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 rooted in folklore. It is believed to be when supernatural forces—witches, demons, and ghosts—are most active and powerful. Exactly when this occurs varies: some point to the hour right after midnight, while others define it as the window between 3:00 am and 4:00 am. Over time, the phrase has taken on broader, everyday meanings, used to describe both human physiological states and behaviors, as well as more superstitious ideas like bad luck.
The phrase first appeared in print by 1762, in Elizabeth Carolina Keene’s *Miscellaneous Poems*. It echoes 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.”
Different traditions assign different times to the witching hour. Some say it runs from midnight to 1:00 am; others claim supernatural activity increases from dusk until dawn. The New Zealand Oxford Dictionary specifically identifies 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 during 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 also be explained by human sleep cycles and circadian rhythms. During this period, the body is often in REM sleep, when heart rate slows, body temperature drops, and breathing and blood pressure become irregular. 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—tend to occur during REM sleep, which often falls within the witching hour. Additionally, symptoms of illnesses like lung disease, asthma, flu, and the common cold often worsen at night and into the witching hour. This happens because cortisol levels are lower late at night, especially during sleep, while the immune system becomes more active, sending white blood cells to fight 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 period
- 2:00 am to 4:00 am
- Peak apparitional experiences
- 2:00 am to 4:00 am
Lore & Background
The phrase 'witching hour' first appeared in 1762 in Elizabeth Carolina Keene's Miscellaneous Poems, alluding 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 in the body. 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 physiological phenomena. Its origins in 18th-century literature and its connection to Shakespeare's Hamlet underscore its deep roots in Western storytelling. The term's ambiguity—referring to different times depending on tradition—reflects its adaptability across contexts. Modern psychological research has linked the period from 2:00 am to 4:00 am to increased apparitional experiences, aligning with melatonin peaks and REM sleep cycles, which may explain why this time feels eerie or unsettling. The witching hour's legacy extends beyond folklore into colloquial usage, where it describes periods of bad luck, infant crying before bedtime, or heightened volatility in stock trading. It has also influenced public policy, such as curfew hours in Washington D.C. aimed at reducing juvenile gun violence. The concept remains a touchstone for discussions of sleep science, superstition, and cultural history, illustrating how ancient fears can intersect with modern understanding of human biology.
Did You Know?
- Psychological literature indicates apparitional experiences are most common between 2:00 am and 4:00 am, peaking with melatonin at 3:00 am.
- In investing, the witching hour refers to the last hour of stock trading between 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm EST, a period of above-average volatility.
- Curfew hours in Washington D.C. between 11:00 pm and midnight are referred to as the 'switching hour,' influenced by the idea of the witching hour.
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