Walpurgis Night 2020 in Germany will begin in the evening of Thursday, 30 April and ends in the evening of Friday, 1 May
The Walpurgis Night is a renowned festival held annually between the end of April and the first day of May. It is a holiday named after St. Walburg and dates back to the pagan rites of fertility. However, in different countries around the world, there are various variants of this holiday.
What is Walpurgis Night: The Meaning of Walpurgisnacht
Its origins date back to the pagan fertility rites and the coming of spring. But with the Christianization of the Northern peoples of Europe, this holiday was combined with the commemoration of Walpurg or Saint Walpurga, which is a celebration held in honor of a nun.
Walpurgis Night is known by many different names, such as:
Valpurinyo, Walpurgis Night, Saint Walburga’s Night, Saint Walburga’s Eve, Saint Walpurgis’ Eve, Saint Walpurga’s Day, Saint Walburga’s Day, Saint Walburgis’ Day, Feast of Saint Walpurga, Feast of Saint Walburga, Saint Walburgis’ Day, Night of Witches
In ancient pagan times, this festivity was often celebrated with dancing and huge bonfires. It was very similar with the Halloween festivity, in a way that it has to do with supernatural spirits of both ancestors and gods but also the land spirits.
Walpurga was a nun who lived in the 8th century. She was born in England and at some point in her life, she moved to Germany where she founded a Catholic Convent. It is believed that she cured the illnesses of local residents, therefore she was canonized by the miracles she performed.
In ancient times, this night represented the time when the boundaries between our world and the world of spirits were a bit shaky much like Halloween. This was a time when it was possible to communicate with the spirits and the spirit world.
Walpurgis Night was the festivity to celebrate the coming of spring and also a time to being a new cycle of farming and herding. The ancient farmers celebrated this day because from now on they could start their farming. It was the time of animals waking up from hibernation. So some farmers would also mark this day as their cattle herds would go out into the forest at this time, to begin their summer grazing.
Walpurgis Night was considered as the night when the veil is thinnest. When spirits and devils walk amongst humans. Bram Stroke wrote: Walpurgis night was when the devil was abroad when the graves were opened, and the dead came forth and walked. When all evil things of Earth and air and water held revel.
Historically, this day or this evening was used by black magicians and those who were courageous enough to go out into the night and to summon forth demons and there in the wilderness they would conduct massive orgies, witches and sorcerers throwing themselves into the Revel and calling forth legions of demons as they did so. All of this culminating in the eventual appearance of the Lord of Darkness himself, who joined in the celebration. It was also known that if you were in good enough favor with the devil for him to appear, they will also grant you wishes.
In Germanic folklore, Hexennacht, literally ‘the witch nights’, was believed to be the night off of the meeting between witches on Brocken, the highest summit of the Harz Mountains, a range forest hills in central Germany between the rivers Weser and Elbe. Saint Walpurga was praised by Christians of Germany for fighting against “rabies, pests, and bacterial diseases, as well as against witchcraft. Catholics prayed to God, by the intercession of St Walpurg, to guard against witchcraft because St Walpurg succeeded in transforming the local population into Christianity.
So Walpurgis Night is a combination of all these past cultural, religious, and springtime festival celebrations. For Catholics, this day was important because it honors Saint Walpurga, for farmers this day meant the revival of nature and the start of farming activities, while others considered this day as the day of evil spirits and witches.
Where is Walpurgis Night Celebrated: Countries that Observe this Festival The Most
Estonia – Walpurgis Night (known as Volbrioo) is observed in Estonia throughout the night of 30 April and into the morning of 1 May, where 1 May is a public holiday in the region called “Spring Day“.
Croatia – Walpurgis Night is observed in Croatia, with the commemorations starting from the night of late April until the evening of the first day of May.
Sweden – Walpurgis Night is a great popular festival in Sweden. Liting bonfires, letting farm animals out to graze, choral singing, and a speech to mark the arrival of the spring season by a local celebrity, are some famous customs associated with Walpurgis Night in Sweden.
Finland – Walpurgis Night is one of the four biggest holidays of the year in Finland. The day is called Vappu in Finland when the locals enjoy the biggest carnival-style festivals in cities and towns. Enjoying picnics and drinking alcoholic beverages are famous traditions of this day.
Czech Republic – Walpurgis Night is one of the most famous festivals on the Czech Republic calendar. The celebrations for this day start on 30 April and continue till May 1. Lighting of huge bonfires and burning the effigies of witches are common customs followed in the Czech Republic. However, the most unique practice followed here is searching for a cherry tree in blossom and kissing young women under the cherry tree. Thus, this day is also celebrated as the day of those in love.
https://dayfinders.com/walpurgis-night/
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