure 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚛馃嚜 GermanyWitte Wiwer
Subterranean spirits of Low German folklore known for music and child exchangeBeing 路 Cursing and harm 路 Luck and prosperity Legendary
馃嚙馃嚞 Bulgaria and 1 moreIspolin懈褋锌芯谢懈薪
A legendary giant from Bulgarian folklore, said to be the second generation of Earth's inhabitants.Figure Legendary
馃嚞馃嚙 United KingdomCeffyl D诺r
A Welsh water spirit that takes the form of a horse to test or harm travellers.Being 路 Cursing and harm 路 Luck and prosperity Legendary
馃嚞馃嚙 United KingdomJoan the Wad
A Cornish pixie queen linked to fire and fortuneFigure 路 Luck and prosperity 路 Protection Legendary
馃嚪馃嚧 RomaniaS芒ntoaderi
Supernatural beings in Romanian folklore known for causing illness through music and danceBeing 路 Cursing and harm 路 Luck and prosperity Legendary
馃嚞馃嚙 United KingdomBluecap
A blue flame spirit of English mines that guides miners and warns of dangerBeing 路 Seeing and foretelling 路 Luck and prosperity Legendary
馃嚚馃嚦 China and 3 moreSwan maiden
A folk motif where a man steals a bird-woman's feather cloak to force marriage.Figure 路 Love and attraction 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚛馃嚜 Germany and 1 moreNis PukNi脽 Puk
A legendary household spirit from Northern Germany and Denmark that helps or torments its owner.Being 路 Luck and prosperity 路 Protection Legendary
馃嚫馃嚜 SwedenYs盲tters-Kajsa
A wind-troll from Swedish folklore who danced with the gales of N盲rkeFigure 路 Cursing and harm 路 Luck and prosperity Legendary
馃嚪馃嚧 RomaniaMuma P膬durii
A forest spirit in Romania who protects nature and punishes those who harm itBeing 路 Protection 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚜馃嚫 SpainXana
A water spirit of Asturian myth who offers treasures or madness to those who hear her song.Being 路 Luck and prosperity 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚫馃嚜 SwedenKnights of 脜lleberg
Swedish ghost story about sleeping warriors in a mountainFigure 路 Power and authority Legendary
馃嚘馃嚤 AlbaniaKukudh
An undead revenant from Albanian folklore that haunts houses and spreads sickness.Being 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚠馃嚜 Ireland and 5 moreFiddler's Green
A maritime afterlife of endless music and rest for veteran sailorsBelief 路 Wonder and entertainment Legendary
馃嚞馃嚙 United KingdomGwragedd Annwngwraig Annwn
Welsh lake fairies linked to the origin of black cattle and the Tylwyth TegBeing Legendary
馃嚟馃嚭 HungaryLid茅rc
A shape-shifting spirit from Hungarian folklore that brings wealth or illness.Being 路 Cursing and harm 路 Luck and prosperity Legendary
馃嚝馃嚪 FranceFarfadet
Small helpful spirits of French folklore that perform chores for foodBeing 路 Luck and prosperity Legendary
馃嚨馃嚤 Poland and 1 morePan Twardowski
A Polish sorcerer who bargained with the Devil and ended up on the MoonFigure 路 Power and authority Legendary
馃嚞馃嚙 United KingdomMaggy Moulach
A Scottish brownie known for her hair and fierce protection of her kinBeing 路 Power and authority 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚜馃嚫 SpainGuajona
A blood-sucking hag from Cantabrian and Asturian legendBeing 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚫馃嚜 SwedenSj枚r氓
A Swedish lake spirit that rewards kindness and drowns the disrespectfulBeing 路 Protection 路 Luck and prosperity Legendary
馃嚪馃嚫 SerbiaBauk袘邪褍泻
A bear-like creature from Serbian folklore that lurks in the dark.Being 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚪馃嚭 Russia and 1 moreKuma Lisa袣褍屑邪 袥懈褋邪
A trickster fox from Slavic folklore who outwits other animalsFigure 路 Wonder and entertainment Legendary
馃嚛馃嚜 Germany and 1 moreAufhocker
A German folklore spirit that leaps on travelers and weighs them down.Being 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Boobrie: Ole Worm - Olaus Wormius, Public domain, source
- Supernatural beings in Slavic religion: Bartolomeo Giuliano, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Children of Lir: John Duncan, Public domain, source
- Huldra: Bernard Evans Ward, Public domain, source
- Xana: John William Waterhouse, Public domain, source
- Merrow: Andreas F. Borchert, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Skogsr氓: Gunnar Creutz (Achird), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Knights of 脜lleberg: Photograph: Nasko, Public domain, source
- Farfadet: User:Mattes, Public domain, source
- Pan Twardowski: Pit1233, Public domain, source
- Guajona: Francisco Goya / Francisco Goya, Public domain, source
- Aufhocker: Longbow4u, Public domain, source
- Tom Thumb: Leutemann or Offterdinger , photo by Harke, Public domain, source
- Salige Frau: various, Public domain, source
- Vampire pumpkins and watermelons: The original uploader was Ke4roh at English Wikipedia ., Public domain, source
- Ispolin: Joshua Davis, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Anguane: Elena Alexandrina Bednarik, Public domain, source
- Les Lavandi猫res: Jean-脡douard Dargent, Public domain, source
- Swan maiden: Walter Crane, Public domain, source
- Nis Puk: R2D3LA, CC BY-SA 4.0, source