01/31/2026
Every January, hundreds of skiers in pointed hats and green face paint descend the slopes of Switzerland's Belalp region for the Belalp Hexe -- an event inspired by a local legend that echoes a darker chapter in Swiss history.
First held in 1983, the festival has grown into a week-long affair. It includes a competitive downhill race -- skiers cover the 12-kilometer course from Hohstock to Blatten in under 10 minutes -- alongside a more leisurely descent by costumed "witches" who stop along the way to share food and drink with spectators.
The event draws its name from a tale about a woman accused of witchcraft centuries ago. According to the legend, she was unhappily married to a farmer named Sepp vom Hegdorn and kept largely to herself. Villagers whispered that she possessed supernatural powers and transformed into a raven at night to visit a secret lover. When her husband was found dead after falling from a cherry tree, she was accused of murder and "raven flight," then burned at the stake.
The Valais region, where Belalp sits, was the birthplace of Europe's first systematic witch hunts. Beginning in 1428, the trials spread fear throughout the alpine valleys for nearly a decade, claiming an estimated 367 lives. Switzerland would go on to have one of the highest rates of witch executions in Europe between the 15th and 18th centuries.
Amid the costumes and revelry, the Belalp Hexe ensures this grim chapter isn't forgotten -- a history of prejudice, fear, and lives lost to hysteria.
For a powerful book for adult readers which examines the inner workings of the patriarchal system, codified by the Scottish Witchcraft Act, designed to weaponize fear and oppress women, we highly recommend "How to Kill a Witch: The Patriarchy's Guide to Silencing Women" at https://bookshop.org/a/8011/9781464241222 (Bookshop) and https://amzn.to/3XfkiIJ (Amazon)
For an excellent book about an 11-year-old girl who leads the drive to build a memorial to women accused of witchcraft in her Scottish town, we highly recommend "A Kind of Spark" for ages 9 and up at https://www.amightygirl.com/kind-of-spark
For a Newbery Award-winning novel about a teen girl who stands up against witch hysteria and mob mentality in early colonial America, we highly recommend βThe Witch of Blackbird Pondβ for ages 9 and up at https://www.amightygirl.com/the-witch-of-blackbird-pond
For more books for children and teens about Mighty Girls taking a stand against hate and prejudice of many kinds, visit our blog post, "Standing Together: 50 Mighty Girl Books Celebrating Diversity and Acceptanceβ at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=13481
Thanks to the Female Quotient for sharing this image!
