Walpurgisnacht

 
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A witch

Walpurgisnacht (Walpurgis Night) is the night from 30 April to 1 May. Legend has it that on this night, witches hold a festival on the Blocksberg mountain to await the arrival of spring.

People throughout Germany use this occasion to welcome the beginning of May and warmer weather. There is usually lots of singing and dancing.

Maibaum A Maibaum
  • In northern Germany, many people dress up as witches and celebrate on the Blocksberg mountain.
  • In the Rhineland, in the west of Germany, boys decorate birch branches with ribbons and secretly put them up outside their girlfriends' houses.
  • In southern Germany, many towns and villages put up a Maibaum ('May tree') - a pole or tree, decorated with ribbons.
  • Some people light May bonfires to chase away all the 'evil spirits' of winter.

Did you know ..?

Molly
  • The Blocksberg is the highest peak of Northern Germany, in the Harz mountain range.
  • Superstitious people believe that if you put a broomstick upside down near your house door it will protect you and your family from evil spirits.
  • In Germany it is common to drink 'Maibowle' (May punch) on Walpurgisnacht. Its made of fresh sweet woodruff and wine. Woodruff is a herb which grows in the forests of northern Europe. People also mix it with juice or lemonade to make a tasty punch for kids.

Words Ahoy! ยท Wörter Ahoi!

Deutsch English
Mai
May
das Feuer
fire
der Berg
mountain
die Hexe
witch
der Besen
broom
der Frühling
spring
der Baum
tree

Links

www.kindernetz.de
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