Welcome
The Magic of Walpurgis Night: Europe's Enchanting Tradition
Walpurgisnacht, Wernigerode, © picture alliance / Matthias Bein/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa | Matthias Bein
Welcome to the enchanting world of Walpurgis Night, a celebration that marks the transition from spring to summer across many parts of Europe, particularly in Germany, Sweden, and Finland.
This event, held on the eve of May Day (April 30th), is shrouded in folklore and tradition, with origins that can be traced back to ancient times.
Walpurgis Night, named after Saint Walpurga, an 8th-century abbess in Germany, became associated with witches very early in its history. The night is said to be when witches and spirits would gather on the Brocken, the highest peak in the Harz Mountains of Germany, to herald the arrival of spring. This myth stems from older pagan traditions celebrating the end of winter and the rebirth of the land.
In Germany, the night is celebrated with bonfires, dancing, and singing to ward off evil spirits and witches.
Today, Walpurgis Night remains a popular cultural event, combining ancient superstitions with modern festivities. It's a night filled with joy, where communities come together to enjoy the warming weather and longer days.
Through these celebrations, Walpurgis Night serves as a vibrant reminder of Europe’s rich cultural tapestry, weaving together history, tradition, and community spirit.
Traditionally on Walpurgis Night, young men bring maypoles from the forest to the village to place them in front of the houses of the women they are secretly in love with. In the village center, everyone dances around a big maypole.
© picture alliance/dpa | Matthias Bein
Walpurgis is considered the patron saint against plague, coughs and rabies. The witches' bonfires that are still celebrated in many parts of Germany today presumably date back to this tradition.
Walpurgis visitors stand in costume in Wernigerode before storming the town hall on the market square. Walpurgis celebrations are held in the Harz Mountains on the night of May 1st. Walpurgis strongholds include the Hexentanzplatz in Thale and the Walpurgis celebration in Schierke. Thousands of visitors come to the Harz Mountains to celebrate the traditional festival.
A May bonfire burns with a straw doll dressed as a witch at the top. The May fire, also known as the witches' fire, is celebrated in many parts of Germany. A fire is lit on April 30th to drive away the evil spirits. A witch figure is usually placed on top of the pile of wood.
Once the fire has burnt down a little, in some areas the “Maisprung” takes place, a custom in which it is common for lovers to jump over the May bonfire together.
Rural May customs exist in various regions of Germany, where the arrival of spring and fertility are celebrated in an exuberant manner. In folk tradition, people protected their farms by cracking whips at night, laying out brooms and may bushes. The maypole,
usually a birch tree, is a symbol of fertility. Many of the customs at
spring festivals revolve around young couples who symbolize the human community.