See the New Tartan Pattern Created to Honor Women Accused of Witchcraft in Scotland Between 1563 and 1736

[demmiblue]

The black, red, gray and pink design honors the thousands of individuals—mostly women—who were persecuted under the Scottish Witchcraft Act



Between 1563 and 1736, thousands of individuals were executed under Scotland’s Witchcraft Act. Designed to enforce godliness in the newly Protestant country, the law condemned anyone who appeared to be conspiring with the devil, though women were the most common targets.

Now, a new Scottish tartan is memorializing the victims of the Witchcraft Act. The black, gray, red and pink pattern was officially registered with the Scottish Register of Tartans in February and will soon be incorporated into kilts and other garments.

The tartan was created by Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venditozzi, who founded the Witches of Scotland campaign in 2020. The two women and their supporters are seeking a pardon, an apology and a national memorial in honor of all those accused and convicted of witchcraft during the law’s 173-year reign.

So far, they’ve achieved at least one of their goals. In 2022, Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, issued a formal apology to the Scots who were persecuted under the law. The Church of Scotland also apologized for its historic role in the witch hunts.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-the-new-tartan-pattern-created-to-honor-women-accused-of-witchcraft-in-scotland-between-1563-and-1736-180986172/

[MagickMuffin]

1. Thank you Claire and Zoe for wanting history to address their wrongs

I thought about the colors and what they mean to me.

And thank you Scotland for acknowledging the wrongs about how these mostly women were treated. They died for what exactly?

[1WorldHope]

2. Those dark times still live in our psyche and has kept women "in their places" ever since.

Mikey Johnson would like to return to those days as do many of the R's in Congress. Don't be surprised if they start suggesting it. One way to look at it, everytime a man murders his wife or girl friend. It's a witch burning all the same. 5 women have died in our city this year by the hands of their mate.

[ariadne0614]

3. ". . . every time a man murders his wife or girl friend. It's a witch burning all the same."

I can think of no better way to describe the pathological refusal to acknowledge/accept/respect a woman’s agency and autonomy.

[Tom Dyer]

4. Good or bad,

this world is fascinating.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

5. Lovely pattern for a good cause

[FadedMullet]

6. The symbolism of the colors and thread counts is interesting, but let's not lose sight of the fact that the tartan......

......pattern is, when considered as a whole, just beautiful.

[democrank]

7. Stunning tartan....important historical reminder

Thank you for posting this.

[ananda]

8. King James started it.

And it lasted way too long.

[mwmisses4289]

26. Actually, no.

His mother, Mary I (a.k.a. Mary Queen of Scots), started it. James VI wasn't born until 1566 or 1567, some three or four years after the act was already in place.

[ananda]

31. OK. Now Macbeth.

Shakespeare wrote Macbeth specifically to please King James.
It's supposed to be a "history" play, lol, but he altered history
completely for the king and his court.

The three wyrd sisters (aka witches) are integral to the plot.
But the characters of Macbeth and Duncan are completely
reversed.

However, as a drama, it is just fantastic, a great work of art.

The character of Ross is particularly interesting. We know
there are three murderers hired to kill Banquo but only two
are identified.

The big question of the play is: who is the third murderer?

I think the best answer comes through Roman Polansky,
who portrayed him as Ross, who is seen as an opportunist.

Now compare Ross to some of Trump's stooges, particularly
JD Vance....

Now it's even more interesting, huh?

[niyad]

9. What an incredible memorial. Thank you for posting this.

I wonder how soon the material might be available here.

[yellow dahlia]

10. I am wondering the same thing.

Will L.L. Bean start offering items in the tartan?

[canetoad]

11. They have a website

And shop. https://www.witchesofscotland.com/tartan

[Ilsa]

12. OMG. Shipping on a $75 scarf is $44, before any

tariffs (estimated to be 10%) or other import taxes.

[niyad]

14. Thank you.

[Ilsa]

15. The postal charge pushes it out of My range for

reasonableness and not feeling guilty. I'm in Georgia, so shipping may be cheaper to say, NYC? I hope others can afford it. I can't justify it, though, not when I can send that money to a food bank.

[niyad]

16. The postal charge, and krasnov's idiocy did the same for me. And, yes,

the food banks and pantries' need is immediate and dire.

[niyad]

13. Thank you so much.The pieces are beautiful.

[yellow dahlia]

18. Cool. Thanks!

[electric_blue68]

17. It's a great tribute to such heinious events....

While I don't remember which Tartan company did it... a company did a tartan with Ukrainian flag colors after Putin invaded them.

[niyad]

19. I googled "Ukrainian flag tartans" and a number of sites came up.

It was pointed out that the blue and yellow is also the colour of Scotland's flag, a lovely trribute to both.

