A cauldron is a large pot or kettle used for cooking or boiling over an open fire, often with a lid and handles or feet. Cauldrons have a rich history in religion, mythology, and folklore, and are often associated with witchcraft in Western culture. The word "cauldron" comes from the Latin word "calidus," meaning "hot". In Wicca and some other forms of neopagan or pagan belief systems, the cauldron is still used in magical practices, such as burning loose incense on a charcoal disc, mixing herbs, or burning petitions. While cauldrons have largely fallen out of use in the developed world as cooking vessels, they are still used for practical purposes.