Aria made sure her office was nice and tidy. Then she took the homework basket and set it up. Students could submit their homework here, on time, of face detention.

Robyn carefully put her homework in the basket. It was early but she was going to be busy thursday.


The term burning times has come to refer to "any threatened return of prejudice against or persecution of Witches and neo-Pagans by other religious groups, law enforcement agencies, employers, politicians and others."
Historically the term designated, especially for witches, the period within Western history in which there occurred intense burning, also the various types of murdering of witches. This period is known for its vindictive witch-hunts which extended from the mid-15th century to the early 18th century.

The idea of burning witches, one of the cruelest forms of execution, is said to have originated with Saint Augustine (354-430), who said "that pagans, Jews, and heretics would burn forever in eternal fire with the Devil unless saved by the Catholic Church."

Witches, also were classed as heretics, during the time of the Inquisition. Heretics were not only disbelieves of the church doctrine, but, many also were accused of beings servants of the Devil by forming compacts with him to get his help. The accused were sentenced to execution by burning when found guilty of heresy, and few escaped this conviction of the church, which practically controlled every aspect of human life, because "Fire itself is the element of purification, and nothing less than fire could negate the evil that was said to be witches."

The 16th century demonologist, Jean Bodin, stated in De la Demonomanie des Sorciers:



Even if the witch has never killed or done evil to man, beast, or fruits,and even if he has always cured bewitched people, or driven away tempests, it is that he has renounced God and treated with Satan that he deserves to be burned alive...Even if there is no more than the obligation to the Devil, having denied God, this deserves the most cruel death that can be imagined.



However, all witches were not burned at the stake. It seems various countries had their preferred forms of execution. Hanging was preferred in England and the American colonies. In France, Scotland and Germany it was the custom to first strangle the condemned witches, as an act of mercy, before sending them to the hanging stand or garroting, and then cremating them to ashes.

Many witches were burned alive, needless to say. It is alleged by church authorities that many who were burned had either recanted their confessions at the last moment or did not repent for their crimes. The burnings were executed by civil authorities because the church would have no part in the murdering of people. An elaborate accounting system connected with the burnings was established which included expenses for the trail and the prisoner's incarceration in jail. Some trial in Scotland show that the burning of a witch consumed 16 loads of peat plus wood and coal. This debt was attached to the condemned person's estate or relatives. If the debt was so large, more than the person's estate value, or more than one generation of relatives could pay off, then it was carried over to the next generation.

A witch burning was a great public spectacle. Most of the village's population turned out to witness it. It has been pointed out that more burnings occurred in small hamlets than larger towns or cities because in the villages people were more superstitious. Also, neighbor was more likely to spy and tell on neighbor. This did occur, especially during the torturing of the witches. Many said their neighbors were witches in order to escape more suffering.

Usually the burning occurred shortly after sentencing. The interval between was just long enough to hire the executioner, construct the execution site and gather the fuel. However, in Scotland, the burning was preceded by days of fasting and preaching. The witch was strangled first, sometimes not completely. Then she was drugged unconscious or semiconscious to where she was tied to a stake or dumped into a barrel of tar and set afire. If the witch was not dead and managed to escape the flames then onlookers would shove her back into the fire.

April Teagan
Slytherin;;5th
History of Magic

Write a two foot essay (three to four paragraphs) about witch burnings, when they occured, witches that were prosecuted, and the reasons for the witch burnings. Some of your notes may come in handy, what you do not know, you reasearch.

Witch burnings were common in the Midevil times, especially. Witch hunts were conducted by the government or anyone at all to convict witches, usually women, or practicing witchcraft, which was considered Satanic. These witches were often killed at the stake because normal people did not understand the concept of magic, and were very afraid.

Witches and wizards were very rarely actually caught. Mainly, innocent people got burned at the sake who were not any more witches and wizards than normal people are toads. If, at any time, an actual witch was to be burned, the witch or wizard would perform a flame freezing charm on themselves, and be subjected only to a light tickling sensation, but would scream in agony. This would save them from any actual damage. Very rarely, witches whose wands had been taken actually died. Normally, the Ministry interfered before then.

Such a witch would enjoyed witch urnings was Wedndelin the Weird, who got captured forty seven times under many different disguises. Wendelin likes the tickling sensation and the atmosphere of being burned so much that she did not mind being captured.

Rebecca Emery
Fourth Year Hufflepuff
History of Magic - Lesson 1

Witch Burnings

Witch burnings was one of the most terrible times in the history of magic. It showed the magical world that muggles couldn’t be trusted in knowing about magic, in turn making it so magical beings of all kind needed to separate themselves completely from the muggle world. The witch burnings occurred in the fourteenth century around the Middle Ages and only occurred because muggles were afraid of the unknown. The unknown being magic of course.

Usually the only magical being who was burned at the stake was witches, hence the name witch burnings. Even so many witches hardly ever got caught, but when they did they were tied to a stake and burned by fire where everyone could watch. Though being as clever as witches are they never let themselves technically burn. Whenever they were put up to burn they cast a Flame-Freezing charm. The Flame-Freezing charm changes the properties of the fire so that it’s heat feels like a warm breeze. To stage the burning though all witches would scream in pain and agony under the fire giving the impression that they really were being burned.

