Something wicked this way comes

Wands, magic, and mischief: 10 unforgettable witches who bewitched us all

Image: Cristina Hernández

Broomsticks, cauldrons, potions, black cats, crystal balls, magic wands! What do all these bring to your mind? Some good, some not so good, witches have been recurring characters in the human imagination, appearing in ancient myths, folklore, fairy tales, and even on TV and in films. Among them, some witches stood out, becoming memorable characters for all of us. If you want to remember 10 iconic witches from literature, movies, and TV, this article is for you!

Image: Neal E. Johnson

L. Frank Baum is the creator of the legendary Wicked Witch of the West, who first appears in the famous novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, published in 1900.

One of the main antagonists of Dorothy and her friends, the Wicked Witch of the West is the archetypal witch with all the bells and whistles: she is a malevolent old lady who wears a black dress and a pointy hat, often holding her broomstick.

What many people don't know is that the familiar image of the witch we know today is largely thanks to Margaret Hamilton, who portrayed the green-skinned Wicked Witch in the 1939 film adaptation of the story.

Image: Becca Tapert

Another witch inhabits the world of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, but this one is quite different from the previous one.

Known as "The Good Witch," Glinda is exactly that: a witch with good intentions. Unlike the Wicked Witch, Glinda helps Dorothy on her journey, using her powers for good. These opposing differences are also reflected in their appearances: Glinda is a beautiful woman who wears a pink dress and carries not a broom but a wand, almost like a fairy godmother.

It was actress Billie Burke who brought Glinda to the big screen in the 1939 adaptation.

Image: Jeremy Bishop

Every hero needs a villain, just as every princess needs an evil witch. And the story of Ariel in Disney's The Little Mermaid (1989) is no exception.

Based on Hans Christian Andersen's classic fairy tale, the Disney movie has made Ariel the world's most famous mermaid. But her life under the sea isn't so peaceful, and this is due, in large part, to the evil Ursula.

With her purple skin, white hair, garish makeup, and especially her large tentacles, Ursula is one of Disney's most emblematic villains. In the story, Ursula offers to use her powers to fulfill Ariel's wish to become human. However, her intentions are anything but kind.

Image: Elena Mozhvilo

Moving beyond the stereotypical hats, brooms, and wrinkled skin, the classic American TV sitcom Bewitched (1964-1972) introduced us to Samantha Stephens, a modern-day witch.

Samantha is portrayed by Elizabeth Montgomery, who, over the course of 8 seasons, turned the character into one of TV's most beloved witches.

Unlike other witch characters, Samantha is a kind woman who chooses to live a quiet life in the suburbs with her husband. Although she tries to avoid using magic in her day-to-day life, she often encounters weird and comical situations that leave her with no choice. When she turns to her powers, she always does so with good intentions through an iconic and recognizable gesture: her nose twitches.

Image: Kristin O Karlsen

What memories do you have from your teenage years? Now, imagine having magical powers—how different would that have been? What would the life of a teenage witch be like?

Fortunately, the answer to that last question exists: Sabrina Spellman, the teenage witch. This iconic character first appeared in 1962 as part of Archie's Madhouse #22, a spinoff of the main Archie comics. Sabrina is a teenager like any other, living a normal life—with the small detail that she has magical abilities. Like other witches on this list, Sabrina has a good heart and often tries to help others. She is often accompanied by her pet, which, as it couldn’t be otherwise, is a black cat named Salem.

One of the most famous adaptations was the 1996 live-action series called Sabrina the Teenage Witch, starring Melissa Joan Hart as the main character.

Image: Rosie Sun

While Sabrina and Samantha are kind witches often involved in comical situations, not all the characters in this article are like that. In fact, some are quite the opposite.

Such is the case with the mysterious Blair Witch, first introduced in the 1999 film The Blair Witch Project. In the story, a group of students decide to spend the night in the Black Hills near Burkittsville, Maryland, to investigate the local tale of the Blair Witch. They never return.

All that is found of them is the footage they made during their time in the hills, which turns out to be absolutely terrifying, showing eerie events blamed on the presence of the evil witch. But there's something about the Blair Witch that makes her even more disturbing: you never get to see her.

Image: Sixteen Miles Out

In Act 1, Scene 1 of William Shakespeare's Macbeth, we're introduced to three iconic characters who embody dark forces. They are the Three Witches, also known as the Weird Sisters.

Representing fate and conflict, the Three Witches are responsible for making prophecies that guide the plot of Macbeth. With their eerie appearance and cryptic prophecies, they play a crucial role in Macbeth's destiny by understanding his weaknesses and manipulating the ambition within him.

Shakespeare made The Three Witches speak in rhyming couplets, with one of their most famous lines being, "Double, double, toil and trouble, / Fire burn and cauldron bubble."

Image: Geoffrey Moffett

Winifred, Sarah, and Mary are the Sanderson Sisters, the antagonistic trio of witches in Hocus Pocus, the classic 1993 Disney movie. Spectacularly blending horror and humor, each of the sisters has her own unique quirks.

Winifred, played by Bette Midler in the movie, is characterized by her iconic red hair and green dress. She's also the leader and the most skilled sister. In fact, she's the one who casts the spell that brings the three witches back to life.

Played by Sarah Jessica Parker, Sarah's greatest strength is her charm, especially her melodious voice, through which she sings songs that hypnotize children.

Finally, Mary, played by Kathy Najimy, is very loyal and possesses the spooky ability to sense the smell of children to catch them.

Image: Tikkho Maciel

When it comes to scary witches, we can't fail to mention Maleficent, a full-fledged Disney villain.

