Walpurgis night
/valˈpʊəɡɪs
/noun
(In German folklore) the night of April 30 (May Day’s eve), when witches meet on the Brocken mountain and hold revels with the Devil.In the Harz mountains the Walpurgis night is always a happy festival....
- A fine occasion for joining was Michaelmas, or another rural feast such as Easter or Walpurgis night.
Origin
Named after St Walburga, an English nun who in the 8th century helped to convert the Germans to Christianity; her feast day coincided with an ancient pagan festival whose rites were intended to give protection from witchcraft.