Hexennacht (hex-en-ahkt) is a day observed by some Satanists on April 30th.
It is a day to remember people who were treated badly because they were accused of being witches, which was not true.
What does Hexennacht want us to remember?
Hundreds of years ago, some people were very afraid of witchcraft. During events like theΒ Salem Witch Trials, many people were accused of being witches and were killed, even when there was no good evidence.
Hexennacht helps us remember these people and think about how fear can cause people to treat others unfairly.
Do these witch hunts happen today?
A witch hunt can also mean when a group of people is unfairly blamed or attacked because of who they are or what they believe.
Today, some people still face unfair treatment because of the country they were born in, their sexuality, or their gender-identtiy. People will also try to ban others from reading certain books or learning about ideas they disagree with.
Hexennacht encourages people to speak up when they see unfair treatment and to stand up for people who are being targeted.
How is Hexennacht observed?
People who observe Hexennacht might get together with friends, dress up like witches, tell stories, or talk about history.
The goal is to remember the past and learn from it, or else the same events will happen again.
Hexennacht teaches us is to notΒ let fear turn people against each other. Treat others fairly, stand up for people who are being bullied, and remember what happened when people were punished simply for being different.