[electric_blue68]

20. Oh more than one!

Ty for taking a look

[riversedge]

35. Thanks for information. I did not know that but am glad it was done.

[electric_blue68]

40. I didn't know either until it showed up in my Google newsfeed.

[Boomerproud]

21. This reminds me of a piece I saw on TV years ago about the origins of witches.

In the Middle or Dark Ages menopausal women were thought to have made a pact with the devil since they were of "no more use". That was the gist of it. Fascinating and sadly, unsurprising.

[Lonestarblue]

22. Why is it that Christianity is better known for its persecutions than its love?

Throughout history, from the Crusades (which were mostly about greed for Holy Land wealth) to witchcraft murders on flimsy evidence to the Spanish Inquisition, etc., Christianity has been used as a cudgel to kill more than a reason to love humanity. Most nations ruled b religious rule are intolerant and harmful to its women and minorities. I never want to live under a religious government where any religion can be twisted to support what powerful men want.

[yardwork]

25. It seems that every organized religion falls prey to greed and power.

It's not unique to Christianity, but it sure is frustrating.

[Siggy52]

23. Grateful for the heads up!

Went straight to Witches of Scotland website. Ordered one scarf for a witch emirita that mentored me. Can't image what shipping and handling would be if I had the audacity to order a kilt for myself. The scarf was $75, S&H was $44 thanks to tariffs. Blessed Be!

[TommyT139]

27. Another option?

While still pricey, at a certain price point you may as well commission a local weaver to make the plaid in the amount you need.

Edited to add: Never mind - I see it's trademarked. For me, that removes it from the category of symbols that can catch on, to just a product, as valid as the sentiment might be.

[niyad]

28. Wow. Did you read exactly WHAT the pattern represents? Just a product???

[TommyT139]

38. I did, yes.

It's a decent fundraiser, for sure. I didn't see exactly what "portion" of the profits goes to an unnamed charity -- perhaps that was specified further in.

But as a trademarked design, there's simply not much to be excited about. In order to signal support for this cause (worthy as it is), there's quite a steep price threshold. Seems a bit out of range for the wiccans I know, which is too bad for what could reasonably be seen as a form of artistic activist magick.

Anyone can submit a tartan design to the registry, so hopefully other people will commemorate other causes. It's a great idea. My sole quibble is with the restrictive financial access to what could be a far more widespread message. They could just as easily registered the tartan with a Creative Commons license, or posted the news with what many craftspeople add to their own patterns - permission to create for one's own use, but not for resale without written permission. They would still likely get a similar number of orders from people who want to honor the cause and who also have the finances to do so.

[CrispyQ]

24. Swoon. I love it!

I'm a sucker for red & black plaid. Some additional colors are acceptable if done tastefully.

[niyad]

29. Every colour in that pattern is utterly significant.

[CrispyQ]

32. It would look fetching with a pussy hat!

I want some! I hate to sew, but I'd pull my machine out for this!!

[niyad]

37. I want some as well, but given what I read about the mill, and the whole

process, that will not be happening any time soon, if ever. There are several knockoff materials available, an acyrilic/wool combo, but the count is off, and there is no pink thread, so that is a "No".

[TommyT139]

39. What did you find?

As far as I can tell, the tartan is custom made at this place:
https://www.pricklythistlescotland.com/
...which certainly seems to go above and beyond, ethically. Did I miss something?

[niyad]

44. As I pointed out, there are several knockoff patterns available here,

none of which are exact. Google "witches tartan fabric".

[TommyT139]

46. Well yes

I inferred that you were referring to the actual mill, given our exchange up-thread. The knock-offs can't use the correct pattern because of the trademarking.

Anyway, it's academic. Now back to fighting the fascists! Have a good evening.

[Aristus]

30. Oh, well that will make it all better.

n/t

[CrispyQ]

33. I'm surprised at your response.

[Aristus]

42. I'm sorry. I can't even explain why the "women are witches! Burn them!" issue is so important and heartbreaking

to me. But it is. Same with hanging the "witches" of Salem.

The Holocaust is so huge that, as horrifying as it is, it eventually becomes abstract. The witch issue is small enough for a person to be devastated by the revolting violation of human rights due to religious fanaticism. Women who were guilty of nothing more than being alone, maybe lonely, maybe ugly (and is that a crime?), a little strange, whatever. For that we had to burn them, hang them, call them monsters?

So yes, remember them; honor what they went through. But nothing would have been better than not abusing them in the first place.

[marble falls]

34. Beyond what it represents, it is beautiful as a reminder.

[niyad]

36. Yes!

[snot]

41. Love it! And a question:

were no men executed for witchcraft?

[Aristus]

43. In Scotland, I don't know.

But the Salem Witch Trials convicted one man for witchcraft, and instead of being hanged like the rest, he was crushed to death under heavy stones. He was a real trooper, though. He kept mocking his tormentors with the rejoinder "More weight!". Those were reportedly his last words. A brave man, giving those filthy religious perverts the middle finger right up until he died.

[snot]

45. Lol! But with all respect!

Last edited Thu Oct 30, 2025, 06:24 PM - Edit history (1)

Great story.