Walpurgis night

 With the approach of May there is a celebration across Europe that is often associated with the first day of May, around about then. It's got huge popularity in countries like Germany, where they celebrate this time. It's called Walpurgis Night, named for the festival of Saint Walpurga. This stems from a holy woman from England who was born during the Dark Ages in the year 710, who grew up in the Kingdom of Wessex. Her name varies from Walpurga, Wealdburg, Valborg and Valpurga. A daughter of the famous Richard the Pilgrim, she set out to heal and cure people suffering diseases like whooping cough. She helped to fight against the menace of rabies and other pests, while also travelling to the continent and visited Germany, using her knowledge to protect the villagers against witchcraft. Her reputation grew, and she was loved by many people who continued to remember her after her death. Walpurga was made into a saint and her feast day coincides with the May Day celebrations. 

In many countries peoples celebrate Walpurgis Night, but in Germany especially it's also a time of witch festivals. It's also called "Witches Night" where witches meet up on the mountain and dance to the change of seasons, at Brocken in the Harz Mountains. Many have observed the witches night celebration as being enchanting and a magical yet spooky experience. There's a lot of similarities of Witches Night and with Halloween. Its when the veils are lowered, as the time of Spring/Autumn equinoxes. While the Germans celebrate the coming of May with witches, the idea is pre-Christian Pagan in origin, as this coincides with the time of Beltane. The English celebrate the arrival of May with cowslips, fairies and the May Queen, with fetes and maypole dances. Witches Night in Germany is a very exciting holiday. It even has a Springtime version of "trick or treating" style pranks that includes going out in costumes, setting off fireworks, hanging decorations of plants and fire dancing. So have a wonderful Walpurgis Night!    

Storm Valkyrie