The Witch's Hat: Esoteric Meaning and Significance

In witchcraft, the conical hat holds significant symbolism and serves various purposes within the practice. The conical shape of the hat is believed to represent a connection with the spiritual realm and the ability to harness magical energies. **This hat is often associated with witches and is considered an iconic representation of their craft.** **The conical hat is believed to enhance a witch's powers and protect them from negative energies**. It is said to act as a conduit, directing the flow of energy and power towards the witch. By wearing the hat during rituals and spellcasting, witches aim to amplify their magical abilities and focus their intentions.

But also, in the 1700s, Quaker women who preached in public would wear tall hats that looked a little bit like the witches hats. In the Puritan society of the North American colonies, women who dared to preach found themselves very unwelcome — and in fact, that was one of the many kinds of disruptive behaviour on the part of certain women that led to the Salem Witch Trials.

There are many different theories about why witch hats are shaped as they are, but they all have one thing in common they are all caricatures of outsiders. However, the only bit of standardization specified was the pointy top, so several types of Judenhat arose; for example, in Italy, there were according to scholar Flora Cassen at least five different forms of Judenhat that appeared contemporaneously.

By wearing the hat during rituals and spellcasting, witches aim to amplify their magical abilities and focus their intentions. Furthermore, the brim of the conical hat is often seen as a shield against unwanted influences or malevolent forces. **It is believed to act as a protective barrier, preventing negative energy from entering the witch's space and disrupting their work**.

The Witch Hat

The witch’s hat: Black, large-rimmed, with a pointed top. It’s a necessary part of every witching wardrobe. Just ask Elphaba or McGonagall. But where did that hat come from? Theories about the hat’s origin vary. Some scholars cite the mummified remains of two sisters from the 3rd century BCE in Subeshi, China as the earliest evidence of the hats (the sisters were found with pointed hats on their heads). Others cite the Puritan perception of the Quakers in eighteenth century America: The Puritans saw the Quakers as suspicious magic practitioners, and while the Quakers didn’t wear pointy hats, they did wear black ones with wide brims. Still other scholars cite an antisemitic origin. As early as the Greek Empire, hats were symbols of Jewish oppression. During the days of the Maccabean revolt (167-160 BCE), when the Hannukah story was unfolding, king Antiochus IV Epiphanes forced young Jewish men to wear a broad-brimmed hat. By imposing the hat rule on the Jewish people, Antiochus denigrated them, visibly displaying their subjugation for all to see.

The use of the pointed hat to distinguish Jews from non-Jews can be traced back to the early medieval era. The first depiction of a Jew in a Judenhut (Jewish pointed hat) –– found in the Second Gospel Book of Bishop Bernward of Hildesheim (ca. 1015) –– would have been seen as an elegant garment choice, not as a stigmatizing symbol. The hat was reminiscent of the hats worn by the three magi, and in early eleventh century European culture, these hats symbolized a connection to European Jews’ Levantine heritage. This positive perception soured, though. In 1096, the First Crusade set out to open a path to Muslim-ruled Jerusalem, massacring Jewish communities in Speyer, Mayence, and Worms along the way. The Crusade turned an admiration of orientalism into a disdain for it, so the hat –– originally a celebrated sign of the Jewish diaspora –– became a key element of anti-Jewish slander. For example, on the mid-twelfth century bronze doors of a Verona Cathedral, mobs of hatted Jews are seen violently capturing Jesus. A similar scene is found on a coin minted in Germany around the same time.

Then, in 1215, the Holy Roman Empire’s Fourth Council of the Lateran required all Jews to wear a Judenhat to visually distinguish Jews from non-Jews. The hat became a label for Jews, akin to the badge Jews would later be required to wear in Nazi Germany. However, the only bit of standardization specified was the pointy top, so several types of Judenhat arose; for example, in Italy, there were –– according to scholar Flora Cassen –– at least five different forms of Judenhat that appeared contemporaneously. The hat grew beyond its Jewish affiliation. People engaging in “non-Christian activity” were forced to wear a pointed cap. For instance, in a 1421 Hungarian law, men convicted of sorcery were forced to wear “a pointed Jews’ hat.” The hat was donned upon fictional characters, too. For example, a 1545 fountain in Bern is topped with an ogre wearing a pointed hat while eating a baby, and in 1493, artist Hartmann Schedule sketched the magician Merlin (who was not Jewish) wearing a conical hat that looked nearly identical to Judenhat .

