Witch Trials 101
What year did the Salem Witch Trials begin?
1692 - The infamous trials began in colonial Massachusetts in early 1692.
What was a “witch cake”?
A cake made with rye meal and the urine of the afflicted, fed to a dog to reveal the witch.
Witch found in birthday cake! - Real or Fake?
Fake – But it would make one heck of a party story!
She rides a broom, wears a pointy hat, and melted under a bucket of water.
Wicked Witch of the West
What is Tamra's favorite Holiday?
Her birthday, duh, followed closely by Halloween
Who was the first person accursed of witchcraft?
Tituba – A slave of Reverend Parris, Tituba was one of the first to be accused of witchcraft.
Who was Tituba?
An enslaved woman from Barbados who was one of the first accused of witchcraft in Salem.
Salem bans black cats - real or fake?
Fake – Black cats are still free to roam Salem’s streets.
She’s a teenage witch with a talking cat named Salem.
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
What is Tamra's favorite go to comfort show?
Friends
What was "spectral evidence"?
Testimony that a spirit or specter of the accused was seen committing witchcraft – This type of evidence was based on dreams and visions and was later discredited.
What did people believe witches could do?
Cast spells, cause illness, control animals, and appear as specters in dreams.
Party guests turn into zombies - real or fake
Fake – Unless the punch was really strong.
These three sisters brewed chaos in Salem and were resurrected by a candle.
The Sanderson Sisters (from Hocus Pocus)
What's one food Tamra absolutely refuses to eat (even though she tries them once a year to see if her taste has changed).
Tomatoes
How many were executed?
20 people – 19 were hanged and one was pressed to death.
What was the role of Puritanism?
Puritan beliefs in the devil, sin, and strict moral codes fueled fear and suspicion.
IRS audits haunted house - real or fake
Fake – Ghosts don’t file tax returns… yet.
She’s the Hogwarts professor who can turn into a cat and isn’t afraid to scold students.
Professor McGonagall
What's Tamra's go-to karaoke song?
Before He Cheats by Carrie Underwood
What ended the trials?
The governor intervened and banned spectral evidence – Governor William Phips halted the trials after his own wife was accused, and public opinion turned against the proceedings.
What was the “touch test”?
A method where the accused touched a victim; if the victim had a reaction, it was seen as proof of witchcraft.
Ghosts demand PTO - real or fake
Fake – But they do want better work-life-afterlife balance.
She’s the glamorous witch who twitches her nose to cast spells—classic TV magic.
Samantha Stephens (from Bewitched)
What is Tamra's favorite movie?
The Devil Wears Prada