Walpurgis night

Walpurgis Night is the main coven of witches, as well as one of the most important pagan festivals dedicated to fertility. This is a holiday that every self-respecting witch must pay attention to. Where did this godless tradition come from?

The Celts had eight festivals, dividing the year into eight roughly equal parts:
The winter (Yol) and summer solstice. These holidays were celebrated by almost all peoples.
Imbaelk, or Groundhog Day, is the day of winter and spring. The only holiday that managed to get rid of bad fame. In Russia, this day is celebrated as Sretenye.
Beltain - April 30 (Walpurgis Night) and Samhain - November 31 - Hellwin.

The date of the Beltain holiday was not so accurate before - it was celebrated when the hawthorn blossomed. The Celts counted days from evening to evening, not from morning to morning. The tradition is preserved in two celebrations – Halloween night and Walpurgis night. These holidays were the opposite of each other – both on the calendar and in meaning. For the Celts, the night before May 1, marked the onset of the summer period of time - the "big sun", the night before November 1 - respectively, the onset of winter. It was believed that on both holidays the gates to another world, the land of the Elves, were open.

Like most peoples, the holiday in honor of the beginning of summer was dedicated to the sun and fertility, and therefore - and male power. This is reminiscent of the phallic symbol that has survived to our times - the May pole. The tradition of dancing on May 1 around a pole decorated with flowers and ribbons was preserved by the people of Britain and Ireland. On this day, they choose the May Queen – the only girl who on this day is allowed to wear green clothes, beloved, according to legend, by elves. The Queen becomes a mediator between the people and the Hill People.

Another symbol of Beltaine was the fires. The ancient Celts released cattle on this day on pastures after wintering in stables. It was considered mandatory to drive animals between two rows of bonfires - according to legend, this saved them from winter ailments.

Like everywhere it has reigned, the Christian Church blacklisted not only Celtic gods, but also holidays. However, since day in the year can not be abolished, tried to impose a different meaning. So, November 1 became All Saints Day, other old holidays, including the New Year, also acquired a Christian color. But in the church calendar, there were enough dates requiring celebration, and good Catholics tried to forget about the celebration of May 1.

The present name of the ancient celebration was given by the Germans - in honor of St. Walpurgia.

The first official mention of Walpurgis Night appeared in the records of the Inquisition in the Middle Ages. Saint Walburga (aka Valtpurde, Valpurgis, Wabur, Falbur, Bugga, Godurge) is a real historical figure. She was born in Devonshire around 710. She was the daughter of Richard, one of the kings of West Saxony, and Winna, the sister of St. John. Boniface, apostle of Germany. Both of her brothers, Willibald and Winibald, were canonized.

Going on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with his sons, Richard entrusted his 11-year-old daughter to the care of the abbess of Winborn Monastery, known for his strict order. She spent 26 years there. Walburga learned languages so well that she described her brother’s journey to Palestine in Latin, not to mention the story of another brother’s life in her native English. So often St. Walburga is known as the first writer of England and Germany.

In 748, Walburg’s uncle, Boniface, decided to establish a system of monasteries in Germany. At his request, Abbess Winborn sent missionaries, including Walburg. The ship sailed from Britain in clear weather. But soon a terrible storm began. The nun threw herself on her knees on the deck and the sea calmed down. Sailors told about this miracle on the shore, and in Germany Walburg was greeted with awe. Since then, the saint is considered the patroness of sailors (also helps with water fear and in a storm).

Subsequently, Walburga became the abbess of the monastery in Heidenheim, a town in Bavaria near Aishtadt, and after the death of her brother she even headed the monastery. Her virtues and many miracles brought her fame. Walburg died on February 25, 777.

More than 100 years passed, the miracles of the nuns were forgotten. But the new bishop of Aystadt decides to restore the monastery and the church. The workers desecrated the abbess’ grave, and one night her formidable shadow appeared to the bishop. Soon, namely, on May 1, the remains of the nun were transported to Aishtadt, laying in the void of one of the rocks. And from the rock began to flow healing oil, which helped from many diseases. Walburg was canonized, counted as a saint. Later, her remains were transported to various cities in Germany, and the days when this happened were dedicated to her (February 25, October 12, September 24). But the main day of St. Valburgy is the first of May.

So once again pagan and Christian patterns intertwined in one canvas, and the feast of evil spirits received the name of the righteous. Turn over the embroidery: from the inside out there is a fire and the dancing of a laughing witch.

So why is April 30 among the most popular dates of the Sabbath? Most likely, some testimonies of good Christians who have become eyewitnesses to the “godly act” have real ground. Witnesses claimed that on dark nights they found, most often on hilltops, people who, from their point of view, performed various obscenities: performing rituals, wearing masks and finally surrendering to carnal love. All this can be fragments of ancient traditions. Indeed, not only the Celts, but also many other followers of pre-Christian cults during the sacraments associated with land, fertility and successful hunting, sacrificed, smeared with blood, dressed in animal skins and masks.