Time of the Witches: why evil spirits love Walpurgisnacht

In many parts of Europe, it is believed that the last April evening is the time of the largest and loudest witches' sabbath in the world, when they celebrate Walpurgisnacht. According to beliefs, the boundary between the earthly and otherworldly world is thinning during this period, and evil spirits and sorcerers want to harm ordinary people. Read about how the ancient tradition originated, why it was popularized in pop culture, and what not to do on Walpurgisnacht in the Izvestia article.

Walpurgisnacht — why is it called that?

Strangely enough, the name of the holiday is associated with the name of a Christian Catholic saint who has never practiced witchcraft and certainly was not known as a witch.

The Anglo-Saxon nun and missionary Walpurga (emphasis on the second syllable) arrived in Germany in the 8th century to bring her faith to pagan tribes. It so happened that the day of her canonization, May 1, coincided with the Beltane Spring Festival, when sorcerers and healers became more active.

The church tried to displace the ancient pagan traditions, and the Beltane festival was transformed into the "night of St. Walpurga." But people did not abandon the old rituals, but synthesized them with a new holiday.

Walpurgisnacht in 2025 — the history and traditions of the Witches' Festival

The story of Walpurgisnacht

The origins of Walpurgisnacht go back to pre-Christian Europe. The holiday fell on May 1, this time was considered the border between winter and summer, when the forces of nature awaken, the dead leave, and the living take power.

At the same time, it was not immediately that the holiday began to be associated with the arbitrariness of witches. Initially, Beltane was associated with the arrival of heat and the time of fertility.

The Celts believed that it was on this night that they would be able to see the souls of their ancestors, as the boundary between the world of the living and the world of the dead became as blurred as possible. For the same reason, it was believed that people were threatened by evil entities, and there were special rituals to scare them away.

For this purpose, bonfires were burned, symbolizing the power of fire and light, purification and protection. Like the Slavic Ivan Kupala, the Europeans jumped over the fire that was kindled on the hills and hills.

Later, such a bonfire began to be given malicious intent. Gradually, the image of witches who gathered on Walpurgisnacht on the Brocken Mountain, the highest peak of the Harz mountain range in Germany, became entrenched in European culture, especially in Germany and France.

But they no longer burned bonfires for the sake of purification, but to worship demons and dance their wild dances around them. This is where the idea of witches originated as women with disheveled hair flying on brooms.

The impact of Walpurgisnacht on pop culture

Stories about witches gathering on the night of April 30 to May 1 for the most important sabbath of the year have become the basis of many legends, literary and musical works that have largely shaped the modern romantic image of this event.

So, in Goethe's Faust, it is in the Harz Mountains that Mephistopheles takes the main character away from his love for Margarita into a world of bacchanalia and temptations, which becomes a metaphor for moral decline.

The Witches' Holiday becomes an important plot twist in Mikhail Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita.

Later, the theme of Walpurgisnacht became part of the aesthetics of rock and metal culture. For example, she is recognized on the cover of the cult band Black Sabbath, the ritual references of the celebration are noticeable in the lyrics of Mercyful Fate and Type O Negative, there is also a song of the same name by the Russian band Gaza Strip.

In the modern world, the night from April 30th to May 1st has ceased to be considered full of horrors, but fans of magic, esotericism and the witchy atmosphere continue to celebrate it in their own way.

Carnivals, parades, and fairs are held in Germany, the Czech Republic, Sweden, and other countries. Especially the brave consider this time to be a good time for rituals and meditations.

Signs and traditions: what can and cannot be done on Walpurgisnacht

Walpurgisnacht is a mixture of pagan, witchcraft and Christian rituals that existed at different times. It is believed that when the veil between the worlds is particularly thin, it is much easier to listen to your intuition and receive signs from higher powers.

Modern esotericists use this opportunity to practice cleansing from negativity, make spells for love and money, and communicate with the spirits of their ancestors.

Traditionally, in different countries, especially in Germany and the Czech Republic, large bonfires are lit on the night of May 1. So, according to legend, you can scare away evil spirits and witches, and if you jump through the fire, you will receive purification, protection and good luck for the whole year.

In addition, Walpurgisnacht still coincides with the ancient Celtic Beltane festival, which includes wreath-making, wish-making and the ritual of blessing the earth. The inhabitants of Germany and Scandinavia in ancient times danced and had fun until morning on this night to ensure their happiness and harvest.

Modern esotericists believe that on the last April evening one should not do bad things: curse, take revenge, cause damage, otherwise, according to beliefs, everything will return in an enhanced version.

Also, you should not perform any rituals with mirrors - you can accidentally attract the otherworldly into our world. It is also not recommended to leave the house without fire or light on Walpurgis Night, as it protects the room from evil entities.

How to protect yourself on Walpurgisnacht

Previously, it was believed that not only witches, but also evil spirits, demons and sorcerers wanted to harm people on Walpurgisnacht.

Moreover, sometimes it is possible to be negatively affected completely by accident: having fun with evil spirits harms everyone indiscriminately. To avoid this, protective rituals and amulets have been practiced for centuries.

Salt is considered a universal protective attribute. It was scattered at the doors and windows to keep evil spirits out of the house, and was also carried with them in a bag or put under a pillow.

Garlic and wormwood are still powerful charms in the magical tradition. Wormwood brooms were hung over the entrance, and garlic was placed on the threshold or in clothes.

With the advent of Christianity, believers began to defend themselves from the dark forces with the help of prayers and the signs of the cross. In special cases, the homes of believers were sprinkled with holy water, and prayers were also recited during this ritual.

In addition to Christian symbols, amulets, runes, or stones were considered witches' amulets. Obsidian, black tourmaline or hematite were considered the most effective of the stones.