The Historical Link Between Menopause & Witch Hunts

Were post-menopausal women regarded as witches in the dark ages? Or is it just hocus-pocus?

We can be thankful we weren't menopausal women in 16th-century Europe. Most of the alleged witches were typically older post-menopausal women with symptoms to boot!

Accusations of witchcraft could be fueled by various factors, including jealousy, fear of those who were different, or scapegoating in times of crisis. The witch hunts led to the persecution and execution of many innocent people, particularly women, who were accused of being witches.

There’s a beastly, bloody history associated with menopause and witches.

8 reasons menopausal women were labelled 'witches' in the dark ages

The old crone

The typical stereotype of the haggard, menacing, old witch with the warty hook nose, black pointy hat, cackling as she stirs magic potions in her cauldron, derives from a pagan goddess known as 'the crone'. Also known as the 'Earth mother' and 'the old one'. She symbolised change, the turning of the seasons and wisdom.

Wise? Or the devil in disguise?

The word ‘Witch’ is a derivative of Old English 'Wicca', meaning 'Wise One'. Perhaps once considered wise because of their life experiences and knowledge of herbal healing, witches became something to be feared and avoided. As Christianity spread across Europe, the church viewed these herbal healers as being anti-Christian, devil worshipers. They were accused of evil sorcery, pagan worship and black magic, doing the devil’s evil bidding and being in cahoots with him in a plan to destroy mankind.

Herbal healer with a notion for a potion!

The knowledge of healing herbs and homeopathic remedies was typically passed down through generations, and women, in particular, were often the keepers of this knowledge. They would use various plants and other natural remedies to help alleviate health issues and assist in childbirth. However, in times of fear and uncertainty, particularly during outbreaks of illness or complications during childbirth, these wise women could sometimes be falsely accused of causing miscarriages, stillbirth and illness.

Accusations of casting evil spells and causing miscarriages or stillbirths were often unfounded and rooted in superstition.

Over 40? You were finished

During the witch hunts in Europe from the 15th to the 18th centuries, a significant number of those accused of witchcraft were women over the age of forty. It was believed that the end of their reproductive years made them more likely to be accused of being witches, reflecting the superstitious beliefs of the time.

Black Cat, Bad Luck

The association between black cats and witches has its origins in the Dark Ages. During a period marked by witch hunts, black cats were viewed as symbols of bad luck. In truth, single elderly women were frequently accused of witchcraft, and many of them had pet cats. These cats were considered their "familiars," believed to be demonic animals given to them by the devil. As a result, local women with cats could be subject to witchcraft trials. There was also a belief that Satan could transform into a black cat while associating with witches.

Broom, broom!

The stereotypical image of a witch with a broomstick has its roots in reality. Witches did commonly carry broomsticks, not for flying, but for the purpose of cleansing a room or area before conducting healing rituals.

Just plain old

During the witch trials of the 1560s , Johann Weyer, a Dutch observer, remarked that the majority of those accused were "pathetic, melancholic, hallucinating old women, whose age and sex made them susceptible to diabolic delusions." Similarly, Englishman Reginald Scot noted that most accused witches were "commonly old, lame, bleary-eyed, pale, unattractive, and full of wrinkles." Older women were often falsely accused of being in league with the devil, leading to cruel punishments like drowning, hanging, pressing, and burning at the stake, even if they had never practiced witchcraft with cauldrons or broomsticks.

Evil eye

Reaching the age of fifty was quite an achievement in those times. Unfortunately, almost all the victims of the witch hunts were women over fifty whose bodies displayed the physical signs of menopause and ageing, including facial hair, a stooped posture due to fragile bones, wrinkles, and thinning hair. Any woman who appeared "crone-like," with snaggle teeth, sunken cheeks, and a hairy lip, was often presumed to possess the "Evil Eye," and having a cat further solidified these suspicions. A fearful era indeed!

We can be grateful that we've moved past the Dark Ages. Back then, simply being over fifty, being neighbourly, being a tidier, using herbal remedies, having some facial hair, and owning a black cat could easily have made us prime targets for persecution!

October 2017