The hat was a visible link between Jews and magic. During the Middle Ages and Renaissance, Jews were thought to possess magical powers. For instance, reports circulated around Europe claiming that Jews concocted poisons out of Christian hearts, spiders, frogs, and human flesh. There was even a persistent claim that Jews used Christian blood for magical and cathartic purposes. From these myths arose a fear around Jews and their faith. Christians feared Jews would disappear from view and then cause them harm (e.g., collect blood, etc.), so one reason Jews were forced to wear Judenhat was to keep tabs on them. In turn, because Jews were often affiliated with dark magic, the Judenhat became a symbol of the supernatural. These connections often led Jews and witches to be subjected to similar court proceedings and forms of persecution during the Inquisition and beyond. Thus, the Judenhat became interwoven with cultural perceptions of magic.

However, some scholars call into question a direct connection between the Judenhat and the witch’s hat. Clothing historian Abby Cox notes how the black witch hat is of English origin, but in England, Jews were required to wear badges instead of hats (the hats were a required marker in continental Europe only). And, per Cox, the witch’s black hat didn’t become popular into the 1700s, more than 500 years after the antisemitic laws were passed. Thus, Cox argues, it’s unlikely the witch hat is a direct descendant of the Judenhat . But it’s hard for me not to give some attention to the antisemitic origin story, even if it’s not the hat’s likely origin. Antisemitism has always been present and problematic, but right now –– this week –– it’s flaring up. It’s in Kanye’s tweet. It’s in Trump’s social media post. It’s in Adidas’ delayed response to Kanye. It’s in the banners hanging above a freeway overpass in Los Angeles. Antisemitism isn’t new, nor is it a thing of the past. According to the ADL , antisemitic incidents were at an all-time high in 2021. Antisemitism is pervasive. It’s something we, as a society, must continue to call out and fight against. To be clear, I don’t think dressing up as a witch for Halloween is laden with antisemitic intentions, but when I see a witch trick-or-treating this year, I’ll be thinking about that hat and the history of persecution, prejudice, and antisemitism hidden under its pointy top. Share If you’re looking for ways to support the fight against antisemitism, you can donate to the Anti-Defamation League here .

Notes.

• This post is largely adapted from Naomi Lubrich’s article “The Wandering Hat: Iterations of the Medieval Jewish Pointed Cap,” published in Jewish History (December 2015).
• More on witches and Jews can be found in Yvonne Owens’ article “The Saturine History of Jews and Witches,” published in Preternature (vol 3, no 1, 2014). Also see Joshua Trachtenberg’s book The Devil and the Jews .
• The paragraph on Jews, potions, and blood is largely drawn from James Arieti’s article “Magical Thinking in Medieval Anti-Semitism: Usury and the Blood Libel” ( Mediterranean Studies , vol 24, no 2, 2016).
• For more on the origin of the witch’s hat, check out this InStylearticle , this Slatearticle , and this Mary Suearticle . Or even Abby Cox’s YouTube video on the subject.
• Hey Alma has a good piece on the current antisemitic events here .

$\begingroup$ Why wear the hat? Because it's expected of them, people respect the hat, or if they don't respect it they fear it, it's much like a policeman's uniform, just wearing it bestows power & authority over others, Granny Weatherwax called this effect headology, you or I would call it psychology, besides, if they didn't advertise how would you know who to go to for that love potion or to get your neighbour cursed? $\endgroup$

This is particularly important in rituals where the witch may be working in close proximity to spirits or entities. In addition to its protective qualities, the conical hat also signifies the witch's authority and expertise in the craft. Throughout history, witches were often depicted wearing these hats, and the hat itself became a symbol of their knowledge and power. Moreover, the conical hat can also serve a practical purpose in witchcraft. Its pointed shape allows for easy visualization and concentration of energy, aiding in the manifestation of intentions and spells. By directing their focus towards the tip of the hat, witches can effectively direct their energies towards their desired outcome. **In conclusion, the conical hat holds great significance in witchcraft. It represents the connection with the spiritual realm, amplifies a witch's powers, serves as a protective barrier, symbolizes authority, and aids in visualization and concentration of energy**. Whether it is worn during rituals or used as a decorative object, the conical hat embodies the essence of witchcraft and its ancient traditions..

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