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InDutch Low Saxon mythology andlegends, theWitte Wieven (also known asWittewijven) are spirits of "wise women" (or elseelven beings). The mythology dates back at least to the pre-Christian era (7th century) and was known in the present-day regions of theNetherlands,Belgium and parts ofFrance. In some places they were known asJuffers orJoffers ("ladies"), or asDames Blanches (White Ladies) in French.
Witte wieven, originating from modernDutch Low Saxon, literally translates to "white women." These women are commonly associated with wisdom, so despite the literal translation, the interpretation of the term "witte" as meaning wise rather than white is common. InStandard Dutch, "wit" or "witte" solely denotes the color white. While the terms "wit" and "white" do not share the same linguistic root, regional pronunciations in the Netherlands of the corresponding words can sound very similar. This phonetic resemblance might have contributed to the association.Color symbolism of whiteness with purity possibly play a role as well, although contemporary color symbolism tends to link wisdom to the color blue rather than white.
Similar folk traditions outside the Netherlands show that the connotation of wisdom associated with "Witte wieven" might indeed have emerged at a later stage. For instance, inFrench folklore, these entities are referred to asDames blanches, directly translating to "white ladies". Another parallel can be drawn withthe White Goddess, a concept argued to exist more broadly in Wales, Ireland, most of Western Europe as well as the ancient Middle East.
Historically, the witte wieven are thought to be wise femaleherbalists and medicine healers who took care of people's physical and mental ailments. It was said they had the talent forprophecy and looking into the future. They had a high status in the communities, and so when they died ceremonies were held at their grave sites to honour them.
According tomythology, their spirits remained on earth, and they became living spirits (orelven beings) that either helped or hindered people who encountered them. They tended to reside in the burial sites or other sacred places. It was thought that mist on a gravehill was the spirit of the wise woman appearing, and people would bring them offerings and ask for help.
While many scholars[who?] believe Witte Wieven originated as above from honoring graves of wise women, others think the mythology of witte wieven come from part of the Germanic belief indisen,land wights, and/oralven (Dutch for "elf") for several reasons: The practice of bringing offerings and asking for help from their graves is very similar to honoring disen, land wights and alfen inGermanic paganism. In addition, in some localities the mythological witte wieven were described directly as "Alfen" or "Alven".
Jacob Grimm mentioned them in theDeutsche Mythologie (1835) as the Dutch variant of the GermanWeiße Frauen: "The people of Friesland, Drenthe and the Netherlands have just as much to tell of theirwitten wijven orjuffers in hills and caverns ... though here they get mixed up with elvish personages."[1]
At first, earlymedieval literature described the witte wieven more like pranksters and pests. Later Christian teaching transformed the idea of a "witte wieven" intomistflarden (wisps of mist or fog): ghost witches[dubious –discuss] — recharacterized as evil and to be avoided.
In certain legends "Alvinne" was a ghost in a white cloak.[citation needed]
The following places were named after witte wieven, and report witte wieven legends:
In the Netherlands:
