Witching hour
A time of night linked to supernatural events and human physiology.
The witching hour, sometimes called the devil's hour, is a nighttime period linked in folklore to supernatural activity, when witches, demons, and ghosts are believed to emerge and wield their greatest power. Different traditions define it differently—some point to the hour just after midnight, others to the span between 3:00 am and 4:00 am. Over time, the phrase has taken on broader everyday and idiomatic meanings, connecting it both to human biology and behavior and to more superstitious ideas like luck.
The term "witching hour" dates back at least to 1762, when it appeared in Elizabeth Carolina Keene's *Miscellaneous Poems*. It echoes a line from *Hamlet*: "Tis now the very witching time of night, When Churchyards yawne, and hell it selfe breakes out Contagion to this world."
Various times are considered the witching hour. Some say it runs from midnight to 1:00 am, while others claim supernatural activity increases from dusk until dawn. The New Zealand Oxford Dictionary defines midnight as the time when witches are supposedly active. In the era when the term originated, many people had sleep schedules that kept them awake in the middle of the night. Psychological research suggests that apparitional experiences and sensed presences are most common between 2:00 am and 4:00 am, coinciding with a peak in melatonin levels around 3:00 am.
The concept may stem from the human sleep cycle and circadian rhythm. During this period, the body undergoes REM sleep, with a slower heart rate, reduced body temperature, and irregular breathing and blood pressure. Waking suddenly from REM sleep can cause agitation, fear, and disorientation. Unpleasant sleep disturbances known as parasomnias—including nightmares, REM sleep behavior disorder, night terrors, sleepwalking, homicidal sleepwalking, and sleep paralysis—often occur during REM sleep, which typically happens within the witching hour. Symptoms of illnesses like lung disease, asthma, flu, and the common cold tend to worsen at night and into the witching hour because cortisol levels in the blood are lower late at night, especially during sleep. The immune system becomes very active then, with white blood cells fighting infections, which can intensify fever, nasal congestion, cough, chills, and sweating.
- First recorded use
- 1762
- Earliest known source
- Elizabeth Carolina Keene's Miscellaneous Poems
- Associated times
- midnight to 1:00 am; 3:00 am to 4:00 am; dusk to dawn
- Peak melatonin time
- 3:00 am
- Peak apparitional experiences
- 2:00 am to 4:00 am
- Colloquial usage
- period of bad luck; infant crying before bedtime; investing volatility
Lore & Background
The phrase 'witching hour' dates back at least to 1762, when it appeared in Elizabeth Carolina Keene's Miscellaneous Poems. It alludes to a line from Shakespeare's Hamlet: 'Tis now the very witching time of night, When Churchyards yawne, and hell it selfe breakes out Contagion to this world.' Multiple times are considered the witching hour, with some claiming midnight to 1:00 am and others citing increased supernatural activity from dusk to dawn. The New Zealand Oxford Dictionary identifies midnight as the time when witches are supposedly active.
Psychological literature suggests that apparitional experiences and sensed presences are most common between 2:00 am and 4:00 am, corresponding with a 3:00 am peak in melatonin levels. The idea may stem from the human sleep cycle and circadian rhythm, as the body undergoes REM sleep during that period, with slower heart rate, reduced body temperature, and irregular breathing and blood pressure. Sudden awakening from REM sleep can cause agitation, fear, and disorientation.
During the witching hour, unpleasant sleep disturbances such as nightmares, night terrors, sleepwalking, and sleep paralysis can occur. Symptoms of illnesses like lung disease, asthma, flu, and common cold may worsen due to lower cortisol levels at night, while the immune system becomes active, worsening fever, nasal congestion, cough, chills, and sweating.
Reader's Guide
The witching hour holds significance as a cultural and folkloric concept that has persisted for centuries, blending supernatural beliefs with observable human physiology. Its origins in 18th-century poetry and Shakespearean allusion demonstrate its deep roots in Western literature and superstition. The term's evolution from a specific time of night to a broader colloquial usage—referring to periods of bad luck, infant crying before bedtime, or stock market volatility—shows its adaptability in modern language.
Physiologically, the witching hour corresponds with REM sleep and circadian rhythms, explaining why many people experience fear, disorientation, or sleep disturbances during these hours. The peak in melatonin at 3:00 am and the prevalence of apparitional experiences between 2:00 am and 4:00 am provide a scientific basis for the folklore. Additionally, the exacerbation of illness symptoms during this time due to lower cortisol levels links the concept to real health experiences.
In contemporary usage, the term has been applied to curfew hours in Washington D.C., where the 'switching hour' between 11:00 pm and midnight aims to reduce juvenile gunfire incidents. Violent crimes like rape and sexual assault peak at midnight on average, while DUI incidents tend to occur around 2:00 am. This demonstrates how the idea of a dangerous or unlucky hour continues to influence policy and public perception.
Did You Know?
- The phrase 'witching hour' first appeared in 1762 in Elizabeth Carolina Keene's Miscellaneous Poems.
- During the witching hour, symptoms of illnesses like asthma and flu worsen due to lower cortisol levels at night.
- In investing, the term refers to the last hour of stock trading between 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm EST, a period of above-average volatility.
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