The Broom is intimatly connected with witches and witchcraft. It was a commonly believed
that witches anointed their bodes with a slave given to them by the devil that enabled them
to fly through the air upon a variety of sticks and stems, including broomsticks. The choice
of the broom or besom as a likely means of transport is probably dew to teh association
between brooms and female domesticity, though male witches were thought to ride in this
way as well as women. In eastern europen folklore a broom maybe usaed in a exorcism
ceremonies to sweep evil spirits out the door. It is also thought that stepping over a broomstick.
pacing it under your pillow or putting a broom across a threshold will offer protection against
evil spirits and ghosts at night.


and here all this time I have been just cleaning up my spill with it... :)