Saint Hans Witch

At the end of June every year in Denmark, Saint Hans (St. John's Eve.  Description below) is celebrated with a bond fire and a burning of a witch in order to fend off evil and help ensure the crops will grow well.  I know, I know, Salem, witches, it's madness!  BUT... these days it really is a lovely gathering around a big fire with singing and chat and excitement that winter is over and summer is ahead.  For me, this holiday has lead to a bunch of creative projects.  Normally I will run to the thrift shop to gather clothes and gear to make a witch effigy.  I would also save some whistler fireworks from New Years to stuff inside her for audio effects!   This year, I thought I would burn a painting of a witch instead.  From 3D to 2D!  BUT.... the painting took longer than I thought so I decided to enjoy the old lady instead!  And now she's available for YOU!  It's on a lower quality canvas since I thought I was going to burn it but it's OK.  Her face is 3D, made from modeling paste.  It seems to me that she's riding a lizard into the cool, early summer evening , holding her black cat pal and a chicken bone.  She ain't pretty (or maybe she is!) but I assure you she's a GOOD witch!  She's empowered, driven and will be there to protect your crops every year!

From Wikipedia:  Saint John's Eve (Sankthansaften) is celebrated in the same manner in Denmark as the Walpurgis Night is in Sweden. At dusk large bonfires are lit all over the country, typically accompanied by communal singing of Midsommervisen by Holger Drachmann. Atop each bonfire often an effigy of a witch is placed (harking back to the days of witch trials, when real women were burned at the stake). Traditionally, the bonfires were lit to fend off witches, but today - when the witch effigy catches fire - she is said to be "flying away to Brocken" (Danish: "Bloksbjerg"), which can be interpreted as helping the witch on her way.  On Saint John's Eve and Saint John's Day, churches arrange Saint John's services and family reunions also occur, which are an occasion for drinking and eating.