What is Hexennacht in Germany?
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany — Germans observe their Labor Day on Sunday. May 1 is also a day to welcome spring and chase away the demons of winter the night before. The night of April 30 is known as “Hexennacht,” witches night. People living off base must keep a watchful eye on their houses and vehicles Saturday night.
What is Walpurgis Night in Germany?
Walpurgisnacht Night (in German folklore) the night of 30 April (May Day’s eve), when witches meet on the Brocken mountain and hold revels with the Devil… Brocken is the highest of the Harz Mountains of north central Germany.
What is Halloween called in Germany?
Halloween is when all demons and witches are out for the night hunting, and when there are pumpkins glaring out of the windows, and when it’s better to give a treat instead of being tricked… Halloween is celebrated each year on October 31.
Do Germans celebrate Walpurgisnacht?
Modern-day Walpurgisnacht in Germany Nowadays, Germans celebrate this holiday as a second Halloween by dressing up in costumes, making loud noises and playing pranks on each other.
Who celebrates Hexennacht?
Hexennacht — otherwise known as Witches Night — is an ancient German holiday that occurs on April 30, annually. According to folklore, humans once relied on bonfires and dancing to expel nearby witches and evil spirits.
What food is eaten on Walpurgisnacht?
Walpurgis Night isn’t complete without a tall, crackling bonfire. Today, it’s typical to roast marshmallows and hotdogs and enjoy the warmth of the fire during the chilly spring night, but the traditional bonfire was once a way to ward off the unwanted.
What happens on Walpurgis?
Walpurgisnacht has become a sort of Halloween party in Germany today. Up in the Harz Mountains, bonfires are lit, and thousands of people dressed in Witch, Warlock, or Devil costumes come from all over to dance and celebrate on a plateau called the Hexentanzplatz near the town of Thale.
How popular is Halloween in Germany?
200 million euros
Halloween has gained much popularity over the past few decades. In fact, this celebration now brings in an astounding 200 million euros a year, according to the Stuttgarter Zeitung, and it is the third most commercialized tradition after Christmas and Easter.
What are German witches called?
But when Germany’s modern witches celebrate the day, they prefer to use the name “Beltane,” derived from Gaelic mythology.
What day is witches night?
April 30th
Witches’ Night — also known as Walpurgisnacht or Hexennacht — happens annually on April 30th, and has been celebrated throughout Europe since at least the 17th century. Likely an evolution of Saint Walpurga’s Feast, it marks the halfway point between Halloween festivities (or as practicing Pagans call it, Samhain).
What countries celebrate Walpurgis Night?
Walpurgis Night is celebrated in Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, and the Netherlands. While there is of course overlap in the modes of celebration, all countries have their own local traditions.