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. 856 entries on EveryJaadu so far.
Places of magic
London 18Paris 18Delphi 14Athens 12Cairo 5Dodona 5Edinburgh 4Kraków 4Olympia 4Praeneste 4Prague 4Amsterdam 3Bamberg 3Capitoline Hill 3Cumae 3Dartmoor 3Dorset 3Egyptian Hall 3Eleusis 3Logroño 3Lyon 3Milan 3New York 3Quebec 3Santiago de Compostela 3Teltown 3Trier 3Val Camonica 3Veii 3Vilnius 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
🇦🇱 Albania 31🇦🇩 Andorra 1🇦🇹 Austria 35🇧🇾 Belarus 21🇧🇪 Belgium 11🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina 4🇧🇬 Bulgaria 37🇭🇷 Croatia 16🇨🇿 Czech Republic 14🇪🇪 Estonia 28🇫🇮 Finland 38🇫🇷 France 158🇩🇪 Germany 141🇬🇷 Greece 138🇭🇺 Hungary 13🇮🇸 Iceland 49🇮🇪 Ireland 111🇮🇹 Italy 141🇽🇰 Kosovo 5🇱🇻 Latvia 10🇱🇹 Lithuania 20🇱🇺 Luxembourg 2🇲🇹 Malta 2🇲🇩 Moldova 4🇲🇪 Montenegro 4🇳🇱 Netherlands 32🇲🇰 North Macedonia 6🇳🇴 Norway 45🇵🇱 Poland 45🇵🇹 Portugal 17🇷🇴 Romania 42🇷🇺 Russia 118🇷🇸 Serbia 37🇸🇰 Slovakia 4🇸🇮 Slovenia 7🇪🇸 Spain 77🇸🇪 Sweden 87🇨🇭 Switzerland 31🇺🇦 Ukraine 25🇬🇧 United Kingdom 239🇻🇦 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
🇦🇱 Albania and 3 moreCross necklace
A pendant bearing the Christian cross worn as a sign of faith or protection.Charm · Protection · Power and authority Living
🇮🇪 IrelandEllén Trechend
A three-headed creature from Irish myth that terrorized the landBeing · Cursing and harm Legendary
🇪🇸 SpainHuman sacrifice in the ancient Iberian Peninsula
Ancient ritual killings by Lusitanian and Vetton peoples for divination and warRite · Seeing and foretelling · Cursing and harm Historical
🇷🇴 RomaniaSântoaderi
Supernatural beings in Romanian folklore known for causing illness through music and danceBeing · Cursing and harm · Luck and prosperity Legendary
🇬🇷 GreeceTrophoniusΤροφώνιος
A Greek hero turned subterranean oracle god at LebadeaFigure · Seeing and foretelling · Speaking with spirits and the dead Historical
🇩🇪 Germany and 1 moreNis PukNiß Puk
A legendary household spirit from Northern Germany and Denmark that helps or torments its owner.Being · Luck and prosperity · Protection Legendary
🇦🇱 AlbaniaStihistihí
A fire-breathing storm demon from Albanian folkloreBeing Legendary
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 1 moreElder Mother
A guardian spirit of elder trees in English and Scandinavian folkloreBeing · Protection · Cursing and harm Historical
🇫🇷 France and 4 moreRobert the Devil
A medieval legend of a knight born to Satan who seeks redemptionFigure · Cursing and harm · Change and initiation Legendary
🇮🇹 ItalyLunula
A crescent-shaped amulet worn by girls in ancient Rome for protection.Charm · Protection Historical
🇮🇸 IcelandGrásteinn
A lodestone in Iceland linked to elf habitation and safe passageBeing · Luck and prosperity · Speaking with spirits and the dead Living
🇬🇷 GreeceAmulet MS 5236
A stamped gold amulet from ancient Greece invoking ApolloCharm · Protection · Cursing and harm Historical
🇮🇹 Italy and 3 moreSaint Valentine's Key
A metal key charm from Padua used for healing epilepsy and as a romantic tokenCharm · Healing · Love and attraction Living
🇪🇸 SpainLamialamiak
River and sea spirits of Basque folklore, known for their beauty and magical labour.Being · Power and authority Historical
🇸🇪 SwedenÁlfablót
A late autumn homestead ritual to elves and ancestors in pagan ScandinaviaRite · Speaking with spirits and the dead · Healing Historical
🇮🇪 Ireland and 1 moreManannán mac Lir
A sea god and otherworld king in Gaelic mythology who guards the hidden lands of the Tuatha Dé Danann.Being · Protection · Power and authority Legendary
🇮🇪 IrelandLughLú
