Folklore Sunday – September 14, 2025 | Kitchen Witchery

There’s nothing quite like a warm and hearty soup or stew on a chilly day. Soup and stew feel, as Van Dyk (2023) says, “primordial” because they are. In fact, there is evidence of even Neanderthals boiling bones creating soup. From broccoli cheddar soup to beef stew, soups and stews are generational gifts. 

Recently, the idea, perhaps not new, was passed around that soup and stew are a type of witchcraft. The idea, of course, relates to the mixing of ingredients in a pot (cauldron) with spices to create something new. In this way, soups and stews do become a type of witchcraft--following recipes to create a new mixture or tincture for what ails. Certainly, many cultures have a version of chicken noodle soup as a balm for illness. 

So, as we take in the cooler days of autumn and winter, what types of witchcraft are you engaging in? What soups and/or stews are your favorite? Do you see more recipes coming across your feed? Can you see the folkloric magic in them?

You might consider trying this Apple-Cheddar-Squash Soup or one of these delicious vegan soups. 

We shared this image as part of #FolkloreSunday on Bluesky, where folklore enthusiasts post traditions, rituals, and/or superstitions weekly. Join us there for the ongoing conversation--or explore more with our podcast, Lexicons Unbound, where folklore meets your algorithm.

Photo Credit: Cala cala_maffia, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons