# Witches and Broomsticks

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witches-and-broomsticks/672741>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [October 31, 2013, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witches-and-broomsticks/672741 "2013-10-31T12:13:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![qazwart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5fc32e/32.png) [@qazwart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qazwart)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witches-and-broomsticks/672741/1 "2013-10-31T12:13:48Z")

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Link to [article](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1344/whats-the-deal-with-witches-and-broomsticks).

Link to [toy](http://www.methodshop.com/gadgets/reviews/potters-stick/index.shtml) which you will say to yourself _Wow, they didn’t make toys like that when I was a kid!_

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**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witches-and-broomsticks/672741/2 "2013-10-31T14:00:19Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> Well, one can always count on one’s fingers, I suppose.

Count on one’s fingers - ha ha!

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**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\
**Post date:** [November 1, 2013, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witches-and-broomsticks/672741/3 "2013-11-01T01:44:16Z")

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Whenever I think of witches on broomsticks, I always associate that with the with cackling madly as she flies.

Now I know why they cackle like that.

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**Author:** ![SHADYNINJA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SHADYNINJA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SHADYNINJA)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2013, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witches-and-broomsticks/672741/4 "2013-11-03T16:41:49Z")

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so i just pulled this theory outta my ass while talking about this with my boyfriend … if this is were the broomstick and witches came from maybe bed knobs and broomsticks was code for droping acid …lmao

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**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2013, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witches-and-broomsticks/672741/5 "2013-11-03T19:05:51Z")

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You realize that story is ten years old, do you?

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**Author:** ![qazwart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5fc32e/32.png) [@qazwart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qazwart)\
**Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witches-and-broomsticks/672741/6 "2013-11-04T01:01:08Z")

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> [@njtt](#):
>
> You realize that story is ten years old, do you?

Yes, but it was reprinted here a few days ago. Makes it fair game!

Or, are you talking about the Harry Potter vibrating broom? Yes, I know that is is old and no longer around. Heck, it was yanked off the shelves faster than [Earring Magic Ken](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earring_Magic_Ken).

My understanding is that both toys were quite popular, but not with the demographic that the manufacturer intended.