Widdershins
Thinking again about anti-clockwise and counter-clockwise, I remembered ‘widdershins, which has the same meaning as anti-clockwise, but with a little magic and mystery mixed in with superstition.
The period in Britain, from about 410 to 1066 used to be called the Dark Ages, not because they were evil or nothing happened, but because there were few written records. Modern historians are more likely now to use terms like Sub-Roman or Early Middle Ages.
However they are referred to, it was thought unlucky in those times in the west to walk widdershins round a church or a cauldron. Witches were believed to move in this way to strengthen their spells, or to gain entry to the fairy kingdom.
The opposite to widdershins is deosil, or ‘sunwise.’
In some religions it is customary for processions to travel counter-clockwise.
I think it’s an attractive word, which rolls easily off the tongue. There are not many circumstances in which it can be used, however!
I guess us lefties go at a lot of things widdershins!
ReplyDeleteI love watching my left-handers (husband and youngest daughter) do things.
DeleteI didn't know these words... Interesting history to them. Ya, it's customary to go clockwise in temples here too.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it's for practical reasons.
DeleteInteresting but which direction is widdershins?
ReplyDeleteWhoops! I've just amended to make it clear that widdershins is counter-clockwise.
DeleteI imagine the "widder" part of the word is related to the German "wider" (not to be confused with "wieder", which means "again"), meaning "contrary" or "against". Language is fascinating, and I love old words that are rarely used nowadays, and to learn about them.
ReplyDeleteYou are correct. 😊
DeleteFrom Wikipedia: Widdershins comes from Middle Low German weddersinnes, literally "against the way" (i.e. "in the opposite direction"), from widersinnen "to go against", from Old High German elements widar "against" and sinnen "to travel, go", related to sind "journey".
Oh dear. I have to walk widdershins around our church to get from the back garden to the front door.
ReplyDelete(Autocorrect just changed that to Kidderminster!!!)
Don't forget your witch's hat and broomstick!
DeleteI've always balled at walking widdershins around a church... (auto correct is sure I meant to type Kidderminster 😅)
ReplyDelete'Kidderminster, renowned for its mastery of the Dark Arts.'
DeleteI really enjoyed reading this. Widdershins” is such a charming word, and I like how you connected it to history and superstition. It makes me want to start noticing the directions of everything around me.
ReplyDeleteWhich way does the water run down the drain? It used to be thought that it differed according to the hemisphere, but that is largely disproved now.
DeleteI've only recently really learned about the Dark Ages. I misunderstood all of that when I was younger but now I realize that it was just a time when mostly the monks are the very very rich Kings had access to written word.
ReplyDeleteI used to think the Middle Ages moved up the centuries and weren't a fixed point.
DeleteWiddershins, a nice word to know. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't sound threatening at all!
DeleteI, too, love a good old word to throw in the mix and will file widdershins away until the time arises.
ReplyDeleteI hope you can use it soon . . .
DeleteI've never heard these words before. Interesting. I think if I were to hear someone say sunwise I would think they had a speech impediment.
ReplyDeleteHa ha ha - that really made me laugh!
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of the word.Was it used in McBeth? I love the part with the 3 witches!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm told that although the word wasn't used, it was implied. 😳
Delete
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this post about widdershins. The way the author explains such an unusual word — one that means going anti-clockwise but also carries magical and historical connotations — is both interesting and educational. I especially liked the connection to old British beliefs about luck and procession direction, which adds an extra layer of cultural context that most people wouldn’t normally think about. It’s the kind of thoughtful reflection that makes a simple topic feel richer and worth exploring.
Thank you.
DeleteI can’t remember when I first heard the widdershins word but it would have been in relation to not walking round the outside of a church ‘ the wrong way!’
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
I don't remember where I first came upon the word, but it's always remained in my mind, along with all the other rubbish I collect.
DeleteI feel as if I am becoming smarter each day when I stop by and find a new word that I've never heard of. I love this!!
ReplyDeleteLanguage is so rich and colourful and yet our daily vocabulary is rather impoverished.
ReplyDeleteSo now I'm wondering if there's a connection between the superstition about direction and the way races are run..
ReplyDeleteInteresting thought, but I think it's more to do with the majority of people being left-handed, regardless of footedness or eye dominance.
DeleteMajority left? I thought they were a minority.
DeleteI've never heard that word -- interesting! We have a stained glass window in our library depicting the Venerable Bede, who lived during the time period you're describing. I wonder if he ever walked widdershins?
ReplyDeleteI suspect he may have resisted turning widdershins, for fear of being struck down by evil forces.
Deleteadd me to the list of never heard the word before. I did remember English Lit class in senior year, I had to do the Double Doubled Toil and Trouble and say the entire passage in front of the class. I had nightmares for days thinking of standing up and reciting it. the thing is I could do it now and not even blink, but then, it made me I'll, and I do mean I'll. I don't think I will ever use this word or even remember it, but it is all truly interesting. I have never heard anything about walking around a church either.
ReplyDeleteadd me to the list of never heard the word before. I did remember English Lit class in senior year, I had to do the Double Doubled Toil and Trouble and say the entire passage in front of the class. I had nightmares for days thinking of standing up and reciting it. the thing is I could do it now and not even blink, but then, it made me I'll, and I do mean I'll. I don't think I will ever use this word or even remember it, but it is all truly interesting. I have never heard anything about walking around a church either.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking in front of the class was a real trial for many children, and still is, but it's incorporated in lessons now, in UK anyway. I remember one poor chap at college who could not read aloud - it was painful to listen to him.
DeleteIt's an interesting word and I can actually recall hearing it used in my childhood by my grandfather. It struck me then and stuck in my memory because I found it to be a fun word that literally "rolls" off the tongue.
ReplyDeleteIt's not a word in common usage. I can't think of a context in which it would be used today.
DeleteThere was a poetry submission for a magazine last year which was about favourite words and one of my three poems included Widdershins!! Great word!
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm pleased. Good words should never be allowed to lapse.
DeleteHappy Valentine's Day to you
ReplyDeleteThank you - and to you.
DeleteHave heard widdershins before but never used it. It's the kind of word one might want to keep alive but for it use being entirely superstitious and therefore of no real use when our superstitions have moved on fro. witches to (for example) aliens.
ReplyDeleteWe should try and find another context for it, but I can't think what, yet . . .
DeleteA new word for me!
ReplyDelete😊
DeleteI agree with Granny Sue
ReplyDelete😊
DeleteWiddershins ...what a wonderful word and one I hadn't come across before.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
It's a pity we don't or can't use it now, except in very specialised circumstances.
DeleteI love learning about the word and didn’t realize that the Bard was using a common superstition.
ReplyDeleteClever chap, old Will.
ReplyDeleteI like the word though will probably never use it unless I can fit it into one of my Friday stories.
ReplyDeleteThere's a challenge!
DeleteAnd I always thought the Dark Ages were called thus because the only light available was daylight or firelight.
ReplyDeleteThat's logical!
DeleteGreat word. Shame it's is hard to fit it into everyday conversations now.
ReplyDeleteI know. Such a waste!
ReplyDeleteI get confused between clockwise and anticlockwise, widdershins and deosil and left and right. I'm pretty reliable with port and starboard, but that didn't help my poor driving instructor.
ReplyDelete