Stregoneria

Stregoneria is an umbrella term for the Folk Magic practices of Italy. The word Stregoneria itself is simply Italian for witchcraft. Practices of Stregoneria include the use of amulets, charms, and herbs for various magical purposes. Although Stregoneria does indeed make use of a variety of Catholic practices, due to the use of magic Stregoneria, unlike Benedicaria, tends to be more at odds with the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Stregoneria and Benedicaria

Benedicaria is Italian Folk Catholicism that, in its purest form, is completely in line with the teachings of the Catholic Church. Stregoneria and Benedicaria often overlap, specifically in the intercession of the Saints, Catholic prayers, and the use of Catholic Sacramentals. Many practitioners of both Benedicaria and Stregoneria typically make use of each other’s practices to the point where it’s almost impossible to see where one ends and the other begins.

Stregoneria and Stregheria

Stregheria is form of Italian Neo-Paganism that makes use of much of the magical practices of Stregoneria, but lacks the more traditional Catholic based worldview in place of a Neo-Pagan outlook on magic and the world.

See Also

• Benedicaria
• Cornicello
• Folk Christianity
• Folk Medicine
• Malocchio
• Italian Cunning Folk