Walpurgis Night

noun

1. (especially in medieval German folklore) the evening preceding the feast day of St. Walpurgis, when witches congregated, especially on the Brocken.

Walpurgis Night

/ vælˈpʊəɡɪs /

noun

1. the eve of May 1, believed in German folklore to be the night of a witches' sabbath on the Brocken, in the Harz Mountains

Word History and Origins

Origin of Walpurgis Night¹

C19: translation of German Walpurgisnacht, the eve of the feast day of St Walpurga, 8th-century abbess in Germany

Example Sentences

Tens of thousands of people typically travel to the Swedish city of Lund in celebration of Walpurgis Night, a festival that also sees parties and bonfires scattered across Europe.

From Fox News

Tens of thousands of people usually descend on southern city to celebrate Walpurgis Night, which is marked across Scandinavia.

From BBC

Walpurgis Night, celebrated on 30 April, is widely marked across central and northern Europe with parties and bonfires.

From The Guardian

A life-size marble sculpture called Witch Doing Her Toilette on Walpurgis Night caused a sensation when first exhibited in Vienna in 1896.

From BBC

Also on the program, titled “Mischief, Mischief and More Mischief,” is the decadent “Walpurgis Night” and “Harlequinade,” a comedic romp starring sly commedia dell’arte characters.

From New York Times