A master craftsman and warrior of Irish myth who defeats a tyrant eyeFigure · Power and authority · Luck and prosperity Legendary
🇮🇪 IrelandThe DagdaIn Dagda
Chief god of the Tuatha Dé Danann in Irish mythology, associated with fertility and magic.Being · Power and authority · Wonder and entertainment Legendary
🇬🇷 GreeceNecklace of Harmonia
A cursed golden adornment from Greek myth that brought ruin to the House of ThebesCharm · Cursing and harm Legendary
🇮🇸 Iceland and 1 moreNithing poleníðstǫng
A curse pole from Norse tradition used to shame or harm an enemyRite · Cursing and harm Living
🇫🇷 FranceHoules fairyGwenn fadoù
Immortal coastal fairies of Brittany who live in sea caves and aid humansBeing · Protection · Healing Historical
🇩🇪 GermanyBieresel
A German house spirit taking the shape of a donkey, linked to beer cellars and taverns.Being · Power and authority Historical
🇸🇪 SwedenGlemminge stone
A Viking Age runestone in Sweden bearing a Younger Futhark inscription and a curse.Text · Cursing and harm Historical
🇬🇧 United KingdomDunnie
A border spirit that mimics horses and sings of lost treasureBeing · Cursing and harm · Wonder and entertainment Historical
🇬🇧 United KingdomTeinddeachamh
A Scottish tithe for clergy and a fairy tribute to the devilTradition · Power and authority Historical
🇬🇧 United KingdomBauchan
A Scottish domestic spirit known for its contradictory helpfulness and mischief.Being · Cursing and harm · Power and authority Historical
🇮🇹 Italy and 5 moreCrucifix
A cross bearing the figure of Jesus, central to Christian worship and artText · Power and authority Living
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 1 moreBogle
A Northumbrian and Scots household spirit or ghost known for perplexing people.Being · Cursing and harm · Wonder and entertainment Historical
🇩🇪 Germany and 1 moreNutcracker doll
A carved wooden figurine of a soldier used to crack nuts and now a popular Christmas decorationCharm · Luck and prosperity Living
🇵🇱 Poland and 1 morePan Twardowski
A Polish sorcerer who bargained with the Devil and ended up on the MoonFigure · Power and authority Legendary
🇮🇳 India and 1 moreAstral body
A subtle vehicle of emotion and dream said to travel beyond the physical formBelief · Speaking with spirits and the dead · Change and initiation Historical
🇬🇧 United KingdomMaggy Moulach
A Scottish brownie known for her hair and fierce protection of her kinBeing · Power and authority · Cursing and harm Legendary
🇬🇷 Greece and 3 morePalladium
A sacred image or object believed to guarantee the safety of a city or nationCharm · Protection Historical
🇫🇷 France and 1 moreDogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie
A foundational treatise on ritual magic by Éliphas Lévi, structured around the tarot.Text · Power and authority · Wonder and entertainment Historical
🇵🇱 PolandFrankenstein town gravediggers scandal
A 1606 witchcraft trial in Silesia that may have inspired Mary Shelley's novelBelief · Cursing and harm Historical
🇩🇪 Germany and 3 moreKlabautermann
A North Sea ship kobold that aids sailors and signals a vessel's doom.Being · Protection · Wonder and entertainment Historical
🇬🇧 United KingdomBuccabocka
A Cornish sea-spirit and mine-dweller who receives fish offerings from coastal communities.Being · Protection · Luck and prosperity Historical
🇵🇱 Poland and 1 moreKarzełekСкарбник, Кладенец
A Slavic mine spirit that guards treasures and guides miners.Being · Protection · Power and authority Historical
🇦🇱 AlbaniaLugat
A shadow-dwelling vampire of Albanian folklore that attacks sleepers and hides in ruins.Being · Cursing and harm Legendary
