Pennsylvania Dutch
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Pennsylvania Dutch |
07/27/2004
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The Pennsylvania Dutch came from Germany and brought their folk magick traditions with them. Unlike Wicca or other neo-pagan magickal systems and religions, Pennsylvania Dutch magickal practice is a blend of Christianity and folk wisdom, with a heavy underlay of Jewish Kabbalism. In Pennsylvania, this magickal system developed over hundreds of years into a uniquely American form of magick. Pow-Wow No one knows exactly how Pennsylvania Dutch Folk Magick came to be known as Pow-Wow. The most prevalent theories are that the name was borrowed from Native American custom or that it is a play on the word Power. Pow-Wow focuses primarily on folk medicine and is still practiced today. It is a vanishing art but has recently seen some revival due to the efforts of cultural anthropologists, folklorists, and modern Pow-Wow practitioners. Some samples of Pow-Wow medicine include:
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The two books listed below had some influence on Pennsylvania Dutch Pow-Wow practices. Some modern day magical practitioners from many different traditions view the content of these books as dangerous if used irresponsibly.
Be careful! |
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American Folk Magick: Charms, Spells &...
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Hex and Spellwork: The Magical Practices...
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| Pow-Wows: Long Lost Friend, a Collection... This book contains the most complete collection of Pow-Wow we have. It was written in 1820. You can read this book and also the book at left for free at sacred texts online.
Hex Signs: Pennsylvania Dutch Barn...
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Superstitions
Many Pennsylvania Dutch superstitions have Christian religious themes:
Getting a hair cut on Good Friday will prevent toothaches the rest of the year.
Cows are given the power of speech on the night of Christmas Eve and anyone born on Christmas Day can understand what cows say.
If a family serves chicken on New Year's Day, they will have financial difficulties for the rest of the year.
For good health, wealth and happiness in the New Year, you should eat pork and sauerkraut
Or weather themes:
The weather on the fifth of the month will indicate what the rest of the month's weather will be like.
When a rooster sits atop a fence to crow there'll be rain all day.
Hex Signs
The word Hex probably originates in the word hexagon referring to a six-sided star. This star is considered a good luck symbol for the Pennsylvania Dutch, and is used often in their charms.
Hundreds of years ago, farmers started painting symbols on their barns to ward off evil curses, disease, predators, and to promote health and fertility. Today these hex signs are appreciated for their artistic value as much as any magickal properties.
They range in size from small discs hung above the barn door, to large paintings directly on the side of the barn. Each symbol and color represents something of
magickal importance and should be created with serious magickal intent.
copyright 2003-2004
Barnyardcraft
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This site was last updated 07/27/04
