Pennsylvania Dutch folk magic combines uses the Christian faith (namely excerpts from the bible) as a means of healing, protecting, and blessing in a wide variety of situations. Although this is a quite common practice seen throughout various forms of Christianity, PA Dutch practices often include superstition and the recitation of a braucherei- or Pow-wow (a term taken from a Native American religious practice). The concept of the Pow-wow is that a practitioner (who can be anyone who knows the skill) recites a blessing to cure various injuries, ranging from burns, bleeding, rashes, infections, and even warts or scars.
For example my own grandma claims to have cured a wart my grandfather had by rubbing a penny over it and reciting the Pow-wow: “God the father, God the son, and God the holy spirit…” Then, the penny had to be thrown away to “take the wart with it.”
From a folkloric perspective, the concept of the Pow-wow is an example of Divination or Evocation types of magic, since those practicing it call upon higher powers to aid and heal injuries. However, the stories of successful Pow-wows serve as folk myths for the PA Dutch communities, since they believe the stories to be true examples of the power of God at work. These stories (or myths) also fulfill Bascom’s function of folklore as a means of validating the beliefs and practices of the PA Dutch community.
Pow-wow heals burn victim:
“Brook Bressler, my mother’s uncle worked at Brookside Colliery located near Pine Grove, Schuylkill Co, PA. A big gas explosion caused Brook to be burned very badly on his face and hands. He was transported to his home in Donaldson where the doctors gave him little chance to live. As he was sleeping or unconscious, John G. Stutzman was called in from Fountain, a small town over the mountain from Donaldson. John G. powwowed for Brook. The next day when Brook woke up he asked, “Was John G. here?” Almost immediately the burned skin formed a hard shell that broke away from his hands and face and new skin began to grow. In a short time, to the amazement of those who saw him being taken from the mine, Brook was on the road to recovery. They could not believe he was alive.” (Savidge)
Pow-wow stops bleeding from afar:
“Gurney Bendigo was a timber man from Hegins, Schuylkill Co, PA. One day while cutting timber in the bush he cut himself with his ax. He bled profusely and the bleeding could not be stopped. Someone said, “Go get John G. Stutzman, he can powwow to stop bleeding.” Someone went for John G. and John said, “I can stop the bleeding from here.” He said “Jesus Christ life blood, stop the pain, stop the bleeding!” Till the messenger got back to Bendigo the bleeding had stopped!” (Savidge)