Wednesday 30 April 2008

Walpurgis Night

Walpurgis Night is a holiday celebrated on April 30 or May 1, in large parts of Central and Northern Europe. The festival is named after Saint Walpurga, born in Wessex in 710 and died on 25 February 779. Historically the Walpurgisnacht is derived from pagan spring customs. In the Norse tradition, Walpurgisnacht is considered the "Enclosure of the Fallen". It commemorates the time when Odin died to retrieve the knowledge of the runes, and the night is said to be a time of weakness between the living and the dead. Bonfires were built to keep away the dead and chaotic spirits that were said to walk among the living then this is followed by the return of light and the sun as celebrated during May Day. Due to Walpurga's holy day falling on the same day, her name became associated with the celebrations. Early Christianity had a policy of 'Christianizing' pagan festivals so it is no accident that St. Walpurga's day was set to May 1st. The closing sequence of Fantasia, Night on Bald Mountain / Ave Maria is intended to portray Walpurgisnacht and not Halloween.

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