Fake noses, pointy hats, joy: Poland’s witches find healing in performing

Armed with broomsticks and wearing colorful, jagged-edged costumes, a dozen women break out into a lively dance routine in the tiny Polish village of Tuławki. Adults join in the end-of-summer rock performance, casting giant shadows across the park. Children marvel at the crazy hats and noses of these buoyant ladies who dare embrace the archetype of the witch in such a highly Catholic nation.

But this group of outlandish witches – as many in the rural villages surrounding the northern town of Olsztyn already know – do more than just put on a good show. They are also a lifeline for women in all kinds of trouble. Rehearsal sessions are a de facto safe space to share stories, help each other cope with the

“This group is for you”A different kind of support for womenAn opportunity to laugh, and to help