Black Madonnas

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Note: This article was originally published by @gritchenwitch on Instagram. To learn about me and my practice, including more info on folk witchcraft, mountain magic, knot work, and hearthcraft, please visit gritchenwitch.com or join my Patreon at patreon.com/gritchenwitch.

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I’ve been reading more about Black Madonnas. I’ve never had a complete grasp on the origins, but the more I read about them, the more mysterious they become.🕯

In short, Black Madonnas are miraculous images and statues that were created using dark stone or wood, or that have become black or grey over time. They tend to be small but extremely powerful, especially in miracles of healing and protection, and are all unique.

There are approximately 500 in Europe. While controversial, there are several theories surrounding their appearance. Some of these include:

- they actually depict Mary Magdalene and Christ’s child
- they represent the Virgin Mary and were created with more artistic license
- likewise, they were made to depict the Blessed Mother but have been affected by centuries of candle smoke (though the phenomenon has not been observed equally in images of Jesus or the saints in the same sanctuaries)
- they represent African beliefs that have been integrated into other faiths in ways that have been hidden or ignored
- they're masking the veneration of pagan goddesses such as Demeter, Isis, and Athena (and were painted over with the spread of Christianity)
- any combination of these

One of my favorites is the Black Madonna of Orcival in France. She has huge hands (to demonstrate her generosity) but may also represent an ancient bear goddess with big paws.

Since launching my folk Mary project, we’ve started using different base colors (such as olives and deeper browns)—I’ve loved connecting to black madonnas this month. Please visit gritchenwitch.com to learn more about my folk Mary statuettes and to purchase.🖤