Witchcraft in Modern Society: An Ongoing Tradition or a Folkloric Relic? An Investigation into the Persistence of Witchcraft, from Folklore Stories to 21st Century Practices

This article explores witchcraft’s ongoing relevance and function in contemporary society based on a qualitative analysis of folklore, historical, and modern practices. Despite the rise of secularism and scientific scepticism, the practice of witchcraft continues, albeit under different names and with different purposes. Through the examination of stories collected by Vuk Stefanović Karadžić and partly by Milovan Glišić, as well as contemporary testimonies as a side of comparison, this study reveals that witchcraft serves as a form of spiritual but also practical support in times of personal and social crisis. Rituals like ‘The Melting of Fear’ and ‘Coal Quenching’ demonstrate the continuity of magical practices, even as their cultural and religious contexts evolve. This study argues that, while secular individuals may publicly reject the supernatural, many still seek the services of witchcraft practitioners when conventional solutions fail. The methodology of this work includes a literary analysis of the stories of the mentioned authors and qualitative interviews with four individuals. Emphasising the complex interweaving of witchcraft, folklore, and religious and pagan beliefs, this study shows that despite the changing times, magical practices remain dominant and well-known even to today’s modern man.