Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches has been a cult (see what we did there) favorite for many fans since its publication. With such a vivid and rich background, readers often muse that the Mayfairs could be based on real events and actual magic users. But are they?
Are the Mayfair Witches Real?
No, the Mayfair Witches are not real. They are fictional characters written by Anne Rice who appears in her novel series entitled, "The Lives of the Mayfair Witches."
In both the novels and AMC's television adaptation, we learn about and follow the adventures of the Mayfairs, a powerful and wealthy New Orleans family who have a dark secret passed down for generations.
Are the Mayfair Witches based on a real family?
No, the Mayfair Witches are not real. They are a fictional family created by Anne Rice created for her novels and are not based on a real family. As a writer who is particularly known for her gothic and horror style, her characters have a distinct eerieness about them, accentuated by gothic items like the necklace, a Mayfair family heirloom that plays a central role in the stories.
In Anne Rice's novels, the Mayfair family is wealthy and powerful. They are said to have originated in Scotland before migrating to New Orleans, where they built a legacy, establishing themselves as a prominent family.
Though not a real family, Rice's novels often incorporate real-life historical events and places. This, along with elements of folklore and mythology, created a rich and vivid world that feels grounded in reality that many fans might start questioning whether the novel is purely fiction.
Read more: Who is Lasher in AMC’s Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches
Where are the Mayfair Witches From?
The fictional Mayfair family is from New Orleans, Louisiana. The family is deeply rooted in the history, culture, and spiritual lore of New Orleans, with much of the action in the series, taking place in and around the city.
Rice drew on the rich past and folklore of New Orleans, including its unique blend of French, Spanish, and African cultures, to create the setting and atmosphere for her novels and the themes revolving around the stories. The city's mystique and reputation as a center of supernatural activity make it a fitting home for the powerful Mayfair witches and their paranormal adventures.
Are the Mayfair Witches Based on Real Voodoo Occult?
While Anne Rice was influenced heavily by the history and culture of New Orleans, including its traditions of voodoo and occult practice, while writing the Mayfair Witches series, the Mayfair Witches themselves are not based on any specific real-life individuals or practices.
In the books, the Mayfair family possesses many supernatural abilities, including telepathy, precognition, and the ability to communicate with the dead. These abilities are often associated with various mystical and occult traditions, including voodoo, but the portrayal of these practices in the novels is very much fictional and fantastical.
With that in mind, Anne Rice said in interviews that she conducted extensive research on voodoo and other mystical practices while writing the Mayfair Witches series, drawing on elements of these traditions to create the magical world of the Mayfair family. However, the specific powers and rituals depicted in the books are the product of Rice's imagination, rather than direct adaptations of real voodoo or occult practices.