A NATIONAL day of remembrance will be held for the first time in Scotland to remember those accused under the Witchcraft Act of 1563.
The event at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh has been organised by the Creative Coven, which was established to bring together women whose creative work was inspired by the Scottish witch hunts.
It will involve a variety of workshops, talks, performances and an art exhibition all looking back on the near 4000 people who were accused of witchcraft in Scotland and how the brutal period of history continues to be important today.
It comes after a private members’ bill that would have given a legal posthumous pardon to Scots convicted of witchcraft fell into limbo as SNP MSP Natalie Don – who was spearheading it – became a minister and could no longer take it forward.
There is also set to be a free ceremony held in collaboration with Remembering the Accused Witches of Scotland at Dunfermline Abbey on the evening of Tuesday, June 4 – the historical date the act came into law.
SNP councillor Samantha Steele, who has worked to promote the event, said as there still continues to be witch persecution around the world, it is vital this dark time in Scotland’s history is reflected on.
She told The National: “It’s something we shouldn’t really forget.
“It’s one of the darkest periods in Scotland’s history. It was such a brutal time these people endured.
“The torture devices that were used were horrific and they were then strangled and burnt. Their families were forced to watch. The church made everyone in the village all stand and watch including people’s children.
“There is still witch persecution in the world, it’s not something that has gone away. There are parts of Africa where people are still being captured and tried and executed as witches to this very day. It should not be happening and I think it’s important to keep that in people’s minds.
“In Salem in America they are constantly doing things to remember all the accused executed there and their figures, while they are large, were nowhere near what Scotland’s were.”
Events at the Storytelling Centre will include a talk by researcher and author Scott Richardson-Reid who will look at the elite in Scotland and how they responded to accused witches.
Meanwhile, there will be a storytelling session from Jane Mather with a focus on the Caithness witch trials, a talk with artist Helen Wright who created a memorial to 17th-century Auldern witch Isobel Gowdie, and a performance from folk musicians Joss Cameron and Amy Dudley.
All money made from the event will go towards efforts to fund a witches memorial grove in the Caledonian Forest.
Anyone looking to buy a ticket for the all-day event at the Storytelling Centre on Sunday can click here. That ticket will get you free admission to the ceremony at Dunfermline Abbey.
There will also be a limited number of guest tickets which can be obtained by emailing creativecovenscotland@outlook.com