🇮🇱 Israel and 1 moreMagical motto
A chosen name used by occultists to separate their spiritual identity from their everyday life.Belief · Power and authority Historical
🇸🇾 Syria and 5 moreInsufflation
A ritual breath used in Christian rites to drive out evil or invite the spirit.Rite · Protection · Speaking with spirits and the dead Historical
🇫🇮 FinlandRahko
A Finnish mythic figure linked to the darkening of the Moon and nightmaresBeing · Cursing and harm Legendary
🇫🇮 Finland and 2 moreTietäjä
A traditional Finnic healer and sage whose power came from memorised spells and deep knowledge.Figure · Healing · Protection Historical
🇬🇷 GreeceCampeΚάμπη
A female monster who guarded the imprisoned Titans in Greek mythBeing Legendary
🇬🇷 GreeceHarpyἅρπυια (hárpyia)
Half-human, half-bird creatures from Greek and Roman myth, often seen as storm winds or snatchers of food.Being · Cursing and harm · Wonder and entertainment Legendary
🇪🇸 SpainTrenti
A forest goblin from Cantabrian mythology known for pranks and mischiefBeing · Cursing and harm Legendary
🇫🇷 FranceFarfadet
Small helpful spirits of French folklore that perform chores for foodBeing · Luck and prosperity Legendary
🇩🇪 GermanyFeldgeist
German folk creatures tied to crops, weather and harvest ritualsBeing · Cursing and harm · Luck and prosperity Historical
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Glemminge stone: Jorchr, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Lunula: Anonymous ( Category:Roman Empire ) Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Robert the Devil: Gustave Doré, Public domain, source
- Feldgeist: Zwoelefant, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Farfadet: User:Mattes, Public domain, source
- Bucca: Frederick Whymper, Public domain, source
- Pan Twardowski: Pit1233, Public domain, source
- Astral body: Rad el Baluvar, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Palladium: Marie-Lan Nguyen ( Jastrow ), Public domain, source
- Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie: Eliphas Levi, Public domain, source
- Frankenstein town gravediggers scandal: Jacek Halicki, CC BY-SA 3.0 pl, source
- Klabautermann: Anton von Werner, Public domain, source
- Karzełek: Krystian Hasterok, CC BY 2.5, source
- Tietäjä: Robert Wilhelm Ekman, Public domain, source
- Harpy: Unknown, near the Tyrrhenian Group?, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Cross necklace: paterm, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Human sacrifice in the ancient Iberian Peninsula: Manuel Parada López de Corselas User:Manuel de Corselas ARS SUMMUM, Ce, Public domain, source
- Nis Puk: R2D3LA, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Grásteinn: Ásgeir Helgason, Attribution, source
- Amulet MS 5236: Martin Schøyen, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Lamia: Josu Goñi Etxabe, Public domain, source
- Manannán mac Lir: Kenneth Allen, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Lugh: Peter Clarke, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- The Dagda: WordRidden, CC BY 2.0, source
- Necklace of Harmonia: Marie-Lan Nguyen, Public domain, source
- Nithing pole: r Saxo Gramaticus; tr. (Danish) Frederik Winkel Horn; illus. Louis Moe, Public domain, source
- Houles fairy: Minseong Kim, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Bieresel: Neulich im Roxy Kino, CC BY 3.0, source
- Teind: Palickap, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Crucifix: Turismo Bahia, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Nutcracker doll: Raul654, CC BY-SA 3.0, source