Speakeasy forum: Wiccans protest beer label

There's no common heritage. The image on the bottles do not depict any real common bond between Wiccans and those who were burned. Now, had Wicca been around during that time, they could have invited trouble upon themselves and been burned just as were those accused of witchcraft. Now if Wiccans can demand that the picture on the bottle should go, I'd think some southerners in the US might not take a liking to "Bubba" images on such as BBQ and hot sauce.

contains a Celtic style cross. I don't know if that carries any significance or not. Ireland wasn't high on the list of witch burning countries but we know of its Druid history. But I can certainly see why anyone could object to the image of an execution on a label designed to attract a buyer but just don't see Wiccans as having cause to be more offended than others. It's not about Wicca.

Wicca calls itself a religion but witchcraft refers to a practice that includes having certain powers derived from demons. Those that were burned were considered to be of that variety and the thought was that only certain methods of execution made them really dead. Wiccans separate themselves from other forms of witchcraft suggesting they practice "white magic" and not the black variety associated with demonic powers. It was those persons who were the target of the executioners.

I remember a radio talk show years ago where the host would regularly have members of Wicca as guests and they'd explain the misconceptions people had about their religion and witches in general. It's the memory of listening to those programs that surprised me when I saw this article. If anyone should see the disconnect between Wicca and medieval persecution of witches, it should be Wiccans.