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| The Witches of Halloween/ The Sanderson Sisters |
All October long, Urban Legends, Mystery and Myth is summoning the most haunting witch stories from around the world—and this week, we turn our broomsticks toward Hollywood.
There are many witches on screen, but only three have become a Halloween ritual: Winifred, Mary, and Sarah Sanderson.
They’re mischievous, magical, and more than a little mad.
Three witches from Salem who came back from the dead to steal youth, sing spells, and dance under the Halloween moon.
This week’s feature dives deep into the enduring enchantment of The Sanderson Sisters—the wickedly iconic witches of Hocus Pocus.
A Spell in the Night
The candle flickers.
The black flame rises.
And with a hiss, a voice whispers in the dark:
“Another glorious morning… makes me sick!”
From that moment, audiences everywhere were under their spell.
When Disney released Hocus Pocus in 1993, the studio expected a fun summer comedy. It wasn’t a hit at first—critics were lukewarm, box-office modest—but over time the film transformed into a Halloween institution.
Every October, the Sanderson Sisters—Winifred, Mary, and Sarah—fly again, lighting up screens, memes, costumes, and parades. Beneath the laughs and nostalgia, however, the movie is built on centuries of witchcraft lore, fear, and feminine power.
A Storyline Steeped in Spells
Set in Salem, Massachusetts, the film opens in 1693. The Sanderson Sisters lure a young girl, Emily Binx, to their cottage in the woods, where they drain her life to restore their youth. Her brother Thackery tries to save her but is cursed to live forever as a black cat.
Before the villagers hang them, Winifred casts one final spell: if a virgin lights the Black Flame Candle on All Hallows’ Eve, the sisters will return.
Three hundred years later, skeptical teen Max Dennison—much to his own embarrassment—lights the candle, and the witches rise again—broomsticks blazing, determined to suck the life from Salem’s children before sunrise.
What follows is a fast-paced mix of horror and hilarity: enchanted parties, zombie ex-boyfriends, talking cats, and one unforgettable performance of “I Put a Spell on You.”
The story may sound simple, but that blend of fright and fun is exactly what makes Hocus Pocus timeless. It’s scary enough to thrill, funny enough to charm, and heartfelt enough to rewatch year after year.
Who Are the Sanderson Sisters?
Each witch is unforgettable—thanks to three powerhouse performances that turned caricatures into characters.
Winifred Sanderson (Bette Midler)
The self-proclaimed “cleverest witch of them all.” With electrified red hair, green robes, and a theatrical snarl, Winifred commands every scene. She’s part general, part diva—brilliant, ruthless, and perpetually exasperated by her sisters. Her love for her spellbook borders on obsession; her hatred of “morning people” is eternal. Yet beneath her bravado lies something almost tragic—a woman terrified of irrelevance, desperate to remain young and powerful in a world that once feared her.
Mary Sanderson (Kathy Najimy)
Mary is the heart of the trio. Loyal, practical, and endlessly anxious, she sniffs out children like a bloodhound and keeps the coven somewhat organized. She’s also hilariously domestic—worrying about brooms, chores, and dinner while plotting mayhem. Her tilted smile and off-beat humor give the sisters warmth beneath their wickedness. If Winifred is the mind and Sarah is the charm, Mary is the glue—always keeping the coven together, even when it’s falling apart.
Sarah Sanderson (Sarah Jessica Parker)
Beautiful, whimsical, and gleefully unhinged, Sarah is the siren of the group. She flirts with everyone, sings haunting lullabies, and floats through life as if every catastrophe is an adventure. Her innocence makes her dangerous—she doesn’t seem to grasp the horror of what they do. She embodies chaos and laughter, a reminder that not all evil wears a scowl.
Together, they’re chaos in harmony—a dark comedy trio whose chemistry is pure magic.
Salem: Where It All Began
In 1692, real hysteria swept through Puritan Salem. Fear of witchcraft led to the deaths of nineteen people and the imprisonment of many more. Most accused were women who owned property, spoke their minds, or simply didn’t conform.
By setting Hocus Pocus in Salem, Disney placed its comedy within the shadow of real tragedy. The film flips the narrative: instead of witches as victims, the Sandersons are gleefully unapologetic about their power.
It’s history rewritten through laughter—the persecuted turned protagonists, the hangings replaced with hijinks.
The Folklore Behind the Film
Hocus Pocus may be family entertainment, but nearly every magical element stems from authentic folklore.
