Tuesday 1 April 2008

Cockney Wicca

Most people think of Wicca as having country origins, being a witchcraft tradition that survived in the west of England from pre-Christian times.

It was popularised in the 1950s by Gerald Gardner, who claimed to have been initiated into the ancient pagan religion. Witches who follow Gardner's teachings are known as Gardnerian Wiccans.

However, many London witches follow a different tradition - that of Cockney Wicca.

The best known figure of Cockney Wicca is Mother Brown, a prominent high priestess of the craft who was active in the East End of London in the Victorian times. She was a striking figure, characterised by her long black skirts and hat, covered in the buttons that denote a high-ranking Pearly Queen.

Mother Brown was well known throughout the East End and initiated nearly 300 people into the craft, teaching the now famous sacred dance, the Okey-cokey. She was known to enjoy a good party, which in the East End is known as a 'knees up', and it is after her that another famous song was named: Knees Up Mother Brown.

However, what is less well known is that Mother Brown was not her true name. Instead it has been the honorific title given to the ruling Pearly High Priestess of the true path of Wicca since the witchcraft tradition was started, before the fall of Atlantis.


Happy April Fool's Day!

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Excellent stuff! I love it :-D