“Witches are outsiders, and those among us who have been bullied and ostracized can relate to their plight. Part of our fascination with witches is that they are the only female mythic figures with power. These are women who don’t need to be rescued by a prince or a king, but, instead, can save themselves….” ~Alice Hoffman, from the 25th anniversary edition of Practical Magic Halloween is my favorite holiday — and friends who know me well aren’t surprised by my fascination with the history of “witches.” My parents, both of whom were New England history buffs, took me on vacation to historic Massachusetts sites when I was a preteen.…