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The Black Flame Candle: resurrection by fire, an echo of European necromancy rituals.
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Flying Broomsticks: inspired by old confessions of witches “anointing” their brooms with flying ointments.
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The Talking Cat: in medieval belief, familiars were spirit guides in animal form.
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The Book Bound in Skin: modeled after rumored grimoires like the Malleus Maleficarum and necromantic texts of the 1600s.
The film turns these dark myths into comedy gold—proof that even centuries of fear can become fuel for fun.
The Archetypes of the Three Sisters
Winifred – The Mother Witch
Commanding, brilliant, and temperamental, Winifred channels the archetype of the crone goddess and the cunning woman. She is the witch as scholar—the keeper of forbidden knowledge. Her desire for youth mirrors humankind’s longing for control over time itself.
Mary – The Hearth Witch
Rooted in intuition and domestic power, Mary reflects the archetype of the wise woman of the home. Historically, such women brewed remedies and charms—skills once revered, later demonized. Her gentle nature hides formidable strength.
Sarah – The Siren Witch
Sarah’s song is temptation itself. She embodies the archetype of the enchantress, merging the seductive danger of mermaids and banshees with the carefree spirit of the trickster fairy.
Together, the sisters echo the triple goddess—maiden, mother, and crone—an ancient symbol of womanhood and magic.
Real Witchcraft and Gender Politics
Witch hunts were never truly about magic—they were about control.
From Europe to colonial America, accusations often targeted women who defied expectations.
Hocus Pocus reclaims that story. By turning the “wicked witch” trope into comedy, the film transforms centuries of persecution into empowerment. The Sandersons aren’t repentant or fearful—they revel in their mischief. In a sense, they rewrite history with a cackle.
A Film Resurrected
When Hocus Pocus premiered, critics called it “too silly.” Yet word of mouth—and repeated TV airings—gave it new life. By the early 2000s, it had become essential Halloween viewing.
Fans embraced its campy tone, quotable lines, and warm-hearted chaos. Bette Midler herself called Winifred one of her favorite roles, crediting the film’s longevity to “the chemistry of three women having the time of their lives.”
Behind the scenes, much of that chemistry came from improvisation. Najimy and Parker often ad-libbed, creating the sisters’ overlapping chatter and physical comedy. Their energy gave the film its spark—and audiences never forgot it.
Behind the Scenes Magic
Filmed primarily in Salem and Los Angeles, Hocus Pocus was meant to be a small Disney project—but its cast turned it into lightning in a bottle. Midler’s theatrical background brought Broadway-level energy, while Najimy’s quirky humor and Parker’s spontaneity gave the sisters unpredictable charm.
A fun fact: Sarah Jessica Parker later discovered her own ancestor was accused of witchcraft during the Salem trials. “It felt like history coming full circle,” she said in interviews.
The film also broke new ground with practical effects and set design. The Sanderson cottage—built full-scale for filming—was crafted to look both whimsical and sinister, like something straight from an old storybook. The flying sequences used a mix of harnesses and camera tricks that gave the illusion of natural movement long before CGI became the norm.
Even the soundtrack—half gothic, half jazz—added its own kind of enchantment. When Bette Midler launched into “I Put a Spell on You,” it wasn’t just a performance—it was a declaration that the witches had officially taken back Halloween.
The Real Magic of Hocus Pocus
For millions, Hocus Pocus isn’t just a movie—it’s an annual ritual. Families carve pumpkins, pour cider, and queue up the film like clockwork. It’s comfort horror: spooky enough to thrill, funny enough to share across generations.
What makes it timeless is its tone. The film balances genuine gothic imagery—misty cemeteries, flickering candles—with slapstick and song. It invites viewers to celebrate fear rather than flee from it.
In an era of darker horror, Hocus Pocus remains a safe kind of scary, where even death ends in laughter and everyone can dance under the moon.
The Legacy of Hocus Pocus 2
Nearly thirty years later, the witches returned. The 2022 sequel reunited the original cast and introduced a new generation discovering their own power.
While the humor stayed intact, the sequel leaned deeper into sisterhood and redemption. The Sandersons weren’t mere villains; they were survivors from a world that never understood them.
Winifred’s final choice—to sacrifice her magic for her sisters—turned a camp classic into a surprisingly emotional farewell. The message was clear: even witches can evolve.