Based on the evil fairy from Charles Perrault's classic tale The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood, Maleficent first appeared in Disney's 1959 adaptation. She is a powerful and elegant witch, noted for her spiteful and vengeful personality. She casts a spell on Princess Aurora because the king and queen don't invite her to the christening. She condemns the princess to prick her finger on a spinning wheel and fall into a deep sleep on her 16th birthday until the kiss of true love awakens her.

In 2014, the evil Maleficent had her own movie, with the wonderful Angelina Jolie in the title role.

Image: Artem Maltsev

Since the publication of J.K. Rowling's first book about the iconic young wizard in 1997, and especially since the release of the first movie in 2001, Harry Potter has become a worldwide phenomenon, with thousands upon thousands of fans.

In this story, there's a trio of magical students who stand out for their good intentions and strong friendship: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger.

Hermione is one of the most popular witches of the 20th century. Her intelligence, skills, loyalty, high morals, and bravery set her apart from other characters of the same age. She shows enormous dedication and commitment to her education, and thanks to her, we all know that "It's Leviosa, not Leviosar!"

Travel the world

Wait… Is that its real name? A fun guessing game about country names!

Image: Nick Seagrave

Ever looked at a map, saw a country name, and thought, "Wait, that’s not what we call it?" Well, you’re not alone! Many countries go by entirely different names in their native language, and some of them might even surprise you. So, we’ve come up with a game: You’ll find six countries’ original names and some clues for you to guess which country it is. In the second part of the article, we’ll provide the answer and the origins of the names. Are you up for the challenge?

Image: Sora Sagano

ni‧hon

Its name means "origin of the sun," which is why it’s often called the Land of the Rising Sun. This island nation is famous for sushi, cherry blossoms, and bullet trains that are more punctual than your morning coffee.

It’s home to one of the world’s most unique alphabets and a culture that blends centuries-old traditions with futuristic tech. Oh, and it’s also where you’ll find sumo wrestling, anime, and some of the most polite people on the planet. Have you guessed it already?

Image: Henrique Craveiro

eir‧e

This green and rainy island is home to breathtaking cliffs, lively music, and a legendary love for storytelling. In some areas, you’ll find more sheep than people, and it is the birthplace of both Guinness beer and some of the best poets in history.

The locals have their own native language, even though English is widely spoken. In their tongue, the country’s name is short and sweet: Éire. Does it ring any bells?

Image: Johnny Africa

hel‧las

We’ll say a few words and you’ll guess it: democracy, philosophy, and some seriously delicious food. If we say we all love a good gyro, are we giving it away?

Its ancient ruins attract millions of tourists every year, and its mythology has inspired stories for thousands of years. The Olympics? Yeah, they started here too. But while we use one name, the locals call it Hellas. Got a guess?

Image: Kankan

deutsch‧land

This country is famous for bratwurst, beer, and fairy tale castles that look straight out of a storybook. It’s got an impressive history of poets and philosophers, and its car industry is one of the best in the world. But here’s the twist: Its native name sounds nothing like what we call it in English. Locals refer to it as Deutschland. Can you figure out where this is?

Image: Tapio Haaja

suo‧mi

This land is famous for its saunas, the Northern Lights, and people who are perfectly happy not talking for hours. It has thousands of lakes, more reindeer than people in some areas, and is home to one of the happiest populations on Earth.

The language spoken here is one of the trickiest in the world to learn, and its native name doesn’t sound anything like what we call it in English. Any idea which frosty but friendly country this is?

Image: Spencer Davis

hr‧vat‧ska

This small but stunning country sits along the Adriatic Sea, it has crystal-clear waters and impressive coastal towns. It’s home to medieval cities, Game of Thrones filming locations, and some of the world’s best seafood. But if you ask a local where you are, they won’t say the name you know. Instead, they’ll say Hrvatska. Any idea where this is?

Image: Colton Jones

If you guessed Japan, give yourself a high-five! In Japanese, the country is called Nihon or Nippon, which roughly translates to "origin of the sun." This makes perfect sense when you realize that Japan is east of China, where the sun rises first!

Image: Lindy Murphy

That’s right, it’s Ireland! Did you guess it right? The name Éire comes from Old Irish and is linked to the goddess Ériu, a mythical figure associated with the land’s beauty and power.

The English name "Ireland" naturally evolved from this. Most people there speak English daily, but Irish (Gaeilge) is still an official language, and you’ll see signs written in both languages all over the country.

Image: Matt Artz

If you said Greece, you nailed it! The country’s real name is Hellas, and its people refer to themselves as Hellenes. One more fact? The modern official name is the Hellenic Republic!

So where did "Greece" come from? The Romans had a habit of renaming places, and they used the Latin word Graecia to describe the land.

Image: Yannic Kreß

This was an easy one, right? Yep, it’s Germany! The name Deutschland comes from an old Germanic word meaning "the people’s land." But here’s where things get wild, Germany and Deutschland are not the only names.

The French say Allemagne, the Spanish call it Alemania, and in Finnish, it’s Saksa. Why so many names? It all comes down to history, as different tribes and regions had their own words for the place. Fascinating, isn’t it?

Image: Arttu Päivinen

Maybe you guessed Norway, but the second one is actually Finland! In Finnish, the country is called Suomi. The exact origin of the name is a bit of a mystery, but one thing is for sure, Finns just roll with it. They’re just too busy enjoying their saunas and sipping coffee (they drink more per person than any other country!) to argue about it.

Image: Daniel Trofimov

If you guessed Croatia, you got it! The origins of this name are connected to the native language, land, and people in the area. Hrvati was the way to call the locals, for example.

But why do we call it Croatia in English? That’s the work of the Latin-speaking Romans, who adapted the name to what we know today.