Whenever I guide people through Central Park’s secrets, I always show them our two hidden “witches.” They are just a five-minute walk apart, but they tell two completely different stories: 1. The Mother Goose “Witch” (second on the video) • Where to find it: Tucked inside Rumsey Playfield (near East Drive at 72nd Street). • Why it exists: Carved from a 13-ton block of granite, she was dedicated in 1938 to bring playful fairy-tale comfort to children during the Great Depression. I love pointing her out because her tall, pointy hat and spectacles make her look less like a nursery rhyme character and more like a gentle witch guarding her giant goose. 2. The Bethesda Terrace Witch • Where to find it: At the top of the grand staircase leading to the fountain, carved into the far side of the western pillar on your right. • Why it exists: Chiseled in the 1860s, the architects meant for this sunset-facing pillar to symbolize “Night” using bats, owls, and a flying witch. • The Real Carvers: The physical chiseling of the sandstone was done by a crew of Irish immigrant stonemasons who had fled the Great Famine. These workers brought over the ancient Irish tradition of Samhain, the Celtic harvest festival that invented Halloween. By carving this specific scene, these Irish immigrants left a permanent, proud stamp of their own folklore on the park. #centralpark #halloweeninnyc #nychalloween #spookyseason #witches - @nyc.unfolded