April 30th is the night the witches come out to play in celebration of spring.
The fertility ritual has been marked in Germanic Countries since Pagan times. Christians changed the name to honor some nun in 777 ad and hijacked the celebration. However Goethe revived it in the early 1800's as night the witches dance upon the mountain in the play "Faust". It is seen as a time of year when the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest. Below are some cool German postcards marking the event.
In honor of all this witchy revelry, my Twisted Sister, Baby M, and My Son will join me for a haunted candlelight tour of the Manitou Grand Cave. We will of course be dressed as witches.
Wow, that candlelight tour sounds awesome! Have fun! Post some photos if you can! Happy Walpurgisnacht!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like the appropriate sort of fun was had. Thank goodness for that. Also, what Debra said: pictures!
ReplyDeleteWe actually were not allowed to take pictures so that official one they took as we entered the cave is all I got. :(
DeleteI know Walpurgis Night from Gounod's opera Faust. Then from Dracula's Guest. So yes, belated happy Walpurgis Night!
ReplyDeleteSeems that Christians have hijacked quite a few pagan rituals and celebrations.
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