- “Magic has a way of uniting things that ought to be together.”
- ―The Witch Mother to the Sanderson Sisters[src]
The Witch Mother is a character featured in the 2022 Disney+ original film Hocus Pocus 2. She is portrayed by Hannah Waddingham. The Witch Mother is a powerful witch, with the ability to transform into a bird, and resides in Salem. She was the one to gift the Sanderson Sisters their sacred spellbook and introduce them to witchcraft.
Official Description
The Witch Mother, as played by Hannah Waddingham, roams the Forbidden Woods of Salem in search of children, whom she relies on for her youthful appearance. Four hundred years old, she is lonely and misses the witches from her own coven, and sensing a connection with a young Winnie Sanderson, bestows her with the Book of Spells.
Background
The Witch Mother is a powerful practitioner of magic and holds the ability to transform into a bird. She resides in the forbidden woods of Salem, during the 1600s, which acts as a sacred space for witches and strengthens their magic. The Witch Mother, once belonged to a coven, though they became lost to her.
Physical appearance
Despite being hundreds of years old, the mother witch looks young as if she is still in her mid-thirties or early forties. She has long bushy straight curly gray hair and brown eyes. She wears a striking red witch dress and a black cloak.
Powers and abilities
She is a powerful, immortal and forever young witch that can transform into a bird. Most of the Witch Mother's powers are a mystery.
Appearances
Hocus Pocus 2
The film begins in 1653 with the Witch Mother, scouring the sky in the form of a bird, as she watches over the town of Salem.
When the young Sanderson sisters enter the forbidden woods, she gazes at them from afar. The young girls become fearful of their surroundings, and the Witch Mother tries to lure them, with a song. When Winifred beckons her sister back to her, the Witch Mother transforms into her human form before them and grabs hold of Sarah by the throat. Mary and Winifred attempt to rescue their sister, but the Witch Mother summons a gust of wind through her hand, to hold them back. The Witch Mother prepares to feed Sarah a potion, but Winifred loosens her grip on Sarah. The Witch Mother grabs Winifred in retaliation, but fearfully lets go upon sensing her. Upon taking a closer interrogation of Winifred, she comes to realize the young girl differs from the other children she's eaten and is feared by the townspeople, due to her corruption.
The Witch Mother takes note of young Winifred's temper and the raw power she holds. She informs the girls the woods they entered are feared, because it's a sacred space for witches, such as herself, to charge their magic, and displays her powers before them. The Witch Mother declares Salem to be run by fools, and will one day be ruled by the likes of them. She gifts the girls a spellbook and wishes Winifred a happy sixteenth birthday.
As the girls explore the book's pages, they come across a spell, entitled "Magicae Maxima", which makes a witch all-powerful, but the Witch Mother warns them against using such a spell, and has them promise not to do so. The Witch Mother comments on the luck they have in their relationship, as a witch needs her coven, which she no longer has. Before Winifred can give her thanks, the Witch Mother disappears before them.
In 2022, Becca, Izzy, and Cassie walk home after defeating the newly-risen Sanderson sisters, while the Witch Mother flies above them in bird form.
Trivia
- It was the Witch Mother who gifted the Sanderson sisters their spellbook, though the legend incorrectly states it was given to them by the Devil.
- It is implied that the Witch Mother lost her coven, after performing the "Magicae Maxima" spell.
- The outfit that the Witch Mother wears resembles Dani Dennison's witch costume from the first film.
- When the Witch Mother holds up young Sarah by her throat in an attempt to forcefeed her the Life Potion, it appears to be reminiscent of Michael Myers from the horror franchise of Halloween holding one of his victims in a similar fashion.
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