Franconian Witchcraft: The Demise of a Folk Magic

Abstract

The village elders of Franconian Switzerland, a secluded rural province of central Germany, adhere to a tradition of witchcraft. Inquiry was by participant-observation; the author was born raised in the peasant society, speaks the dialect has access to informants, many of whom are members of his clan. Information deals with black white witchcraft, the unique Anfangen of the healer, the grimoire, cures for curses, familism, witchcraft as explanatory framework justice magic, and current socio-cultural changes.