Witchcraft and Folk Magic

Provence maintained a reputation for witchcraft into modern times. The isolation of mountain villages, the abundance of aromatic and medicinal herbs, and the survival of pre-Christian practices created perfect conditions for folk magic to flourish.

The Masco

The masco (masculine) or masca (feminine) represents the Provençal witch—not necessarily evil, but dangerous if crossed. Unlike northern European witches who flew to sabbats, mascos practiced solitary arts:

- Envoûtement: Spell-casting using personal items (hair, clothing) of the target - Le Mauvais Œil: The evil eye, cast intentionally or sometimes involuntarily - Nouage d'aiguillette: Knot magic to cause impotence or prevent conception - Tempestaires: Weather magic, particularly summoning hail to destroy crops

Protection against mascos required constant vigilance: - Salt in pockets and at thresholds - Scissors open under the bed (to "cut" malevolent spells) - Fennel hung over doors (mascos cannot pass beneath it) - Never accepting food from suspected witches - Carrying a piece of bread blessed on Saint Agatha's day

The Books of Shadows

Several Provençal villages possessed livres d'ombres (books of shadows)—grimoires passed through generations, containing local magical knowledge. Unlike published grimoires, these were unique manuscripts mixing Latin prayers, Arabic numerals (from Moorish influence), botanical knowledge, and astronomical observations.

The most famous, the Livre Rouge d'Apt, supposedly contained rituals to: - Make oneself invisible - Speak with the dead on Saint John's Eve - Find buried treasure using a hazel wand - Cure animals of murrain - Cause one's enemy to dance uncontrollably

The Church periodically attempted to confiscate and burn these books, but copies always survived. Some families still possess fragments, though they rarely admit it publicly.