Anglo Saxon Religion and Witchcraft

<p>From the 5th to the 11th centuries, Anglo‑Saxon England was shaped by a rich tapestry of religion and magic: early on, villagers and warriors honored a polytheistic pagan pantheon—Wōden, Thunor, Tīw, Frīge—worshipped in groves, springs, and timber sanctuaries, alongside a belief in spirits such as elves and dwarfs.</p><p>Embedded in daily life were practices of magico‑medicinal healing and protective charms—meticulously recorded in manuscripts like Bald’s <em>Leechbook</em> and the <em>Lacnunga</em>, exemplified by the Nine Herbs Charm </p><p>As Christianity spread from the 7th century onwards, pagan rites and witchcraft—terms rooted in Old English words like <em>wicca</em> and <em>hæġtesse</em>—were increasingly criminalised by church law codes and royal decrees </p><p>Yet, despite official condemnation, folk magic persisted, practiced by “cunning folk” renowned for healing and charms, forging a syncretic culture at the crossroads of ancient pagan customs and emerging Christian norms </p>