On arrival in the Harz on April 27, we spotted witches on practically each corner of every street in the village where we stayed, Sankt Andreasberg. We soon learned that this had to do with witches and the celebration of 'Walpurgis Night' on April 30. It is the Christian feast day of Saint Walpurga, an 8th-century abbess. She was hailed by the Christians of Germany for battling pest, rabies and whooping cough. She was also known to repel the effects of witchcraft.
According to 17th century German tradition, sorcerers and witches gathered on May Day eve on a
Hexennacht or "Witches' Night". The Western Christian Church established the Feast of Saint Walpurga on the same night, believing that Saint Walpurga counteracted the evil magic.
In Germanic folklore, this witches' meeting took place on the Brocken, the highest peak in the Harz mountains. (info from
Wikipedia)
Well, we thought it wise to stay as far away from the Brocken as we could on the night of April 30..
..though apparently some witches didn't go either as flying on a broomstick can be quite difficult :)
Ha,ha, er is nog veel folklore waar we geen weet van hebben, leuke foto's!
BeantwoordenVerwijderen...Christian feast days and witches. what an interesting combination. Here we think of witches as a fall thing.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenGostei destas bruxas.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenUm abraço e bom fim-de-semana.
Andarilhar
Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
O prazer dos livros
Ah, the legends and mythologies by which we live! This is too funny and that last photo is priceless; had me laughing out loud! The first photo is pretty funny, too. Your new header, though, is just plain gorgeous!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenThe tradition doesn't seem to have crossed to the New World!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenLeuke serie Marleen van de heksen.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenGroet Kees.
I had never heard of them!!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenWow!
Ahah!Interesting story and funny conclusion!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenWow, very interesting. I like the views of the witches.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI've never heard of any connection to that story in British folklore, though of course May Day is celebrated. Saint Walpurga certainly counteracted that last witch!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenNice tradition. But we don't have this one tradition. At 30.4 we spend spring (although it's raining or cold evening very often)
BeantwoordenVerwijderen