Walpurgis Night facts for kids
Walpurgis Night is a special holiday celebrated on April 30 or May 1. It is known by different names in various countries, like Valborgsmässoafton in Sweden, Vappu in Finland, Volbriöö in Estonia, Valpurģu nakts in Latvia, Walpurgisnacht in Germany, and Čarodějnice in the Czech Republic. People in these countries celebrate the arrival of spring with fun traditions.
What is Walpurgis Night?
This festival gets its name from Saint Walburga. She was born in Wessex in 710 and was related to Saint Boniface. Walburga traveled to Germany and became a nun. She lived in a convent in Heidenheim. Walburga passed away on February 25, 779. This day is still named after her in the Catholic calendar. However, she was recognized as a saint on May 1 of the same year. That is why May 1 carries her name in the Swedish calendar.
Historically, Walpurgis Night comes from much older spring customs. Ancient people celebrated the start of spring with big bonfires at night. Viking groups also had celebrations for fertility around April 30. Because Saint Walburga was declared a saint around this time, her name became linked to these spring parties. As these traditions spread across Europe, the two celebrations mixed together. This created the Walpurgis Night holiday we know today.
Walpurgis Night in Germany
In Germany, Walpurgisnacht is the night between April 30 and May 1. It is a night from old German stories. People believed that witches would gather on a mountain called the Blocksberg. They would have a big party there to welcome spring. If the Blocksberg was too far, they might choose another hill nearby.
The Brocken mountain is the highest peak in the Harz Mountains of northern Germany. It is famous for a special sight called the Brocken spectre. This is when a magnified shadow of a person appears on a cloud, often surrounded by rainbow-like colors. This happens when the sun is low in the sky. Old stories say that witches had their parties on the Brocken mountain during Walpurgis Night.
Images for kids
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People at a Vappu picnic in Kaivopuisto in 2008
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A large crowd, mostly students in typical Swedish white student caps, participating in the traditional Walpurgis Night celebration with song outside the Castle in Uppsala. The silhouette of the cathedral towers may be seen in the background. To the right are banners and standards of the student nations. Image from c. 1920.
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See also
In Spanish: Noche de Walpurgis para niños
