Witch Balls & Friendship Balls

My wife and I decorate the enclosed patio window with these hand blown glass witch balls (also called friendship balls). The first one pictured is about 9" in diameter and is called the tree of life by the glass blower/artist. The third ball has a small glass bird hanging in the center of the globe.
The term "Witch Ball" emanated from folklore when people feared the darkness of night. They believed that in the darkness of the night, witches and demons would travel through the area putting evil spells on the residents and their livestock.
It was thought that if you hang these pretty glass balls in your doorway.... a barn entrance.... or a tree in the yard, the witches would be mesmerized by the moonlight shining on the globe and would be tempted to touch the outside of the ball. Upon doing so, the witch is instantly captured into the ball where she will remain as the thin feathery strings that are visible in some of the witch balls shown. If the ball is broken, the witch is free to continue her evil work on the community.
This, of course is only a folklore, but, it does add to the interest of these very decorative collectable