Plants and Superstitions Essay - 1739 Words

Plants and Superstitions For many years plants have played a large part in superstitions. Although, they are not so much believed now, as they used to be. They were used to help ones fortune, wealth and fertility. It is amazing that bread was ever eaten; there were so many superstitions about it. It was used to aid in all of these things and many more, It is ironic, however, that the one thing they worshipped and used to keep harm and disease away made them ill and killed some of them. When all of this happened they blamed another superstition, which was witchcraft. Almost all of the witchcraft misunderstandings were caused by Christianitys persecution of those who refused to abandon pagan beliefs (Zolar, 1995), but not in the case†¦show more content†¦Their races, religions, and social classes were all different. Those who continued to plead innocent looked forward to their trials for a fair hearing. To the more intelligent of these it was preposterous to suppose that the trials, conducted by the b est minds in Massachusetts, would proceed on the same dream-like plane as the examinations, that men and women of sound mind and good repute would be condemned on the basis of the fancies of young girls. Massachusetts as they knew it was a saner place than that (Starkey, 1949). Or so they thought, (see Internet Source; Starkey, 1949). What became known as the Salem Witch trials was the largest witch panic to occur in the United States. These trials were conducted much differently from that of any other trial before. The examinations were the trial; records were not looked at as hypotheses to be tested, but proven facts; the only new business was the testimony and the deliberations of the jury (Starkey, 1949). The governor assigned judges to do touch tests. This was done by having the accused touch the girl during one of her fits. If she stopped when they touched her, that person was labeled as guilty. Several lives were spared, simply by confessing they were witches, when theyShow MoreRelatedSuperstitions And Ghosts In The Elizabethan Era1120 Words   |  5 PagesSuperstitions and Ghosts in the Elizabethan Era During the Elizabethan Era, many strange superstitions became common around Europe. Some of these are still evident in society today. Why do people think that black cats mean bad luck? Why do people say â€Å"God bless you,† after somebody sneezes? And what does this have to do with ghosts? During the Shakespearean time period, superstitions were caused by the creation of ghost stories, provoked greatly by plays, and were blamed for misfortune. The wordRead MoreThe Many Aspects Of Medicine863 Words   |  4 Pagesthan traveling around to look for a specific doctor. Many of their practices were intertwined with superstition, religion, and herbs. 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