The Modern Fandom
The Sanderson legacy lives far beyond the screen. Each October, Salem bursts with Hocus Pocus tourism. Fans recreate scenes at the Ropes Mansion, the Old Town Hall, and Max’s house on Ocean Avenue.
Social media has turned the film into a phenomenon. TikTok teems with spellbook tutorials, cosplay dances, and lip-syncs to Winifred’s lines. Every Halloween, new memes arise, new merchandise drops, and a new generation discovers the movie their parents loved.
The Spell of Nostalgia
Part of what makes Hocus Pocus endure is its emotional pull. For adults who first saw it in the ’90s, it’s a time capsule of Halloween as it used to feel—fog machines, trick-or-treaters, and slightly dangerous fun. For kids, it’s a perfect mix of thrills and laughter.
The film works across ages because it never talks down to its audience. Its witches are terrifying and hilarious, its jokes dark but affectionate. It’s about chaos and family—the idea that even misfits belong somewhere.
Like all good folklore, it passes on emotion as much as story. Watching it each year isn’t just tradition—it’s ritual.
The Enduring Power of the Witch
Witches endure because they represent everything society both fears and desires: freedom, knowledge, rebellion, and transformation.
In myth, they are the boundary breakers. In film, they are the scene stealers. And in Hocus Pocus, they are the heart of Halloween itself.
The Sanderson Sisters remind us that magic isn’t about darkness—it’s about daring to be yourself in a world that doesn’t always understand you.
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Similar Legends
The Weird Sisters (Macbeth)
Long before the Sanderson Sisters, Shakespeare’s Weird Sisters predicted doom on the Scottish moors. Like Winifred, they were manipulative and theatrical, speaking in riddles and rhymes. Both trios share a flair for prophecy, chaos, and dark humor—proof that witchcraft in storytelling has always been about the power to shape fate.
Baba Yaga (Slavic Folklore)
The bone-legged witch of the Russian forest lives in a hut that walks on chicken feet and flies through the air in a mortar and pestle. Baba Yaga is both a monster and a mentor, testing those who cross her path. Her sharp wit and shifting morality echo Winifred’s dual nature: cunning, dangerous, yet oddly wise.
The Furies (Greek Mythology)
These three ancient spirits of vengeance punished the guilty, often driving mortals mad with guilt. Their unity and sense of justice mirror the Sandersons’ own sisterly bond—though instead of avenging blood crimes, the Sandersons avenge being forgotten. Both trios embody the unstoppable energy of women wronged by the world.
The Witches of Eastwick (Modern Fiction)
In John Updike’s novel and its 1987 film adaptation, three modern women discover magical powers after meeting a devilish stranger. Like the Sandersons, they mix charm, danger, and desire—using magic to explore independence, temptation, and revenge. They, too, reflect how witchcraft can be both playful and subversive.
The Bell Witch (American Folklore)
One of America’s most famous hauntings, the Bell Witch of Tennessee tormented the Bell family in the early 1800s with eerie laughter, voices, and invisible hands. Some versions describe her as a vengeful spirit of a woman wronged, others as a witch who never died. Her theatrical hauntings—full of pranks, curses, and chaos—mirror the Sandersons’ own blend of fright and farce.
The Boo Hag (Gullah Geechee Folklore)
From the coastal South comes the tale of the Boo Hag, a skin-stealing witch who slips into homes at night to “ride” her victims and drain their life. While darker than the Sandersons’ mischief, she shares their love of the night and their ability to pass between worlds. Both legends remind us that witches take many forms—some fiery, some shadowed, all unforgettable.
Why We Still Love the Sanderson Sisters
Three decades later, Hocus Pocus is still a must-watch every Halloween season. It’s hilarious, heartfelt, and unapologetically weird—the cinematic equivalent of a pumpkin-spice spell.
The film’s charm lies in its contradictions: ancient witches and modern teens, fear and laughter, darkness and light. We see a bit of ourselves in their chaos—our frustrations, our flaws, our desire to dance until dawn.
And maybe that’s the real enchantment:
No matter how many years pass, the Sanderson Sisters remind us that growing older doesn’t mean losing your magic.
After all—
“It’s just a bunch of Hocus Pocus.”
🕯️ Next in our Witches of Halloween series:
Double Feature: Bloody Mary & The Bell Witch – The Spirits That Still Speak.
From mirror rituals to vengeful hauntings, these two American legends reveal why we still fear the power of the name.
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