Maria Slemenson/ Educar para Crescer
Even those who did not have a fenced tales of witchcraft child will know what to say is a witch. Probably describe as an old crone with a large wart on his nose, who has long and pointy hats, black clothes and flies on a magic broom. Do experiments in her cauldron, accompanied by a black cat. No wonder this is the image that comes to mind: fairy tales and Hollywood movies reinforce the role as the evil witch crone.
To understand where this influential literary character arises, it is necessary to make a trip back in time. In the mid-second millennium BC, the Celts emerged in Central Europe and spread their religion, one of the oldest in the world. The philosophical-spiritual root was based on reverence for the two major deities: The Mother Goddess and the Horned God.
It was believed that these gods ensured the prosperity of the seed, agriculture, livestock and the success of the war. The Druids, the Celtic religion practitioners, taught the art of agriculture, herbal healing, hunting, among other things. Performed ritualistic celebrations of the deities, and start people on the precepts of magic art. They were well versed in many arts of divination, believed in communicating with the spirits of nature and the future forecast.
Hence the idea of witchcraft practices intermediate between the plane of gods and men arises. The literary productions have your foot in that culture. Many witches portrayed in fairy tales are characters with special powers capable of made inaccessible to ordinary people, and for this reason, often depicted as terrifying.
So, before you start reading stories of witches with your child, ask your questions below:
Why the fun on Halloween is dress witch?
Halloween is a festival traditionally celebrated by witches, so the habit of this date is to dress witch. In the United States, a place where staying alive, arrived in the nineteenth century led by Irish immigrants and there was. But it is also celebrated in other Western countries.
His celebration is related to the passage of the seasons: symbolizes the end of summer and the arrival of winter. Due to the geographic location of the countries in the Northern Hemisphere, and the United States, this passage is celebrated on October 31. In the Southern Hemisphere, in Brazil, for example, would be celebrated on 1 May.
However, due to the strong influence of American culture in Brazil, incorporated beyond tradition, his date of celebration.
Its origin, however, is another. Halloween, also known as Samhain, is one of the rituals that were practiced by the Celtic people in Europe for over 2500 years. The celebrations were held to honor the ancestors, because it was believed that the souls of the dead returned to their homes to visit family, get food and warm fire in the fireplace. People used to make bonfires on the hills, leaving cakes outdoor lighting candles and leaving them burn until sunrise, representing luck.
Why fairy tales are no evil witches, and other villains, bad wolf?
This is no accident. These stories tell truths about humanity and ourselves – our desires, joys and sorrows.
Therefore, they are recommended as they are presented to children. The wicked witch, bad wolf and other villains are part of this universe of things, people and situations that frighten us or we do not know how to solve.
In the make-account created by the stories, children find answers – even if symbolically – to your fears and anxieties.
Can identify with the characters and from the adventures and solutions found for them, think about some of the challenges that life presents. The good news is that in fairy tales, even if there are bad witches, should never be forgotten that there are also good fairies, who are much more powerful!
When you start reading fairy tales to my son?
Small children, around 2 and 3 years old, already interested in the fairy tales. Tend to prefer stories with the big bad wolf. The Three Little Pigs, The Seven Little Goats and Red Riding Hood are some of your favorites. The fact that the evil figure to be an animal creates a distance in relation to the child and the world of humans. Thus, it becomes more bearable to live with the idea of evil.
Later, when the child is around 5 and 6 years and overcame many tales with bad wolf, already feels more courageous to face other fears. Then there the witch steals. It is when children ask for the story Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel and Hansel and Gretel. In this new phase, which can tolerate the seemingly harmless woman offering red apple to Snow White, in reality, is not a good person: is the evil witch in disguise. Accept, therefore, that the evil is even closer to them and may have human characteristics and habits.
What if my child is very afraid of the witch?
Despite being highly recommended reading stories with witches for children and especially, they very fond of listening to them, often this presentation requires moderation. The figure of evil, most likely, cause fear and wonder in your child. And this is not to scare you, of course. If he expresses discomfort before stories with witches, it is time to read other books, or at least interim scariest stories with others of varied themes. When he feel more secure, you will surely ask to take that book off the shelf again.
