America’s obsession with witches is older than the country itself. At first, it was rooted in fear, fueling false accusations of witchcraft, including those that led to the Salem witch trials. Beyond the courtroom, witches have been a steady presence in American culture through folk legends and local lore, fairy tales, Halloween traditions, and eventually, television and films.
Over time, a singular witch archetype emerged in American popular culture—the pointy hat, broomstick, black cat, and so on—and hasn’t changed much since people began dressing up as witches for Halloween more than a century ago.
But where does this imagery come from? Like the characters themselves, the origins and history of the witch costume are complicated.
Black, Pointy Hat
The most instantly recognizable part of a witch costume is a black, conical, pointy-tipped hat. Like every other piece of standard witch attire, the hat likely has roots in multiple cultures and eras.
Legends & Lore 