Witte Wieven or witte vrouwen (white women) are creatures of Dutch folklore in ancient Germanic times. In history these priestesses lived in the forest, highly respected in Germanic society and after their death the people kept honouring them at their graves. Their spirits still haunt the forests and the Christian church told the people that they were evil demon spirits.
Etmology
The word 'white' has nothing to do with colour, the word is a misinterpretation of 'wit', which meant 'wise'.
Description
Ladies dressed in white, floating through the mist at night, wreaking havoc on those that dare to disturb them. Christian teaching transformed white women into misty white haze and they became ghost witches, evil and to be avoided. The waving branches, fog and eerie silence made medieval farmers very afraid when walking on darkened roads.