After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal The Deadly Arctic Witch Trials
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Jan 15, 2026 Historian Marion Gibson expertly unpacks the chilling Vardø witch trials of 1617, sparked by a catastrophic storm that claimed 40 fishermen. She explores the scapegoating of local women and the Sami community, detailing the pressures that led to coerced confessions. Gibson also sheds light on the cultural context, explaining the intersection of witchcraft beliefs, gender dynamics, and colonial power in Norway. The discussion weaves through themes of fear, othering, and contemporary parallels, elevating the historical narrative into a broader commentary on scapegoating.
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Storm That Sparked Persecution
- On Christmas Eve 1617 a sudden Arctic storm drowned at least 40 fishermen and devastated local economies.
- Marion Gibson shows this catastrophe triggered a search for human scapegoats that launched the Vardø witch persecutions.
Weather Magic And The Sami Link
- Scandinavian witchcraft had international elements but strong local features like weather magic and Sami associations.
- Marion Gibson explains settlers projected demonic power onto Sami practices, mixing Christian and local fears.
Kari The Finn's Coerced Confession
- Kari, a Sami woman nicknamed 'Kari the Finn', was accused of causing drownings and confessed after threats, including being thrown into the sea.
- Her confession mixed projected outsider myths and possible Sami shamanic motifs about transformation and animals.
