Cauldrons are a huge part of Halloween–whether it be a cauldron we give out candy from, a cauldron with dry ice giving off a sinister feel—or simply, the belief that witches cast spells and make potions in their cauldrons.

The pagan Celts believed that after death, all souls went into the crone’s cauldron, which symbolized the Earth mother’s womb. There, the souls awaited reincarnation, as the goddess’ stirring allowed for new souls to enter the cauldron and old souls to be reborn. That image of the cauldron of life has now been replaced by the steaming, bubbling, ominous brew.