🌿Walpurgisnacht🔥

Tonight is Walpurgisnacht, or Walpurgis Night, also known as "Hexenbrennen" (Witch Burning).

This festival is a traditional Northern and Middle European festival, named after St. Walburga (Remembrance Day 1st May).

"Blocks Berg Verrichtung", Johannes Praetorius, 1668

Usually, this festival is also known as "Tanz in den Mai" (Dance into May) and due to the following holiday it comes in handy to just celebrate the night before. (Also common in Germany with Birthdays, term: "reinfeiern", "celebrating into")

Traditionally the night from 30 April to 1 May is the night in which Witches will dance and celebrate large festivals on the Blocksberg (mountain in Germany, now called Brocken), but also on any other high place. This concept is influenced by the descriptions of the "Hexensabbat" (Witch Sabbat) in the literature of the 15th and 16th century. It was your boy Johann Wolfgang von Goethe who popularised the term Walpurgisnacht with Faust, Part 1.

Faust: Der Teufelspakt, unterzeichnet "mit einem Tröpfchen Blut" (En: The pact with the devil, signed with a drop of blood)

Many of the Walpurgis rites still live in peasant traditions. In folk tradition one would keep the barns save with whipping whips in the night, and by placing brooms and may bushes outside. The May Tree is usually a birch, and represents both the world tree and fertility. In villages people will also get those trees from the surrounding forests, and secretly place them in front of the house of their crush. (Alternatively, a line of chalk can be drawn on the floor in front of the entrance door.)

In the middle of the village, people will dance around a tree. Drinking, dancing, having a hell of a time.

Many of the old traditions link to young couples (and young people seeking love). Walking through two Walpurgis fires is said to cleanse and keep pests away (as Walburga is a patron helping against pest, cough, and rabies).

Today's witch fires are likely linking back to these traditions.

The "Hexenfeuer", or "Maifeuer" (Witch Fire, May Fire) is celebrated in large parts of Germany. On 30 April, a large fire will be made in order to get rid of evil spirits. The festival is celebrated till deep into the night, and as soon as the fire's come down a little bit, people (usually young couples) will jump over the low flames.

Walpurgisnacht Celebration on the Thingstätte in Heidelberg, Germany.

In some parts of Germany, people will walk around to "walpern", "hexen", "Schabernack treiben", which just means annoying the shit out of people by moving foot mats, rubbish bins, garden things, etc. Basically everything around a house that isn't nailed down can and will be moved, because... paranormal vibes.

So, if you can, maybe you can light a little fire today, dance, sing, have some fun, and embrace the upcoming season of fertility.