Now seeing as hardly any real witch was captured and burned this left innocent women to suffer the fate of burning at the stake. A terrible and cruel fate. Nevertheless there was one witch by the name of Wendelin the Weird who actually enjoyed the experience. The women was caught at least forty seven times each time wearing a new disguise of hers. Wendelin or crazy one might call her has made her presence and actions known for ages, by having her face on the famous wizard cards, making her he most famous burning witch in history.

Noticed pinned on the door

[/B]History of Magic Homework:
The homework you turn in will be graded as follows:
O=Outstanding
E=Exceeds Expectations
A=Acceptable
P=Poor
D=Dreadful
T=Troll
Zero=Failure to turn in your homework.

Please remember to check back often and view your grades. Remember, all grades play an important role in your final grade and everything that is assigned for homework will show up on the final.

Grades on Homework Turned in so Far
Rebecca Emery: O
April Teagan: E
Robyn Singe: A

Notes
Miss. Emery, I found your piece very well written and informative, you followed the assignment while adding some extra knowlege into it. It was very well done for a fourth year, I would say I am suprised that you showed intellect beyond your years. I am very impressed.

Miss. Teagan, your piece was well written, but I found it somewhat short and lacking. However, it also showed signs of added effort. Good job.

Miss. Singe, while your peice had length and good information, it barely went with what the homework assignment was. Nowhere was there any mention of Wendelin the Weird, and you tended to talk more about Witch prosecution around the world, when the main focus was in our own country. It was a fine effort though.

Remember, the homework is due tomorrow! Those who fail to turn it in will be punished.[B]

Anabelle Anderson
Ravenclaw, 6th Year
History of Magic – Lesson 1 HW

Witch burnings, which for the most part began in the 14th century, claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people. They were and integral part of Central Europe for nearly three centuries and lead to torture and execution of its victims, of which nearly three-quarters were women.

In a time when stress and worry from plagues and natural disasters existed, the Burnings began. Widespread rumors caused an irrational amount of panic from people of all backgrounds. Some even speculated that the panic spawned from silent religious conflicts. People began to blame many women that were often old in age and single. One witch in particular, known as Wendelin the Weird, was burned at the stake 47 times, wearing many different disguises. She was able to protect herself by using a Flame-Freezing charm. Though it seemed to be a war against women, nearly twenty-five percent of victims were men. And in some countries, including Iceland and Finland, the majority of victims were male.

So what was the exact cause of the Burnings? No one knows for sure. Some believe that it was a reaction to localized conflicts in small towns as depicted by the play ‘The Crucible’, written by muggle playwright, Arthur Miller, in the 1950s. It tells the story of young girls accusing a woman of Salem, Massachusetts, USA, of being a witch in an act of revenge. What started as a small white lie, caused the death of a beloved member of their society as well as many others in the town.

While witch hunts are not conducted in Europe anymore, the idea is still very much alive in Sub-Saharan countries of Africa. Witch Hunts in South Africa have nearly been declared a national sport, caused by prevailing superstitions, socio-economic pressures, natural disasters, and personal jealousies.

Solana Lilly
6th Year -Hufflepuff
History of Magic - Lesson 1

Write a two foot essay (three to four paragraphs) about witch burnings, when they occured, witches that were prosecuted, and the reasons for the witch burnings. Some of your notes may come in handy, what you do not know, you reasearch.


Witch burnings occured primarily througout the Medival times, which was around the 16th century. Witches were persucuted all around the world, for no other reason that they were different. Muggles usually suspected someone of being 'different' or 'odd' as being a witch. Very rarely did they catch an actual witch, usually it was only innocent muggles caught and burned at the stake.

Muggles fear what they can't explain, and back then that was magic. They believed all magic to be evil and against god. They had many horrible ways of torturing witches, trying to get a confession from them, like dunking, in which the accused was repeatedly dunked in water, eventaully drowning.

The most famous way was burning. Said witch was tied to a wooden stake in a public place and set aflame. When an actual witch was caught, they usually performed a flame-freezing charm and enjoyed a tickling sensation. If they were for some reason unable to perform the charm, the Ministry of Magic usually stepped in. Only very few witches were actually burned.

One of the most famous witches to be captured and burned was Wendelin the Weird. Wendelin enjoyed the tickling sensation the flame-freezing charm produced she purposely let herself be captured forty seven times in various disguises.

Witch burnings eventually died out by the 17th century as muggles stopped believing in magic and such things, and turned to reason and logic. Today, witch burnings are almost non-existent.

Newly updated List on door

The homework you turn in will be graded as follows:
O=Outstanding
E=Exceeds Expectations
A=Acceptable
P=Poor
D=Dreadful
T=Troll
Zero=Failure to turn in your homework.

Please remember to check back often and view your grades. Remember, all grades play an important role in your final grade and everything that is assigned for homework will show up on the final.

Grades on Homework Turned in so Far
Rebecca Emery: O
April Teagan: E
Robyn Singe: A
Anabelle Anderson: O
Solana Lilly: O

Notes:
Very good work, Miss. Anderson and Miss. Lilly. It was detailed, answered all of the questions, and well written.

The following students must still turn in the homework. They have until before the next lesson (tomorrow) to do so:

Fawne Sugarmoon
Craven Blackwood
Guinevere Kibben
Rayvn Singe

The following four students failed to turn in their homework and have recieved a grade of 'zero', as well as lost house points, 10 each, for their house.

Fawne Sugarmoon
Craven Blackwood
Guinevere Kibben
Rayvn Singe