I am confused is wicca ancient or is it a religion from the 40s/50s in origin?

the followers of Gardner want everyone to believe HE was the one who started it. There are also people who can't believe that people would hide their beliefs in order not to be harmed or killed. The Christians did it as did the Jews, so why wouldn't the ancient Pagans do it as well. I found in some history books many years ago that the term Wicca was celtic for bendable or reed. The druids referred to their beliefs on occasion as Wicca. It wasn't until Gardner reaffirmed these beliefs that the term Wicca was revived as the basis of the religion. But Gardner and his group were also witches which Wicca was originally not intended. Still, there are people today who still think of Wicca as being a "Neo" group. Funny thing, I never heard of Gardner until I started answering this site and being chewed out by people from his group of followers. Sad really.