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RE: Witchcraft Wednesdays: Witchcraft vs Wicca

Personally I think it's also a matter of culture: Wicca is far more common in english-speaking countries (understandable given it started as a reconstruction of celtic and pagan beliefs from the British Isles, and its creators were british for the most part) and featured strongly during the revival of witchcraft in the 60's and 90's; a lot of shows and urban fantasy series of the era take that as a backdrop or use elements from it at least once.

However, it's not as universal as it seems. In say, latin countries, "brujeria" or witchcraft calls to mind botanicas and people clad in white, Santeria (itself also a religion) Espiritismo or devotion to Santa Muerte depending on where you live; and Wicca and similar beliefs are rather unknown. Here in Venezuela for example, where Espiritismo and Santeria are what the mainstream associates witchcraft with for the most part, if one reveals they're a witch it will have people thinking about wearing white, smoking cigars and sacrificing animals rather than the Rede or the Do No Harm.

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That 's interesting @keepingtarotreal! It makes total sense, and as I was reading your reply, I was reminded of Vodou/Voodoo, and how in my experience here in the US, (probably again because of Hollywood), it's looked at as strangely as say- Santeria- with bloody chickens and raising zombies from the dead; But in Haiti, it is a very important religious belief system. They are all IMO very fascinating cultural beliefs!