APRIL 30 IS WALPURGISNACHT: When Witches Dance, Bonfires Blaze and a Dead Nun is Revered

Many celebrate April 30 as “Halfway to Halloween,” but Walpurgis Night is more than just spooky fun — it’s a night when witches rise, saints blur into goddesses, and ancient fires still burn.

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IN THIS EPISODE: “Walpurgis Night was when, according to the belief of millions of people, the devil was abroad—when the graves were opened and the dead came forth and walked. When all evil things of earth and air and water held revel.” – Bram Stoker, from “Dracula’s Guest”. Walpurgis Night is something most English-speaking listeners won’t know about – but it’s being celebrated at this precise moment. While others are currently celebrating “Halfway to Halloween” or “Half-o-ween” for short… in Germany, they’re celebrating a second Halloween which they call Walpurgisnacht – or “Walpurgis Night.” Plus, later in the show I’ll share a story that was intended specifically to be read on Walpurgis Night – it’s called “The Black Bargain” from PJ Hodge!

CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate and Only Accurate For the Commercial Version)…
00:00:00.000 = Show Open
00:01:37.995 = Happy Walpurgisnacht, Everyone
00:34:34.458 = The Black Bargain (a Fictional Story To Be Told on Walpurgis Night)
00:48:10.168 = Show Close

SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE…
“Happy Walpurgisnacht, Everyone!” by Todd at GothicHorrorStories.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/a8svp23c
“The Black Bargain” by PJ Hodge, posted at FreakyFolkTales.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/j49bd4
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Originally aired: April 30, 2021

EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/WalpurgisNight

TAGS:
Walpurgis Night, Walpurgisnacht, Hexennacht, Halfway to Halloween, pagan holidays, witchcraft history, Beltane, spring festivals, Saint Walburga, Brocken Mountain, German folklore, witches Sabbath, European paganism, Celtic traditions, May Day, Beltane vs Walpurgis, Valborg Sweden, Vappu Finland, Volbriöö Estonia, burning of the witches, Walpurgis bonfires, supernatural festivals, ancient rituals, spooky folklore, Weird Darkness, pagan saints, fertility festivals, Gothic folklore, Blocksberg witches, eerie European traditions, Walpurgis legends