walpurgis night

Thân thiện

A family lights a small bonfire in their backyard on Walpurgis Night.

Definition

Proper noun: * Walpurgis Night: The eve of May Day (April 30th), traditionally associated in European folklore with a witches' sabbath or supernatural gatherings, particularly on the Brocken mountain in Germany. It is named after Saint Walpurga, an 8th-century English missionary.

Usage

• Walpurgis Night is used as a specific calendar date and cultural reference. It is often capitalized.
  • According to legend, witches gather on the Brocken for Walpurgis Night.
  • The festival on April 30th celebrates the arrival of spring but is also known as Walpurgis Night.

Advanced Usage

• "A Walpurgis Night": Can be used metaphorically to describe a scene of wild revelry, chaos, or a gathering perceived as sinister or demonic.
  • The political debate devolved into a Walpurgis Night of shouting and accusations.

Variants and Related Words

• Walpurgisnacht: The German name for Walpurgis Night.
• Saint Walpurga's Day: The feast day of Saint Walpurga on May 1st, from which the night before derives its name.

Synonyms

• Hexennacht (German for "Witches' Night")
• May Eve
• Valborgsmässoafton (Swedish name)

Related Cultural References

• Walpurgis Night is a central theme in Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's play , where Faust and Mephistopheles attend the witches' festival on the Brocken.
• It is celebrated in various Northern European countries with bonfires and singing to ward off evil spirits and welcome spring.

Học thuật

Noun

1. eve of May Day

Từ đồng nghĩa

• walpurgis night