May 1st – WALPURGISNACHT – THE NIGHT OF WITCHES

Are you ready for this year’s Witches Night? Walpurgisnacht (also known as Walpurgis Night, Saint Walpurga’s Eve, Witches Night, etc.) can be traced to ancient pagan fertility rites that were practised before the arrival of Christianity. When Christianity started in the eighth century, most pagan celebrations were frowned upon. However, to avoid the reprisal of the church, what they did was to celebrate their pagan traditions on the day of Saint Walpurga and attribute their celebrations to her.

Who was Saint Walpurga?

St. Walpurga was a nun who lived at the Heidenheim monastery in Germany. Her name has different translations including Valborg, Walpurgis, Wealdburg, and Valderburger. Those names coincide with other celebrations done in other cultures.

Walpurga was a well-known healer of rabies and whooping cough. She was also known for speaking against sorcery and witchcraft. She was very powerful and even after her death, it was said that the tomb where she was buried oozed out healing oil.

How is Walpurga Eve celebrated?

Catholics celebrate this day by praying to St Walpurga to guard them against witchcraft. They also visit her tomb in Eichstatt to obtain vials of  her healing oil.  In some parts of the world, they celebrate this day to welcome the spring season. In rural parts of Southern Germany, the residents celebrate Walpurgis Night by dressing up in costumes. The youths play pranks such as hiding people’s possessions, tampering with neighbors’ gardens, or spraying graffiti on private property.

In Czech Republic, Walpurgis Night is known as Pálení čarodějnic which means “burning of the witches” in English. Tall bonfires with a witch figure are set mostly on top of hills. In the night, the people dance around the fire, sing and make loud noises. In many cultures, they prepare small scarecrow-looking dolls which are ritually imbued with the bad luck of the previous year. Those dolls are tossed into the bonfires along with worn-out, burnable household items.

On Walpurgis Night, the veil between the spirit world and ours is believed to be at its thinnest. So spirits travel from house to house. People leave bread covered with honey and butter outside their homes to feed the spirits.

Black Magic Rituals on Walpurgis Night

Spells and rituals are very potent on this night. Witches and magicians go out in the night to summon legions of demons in the wilderness. Divination works well and love potions are exceptionally potent on Walpurgis Night. Those who desire to find a love partner go to sleep with one stocking on. And if they found a strand of hair on the stocking in the morning, that would indicate the hair color of their future spouse.

According to the Encyclopedia of Superstitions, the dew on the morning of May 1, can make any girl who washes in it beautiful.

 “The fair maid who on the first of May

Goes to the fields at break of day

And washes in dew from the hawthorn tree

Will ever after handsome be.”

In Czech Republic, their most unique practice involves searching for a cherry tree in blossom and kissing young women under the cherry tree.  In Rhineland, on this night, young men propose marriage to the women by placing a branch wrapped in colorful ribbons in the garden of the maidens. The girls also place these branches in the gardens of men during leap years.

Modern Day Celebration of Witches Night:  

This year, Walpurgisnacht will be celebrated from the eve of April 30th to May 1. It coincides with Loyalty Day in the USA, and May Day. Throughout Europe and the United States, this day remains a lighthearted celebration of fireworks, folk songs, and dancing. One practice that still exists in its modern-day celebration is the setting up of bonfires which is usually monitored. In locations where bonfires are not allowed, the people celebrate by wearing devil’s costumes and dancing around.

Walpurgisnacht and Mount Brocken

According to German folklore, witches gather from across the land for a great sabbat on the top of the Blocksberg (now Brocken), a summit in the Harz Mountains of central Germany.

The biggest celebrations of Walpurgis Night can be found in villages and towns close to the Brocken, including Goslar and Thale, the site of the famous Hexentanzplatz (witches’ dance floor).

 “The Witches’ excursion takes place on the first night in May…they ride up Blocksberg on the first of May, and in 12 days must dance the snow away; then Spring begins… Here they appear as elflike, godlike maids.”

– Jacob Grimm.

Walpurgis Night and Fertility

Both Walpurgis Night and Beltane are considered the ideal time to mate. Goddesses and gods of fertility are celebrated. Unbridled sexuality and excessive consumption of alcohol are seen on this night. Below is a fertility ritual that can be done during this celebration. In this ritual, the Celtic god named Bel will be called upon to bring fertility.

Ritual For Fertility and Earth Energies

Note:

This ritual can be performed to encourage fertility, growth, and creativity in any aspect of your life.

It can be done alone or in a group.

Items Needed:

• Any magickal wood (e.g oak, willow, yew, birch, rowan or you can use any wood indigenous to your location.)
• Dark green candle.
• Match sticks
• Scarlet ribbons

Procedure:

1) Gather the woods and light a small fire (this can be done indoors or outdoors.) If you cannot light a fire, choose a really large, fat, dark green candle as your focus. Place it on a wide, deep fireproof tray, secured in the sand.

2) If you are working in a group, stand in a circle around it, with each person holding a taper. The first person lights their taper, then the flame is passed from one taper to the next until the person holding the final taper lights the central candle. Each person can say the chant, with one voice after another joining in.

3) As you build and light your fire or candle, say:

Fire of Bel, fire of the summer Sun and the ascending light, flame in my heart, my soul, my loins, that my life and light may be kindled and flare upwards to greet the summer Sun.

4 ) Take a twig, if possible oak, ash, or thorn, and circle the fire or candle deosil, saying:

Fires of healing, fertile fires, bring what is needed, not desired. 

Heal the planet, bless the corn.

Lord of Light, we greet your dawn.

5) Carefully light the twig and allow it to smolder and then hold it momentarily upwards, saying:

“Fire of Bel, join with my fire and with all fires in all places on this day at this hour, Rise in a web of glorious flame to empower the Sun, to be empowered and to flame within my heart forever.”

6) Cast the twig into the flames, then leap high in the air, crying:

“Ascend and bring fertility, power, and creativity.”

7) If you are using a candle, each person can in turn hold the end of the twig in the flame until it smolders, then rest it on the tray and allow it to burn slowly down or go out.

8) End the ritual by taking scarlet ribbons and spiraling around the fire or candle, waving them like flames, as you chant..

9) Finally throw them into the air, away from the flame..

10) Allow the fire or candle to burn down. Afterward, make up small posies of flowers to leave on the doorsteps of people who you know would appreciate them.

Sources:

• https://en.  wikipedia.  org/wiki/  Walpurgis_Night
• https://www   .iamexpat  .de/lifestyle/lifestyle-n  ews/walpurgisnacht  -german-night-witches-e  xplained%E2%80%AC
• https://www.gothic  horrorstories.  com/pagans-a  nd-he  athens/pagan-holidays-