What is a meiga? The witches of Galicia
Published on 27 October 2026
In Galicia, people do not talk about witches but about meigas. The word is part of the popular culture of this region of north-west Spain, somewhere between legend, superstition and humour. In our case La Queimada du Pazo, a meiga plays a central role.
Meigas in Galician belief
In traditional tales, the meiga is a woman who knows plants, remedies and spells. Depending on the story, she can heal, protect, predict... or cast the evil eye. In the past, unexplained misfortunes were blamed on her: a lost harvest, a sick animal, a run of bad luck.
Not all meigas are alike in legend: some are kindly, others feared. That ambiguity is what makes them fascinating.
A proverb everyone knows
A Galician saying sums up the region's relationship with its legends: "Eu non creo nas meigas, mais habelas, hainas", roughly "I do not believe in witches, but they exist, they do". Nobody believes... but you never know.
The meiga and the queimada
The conxuro, the incantation recited while the queimada burns, is addressed to evil spirits, witches and curses. The blue flame is meant to keep them away. See the history of the queimada.
The meiga of La Queimada du Pazo
In our case, the village meiga is one of the eight characters. She sets the queimada aflame and recites the conxuro at midnight, lights off. She knows the region's plants, including those that can stop the heart. She reads the cards for the guests. Is she guilty? There is no way to tell before digging into the file. But she is one of the most fascinating suspects to play.
Her invitation suggests a simple outfit: a brown linen dress, a pouch of herbs on her belt and tarot cards.
Why she is a perfect murder mystery character
The meiga brings what a realistic case lacks: a touch of mystery. Players wonder whether she knows more than she says, whether her predictions are warnings, whether her plants were used. It is an ideal role for a player who enjoys theatrical play.
Discover the whole story on La Queimada du Pazo page, and read our introduction to the case.
