{"id":7706,"date":"2017-08-27T22:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-08-27T20:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hotfiredoor.com\/blog\/espantabrujas-chimeneas-aragon\/"},"modified":"2023-05-26T09:23:27","modified_gmt":"2023-05-26T07:23:27","slug":"scarecrows-chimneys-aragon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hotfiredoor.com\/en\/blog\/scarecrows-chimneys-aragon\/","title":{"rendered":"The scarecrows in the chimneys of Aragon"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Today at HotFireDoor, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hotfiredoor.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">specialists in fireplace doors<\/a>, we tell you the story of the &#8220;espantabrujas&#8221; in the chimneys of Aragon. Discover a curious and interesting story and legend at the same time.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Contenidos:<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a1ab4eacf718\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a1ab4eacf718\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hotfiredoor.com\/en\/blog\/scarecrows-chimneys-aragon\/#What_are_%E2%80%9Cespantabrujas%E2%80%9D_in_chimneys\" >What are &#8220;espantabrujas&#8221; in chimneys?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hotfiredoor.com\/en\/blog\/scarecrows-chimneys-aragon\/#The_story_of_the_witches_that_flew_through_the_skies_in_the_villages_of_Upper_Aragon\" >The story of the witches that flew through the skies in the villages of Upper Aragon<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hotfiredoor.com\/en\/blog\/scarecrows-chimneys-aragon\/#What_traditional_scarecrow_chimneys_are_like\" >What traditional scarecrow chimneys are like<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hotfiredoor.com\/en\/blog\/scarecrows-chimneys-aragon\/#Other_elements_traditionally_used\" >Other elements traditionally used<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hotfiredoor.com\/en\/blog\/scarecrows-chimneys-aragon\/#Where_can_you_see_authentic_scarecrow_chimneys\" >Where can you see authentic scarecrow chimneys?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hotfiredoor.com\/en\/blog\/scarecrows-chimneys-aragon\/#Chimneys_and_legends_always_together\" >Chimneys and legends, always together<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_%E2%80%9Cespantabrujas%E2%80%9D_in_chimneys\"><\/span>What are &#8220;espantabrujas&#8221; in chimneys?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8220;Espantabrujas&#8221;, also known as &#8220;guardabrujas&#8221; or &#8220;salvabrujas&#8221;, are <strong>decorative and protective architectural elements that are found in chimneys in the Aragon region<\/strong>. These structures have a long history and date back to the Middle Ages, although their use and popularity peaked during the <strong>17th and 18th centuries<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8220;Espantabrujas&#8221; are usually <strong>stones with geometric shapes, such as spheres, cones, or pyramids, that are placed on the top of chimneys<\/strong>. Their main purpose is to <strong>protect the house from the entry of witches, evil spirits, and other supernatural beings<\/strong>. It is believed that these structures confused and disoriented witches, preventing them from entering houses through the chimneys.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_story_of_the_witches_that_flew_through_the_skies_in_the_villages_of_Upper_Aragon\"><\/span>The story of the witches that flew through the skies in the villages of Upper Aragon<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Popular legends spoke of witches who flew on their broomsticks at night and entered houses to cause mischief. Obviously, they didn&#8217;t do it through the door, since it was well locked, but <strong>there was always a space that was open in a house: the chimney<\/strong>. To prevent this, &#8220;espantabrujas&#8221; began to be placed.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The belief in witches and their negative influence on everyday life was quite common at the time, and &#8220;espantabrujas&#8221; were a way to protect oneself from their presence. In the historical and cultural context of Aragon, &#8220;espantabrujas&#8221; also symbolized the protection of the house&#8217;s inhabitants and the prosperity of their homes.<\/p>\n<p>Nowadays, scarecrow chimneys are considered architectural and cultural elements of interest in the Aragon region. Although their ability to protect against witches and evil spirits is no longer believed, these unique structures continue to be a symbol of Aragonese identity and tradition.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_traditional_scarecrow_chimneys_are_like\"><\/span>What traditional <em>scarecrow chimneys<\/em> are like<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The first of these traps were simple stones shaped like a cross or human figure with a hole made in them to make them whistle in the wind. Some people talk about a mystical meaning in placing a cross on top of the chimney, although the truth is that it is an ugly doll with its arms open, like scarecrows placed in fields, with the idea that &#8220;witches&#8221; cannot enter the house.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3595 size-full aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hotfiredoor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/espantabrujas-chimeneas-aragon-2.jpg\" alt=\"scarecrow\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hotfiredoor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/espantabrujas-chimeneas-aragon-2.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.hotfiredoor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/espantabrujas-chimeneas-aragon-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hotfiredoor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/espantabrujas-chimeneas-aragon-2-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In some places, clay pitchers were placed, partly to collect water, a symbol of purification.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Other_elements_traditionally_used\"><\/span>Other elements traditionally used<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">To increase the effect and prevent bolder witches from entering, <strong>once the fire was out, the tongs were left open<\/strong> or a cross was made on the ashes. A handmade clay doll was also placed as a defender at the entrance.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_can_you_see_authentic_scarecrow_chimneys\"><\/span>Where can you see authentic scarecrow chimneys?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Today, the tradition of topping off the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hotfiredoor.com\/en\/blog\/chimney-flue\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>smoke outlet<\/strong><\/a> with scarecrow chimneys is still very present in many towns in Huesca. Some houses have been renovated and the shapes have changed, while others are completely new. <strong>If you want to see real examples<\/strong>, it is best to visit abandoned villages that maintain the original essence and tradition, as the houses have not been touched. They can also be found in towns such as <strong>Sabi\u00f1\u00e1nigo, Ip\u00e9s, or Panticosa<\/strong>, with different shapes. In Panticosa, they place upside-down jugs, while in Jaca, they are placed the other way around.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3602 size-full aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hotfiredoor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/espantabrujas-chimeneas-aragon-1.jpg\" alt=\"scarecrow\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hotfiredoor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/espantabrujas-chimeneas-aragon-1.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.hotfiredoor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/espantabrujas-chimeneas-aragon-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hotfiredoor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/espantabrujas-chimeneas-aragon-1-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Pirenarium, a theme park dedicated to the Pyrenees, open in Sabi\u00f1anigo, 4 replicas of classic scarecrow chimneys have been built. They are not the original ones, but it is a way to see what they are like, in addition to enjoying a collection of miniatures and models, among other things.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Chimneys_and_legends_always_together\"><\/span>Chimneys and legends, always together<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It may be the effect of fire and the idea that it has something magical, or the habit of telling scary stories by a bonfire. The fact is that <strong>many legends have a chimney<\/strong> as an element. This case is one of many, although it must be recognized that it is quite curious and picturesque.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Today at HotFireDoor, specialists in fireplace doors, we tell you the story of the &#8220;espantabrujas&#8221; in the chimneys of Aragon. Discover a curious and interesting story and legend at the same time. What are &#8220;espantabrujas&#8221; in chimneys? &#8220;Espantabrujas&#8221;, also known as &#8220;guardabrujas&#8221; or &#8220;salvabrujas&#8221;, are decorative and protective architectural elements that are found in chimneys [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":3611,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"Legend of the witch scarers in chimneys of Aragon","_seopress_titles_desc":"Today at HotFireDoor we tell you the story of the &quot;espantabrujas&quot; in the chimneys of Aragon. 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