It’s a very special day for fans of “The Wizard of Oz!” Today marks the 77th anniversary of the film’s 1939 premiere and as the decades pass, the magic, mystery and message of this beloved classic continues to enchant and inspire us.
As we all remember, upon Dorothy’s abrupt arrival in Oz, Glinda the Good Witch appears and asks Dorothy, “Are you a good witch or a bad witch?” It’s certainly a fair question, considering Dorothy and her house landed right on top of the Wicked Witch of the East without damaging the magical ruby slippers she was wearing. That’s either coincidence or really good aim!
I think we all have a little good witch and a little bad witch in all of us, but I’ve come up with a few modern-day scenarios that might help you figure out which side you’re really on…
Scenario 1: When scrolling through your Facebook newsfeed, you see that someone you know got a new job. How do you react?
| Good Witch | Bad Witch | |
|---|---|---|
| You “like” their post to show your support, or go one step further and share your congratulations and well wishes in the comments. | You’ve long regarded them as your frenemy and take their success as a personal attack to your social status. You silently stalk their profile page over the next few weeks hoping their luck takes a turn for the worse. |
Scenario 2: You’re selected to be the leader on a project at work. How do you manage the group?
| Good Witch | Bad Witch | |
|---|---|---|
| You listen to everyone’s suggestions in the Lollipop Guild and take them into consideration when making your decisions. You encourage the sharing of new ideas and always have a friendly demeanor. | You tell everyone how you want things done and don’t take “no” for an answer. Ruling with an iron fist, the only thing you’ll share is threats of bodily harm to anyone who gets in your way. |
Scenario 3: You’re driving down the road and encounter a bit of traffic. What do you do?
| Good Witch | Bad Witch | |
|---|---|---|
| You remain inside of your “little bubble” and stay in your lane. You willingly let cars in to keep the flow of traffic going at a steady pace and avoid any dangerous maneuvers. | Your windows were already down because you like to feel the breeze through your hair as you cut people off and whiz between lanes. It also helps other drivers hear your shrieks of road rage, alerting them to get out of the way. |
Scenario 4: Someone who’s clearly from out of town asks you for directions into the city. How do you respond?
| Good Witch | Bad Witch | |
|---|---|---|
| You know exactly what road to follow and you take the time to explain how to get there. Bonus points if your directions are in the form of a song! | It’s so obvious that there’s only one good way to get into the city that you decide to have a little fun with these fools instead. You encourage them to take a shortcut through a dark forest and to make sure to stop and smell the poppies along the way… |
Scenario 5: You see out of your window that it’s starting to rain. How do you react?
| Good Witch | Bad Witch | |
|---|---|---|
| You know the storm will pass and it doesn’t dampen your mood in the slightest. In fact, you make sure to look out of the window every so often to see if you can spot a rainbow once the clouds break! | It COMPLETELY ruins your mood and you act like it’s the end of the world. You retreat into a dark, windowless part of your home and refuse to come out until someone tells you the rain has stopped. |
Now that we’ve gone through this exercise together, you should have a better idea of which witch you gravitate towards! I’d say I’m about 60% good witch, 40% bad witch on a good day (when it isn’t raining). Then again, it always feels so good being bad!
Before we all return to Kansas, I wanted to mention that The Bradford Exchange Online offers an amazing selection of unforgettable Wizard of Oz treasures for good witches and bad witches alike. Here’s just a small peek at what you’ll discover:
Top 3 Picks for Good Witches
- Glinda the Good Witch Singing Portrait Doll
- “Over the Rainbow” Crystal Pendant Necklace
- Dorothy Reversible Handbag
Top 3 Picks for Bad Witches
- The Wizard of Oz Cookie Jar
- Wicked Witch Lighted Hourglass Sculpture
- I’ll Get You My Pretty Glitter Globe
Thanks for reading and please share this post to share your love for the “Wizard of Oz,” my pretties!
Are You a Good Witch or a Bad Witch? by Beth Simon
