The Flight to Šatrija Hill

Lithuanian Folk Legends of the Witches’ Sabbath

Abstract

This article examines Lithuanian folk legends concerning the witches’ sabbath and its associations with the landscape. Although witch-hunting began later in the Baltic region, Lithuanian folklore shares thematic elements with European traditions, including magical flights, devil worship, and the legend type that features a farmhand as an external observer. A distinctive feature of the Lithuanian legends, however, is their profound connection to the landscape. The site traditionally identified as the location of the witches’
sabbath, as depicted in both folk legends and Lithuanian witchcraft trial documents, is Šatrija Hill. Šatrija is a historical site that evolved from an Iron Age hillfort to a legendary place of witches’ gatherings. This study analyses 99 folk legends concerning the witches’ sabbath from the Lithuanian Folklore Archives. The folklore material is discussed alongside witchcraft trial documents, with a focus on identifying the predominant narratives, geographical locations associated with the sabbath, and the manner in which these folk legends intertwine with the landscape.