Nuit de Walpurgis

OBS: La Nuit de Walpurgis se situe entre le 30 avril et le 1er mai. Célébrée dans toute l'Europe depuis des temps reculés, malgré les interdits et excommunications des églises chrétiennes, elle a été identifiée au sabbat des sorcières (voir le 2ème Faust de Goethe). Elle est surtout le symbole de la fin de l'hiver et est parfois associée à la plantation de l'arbre de mai ou l'embrasement de grands feux.

OBS: The festival is named after Saint Walpurga (known in Scandinavia as ""Valborg""; alternative forms are ""Walpurgis"", ""Wealdburg"", or ""Valderburger""), born in Wessex in 710. She was a niece of Saint Boniface and, according to legend, a daughter to the Saxon prince St. Richard. Together with her brothers she travelled to Franconia, Germany, where she became a nun and lived in the convent of Heidenheim, which was founded by her brother Wunibald. Walpurga died on 25 February 779 and that day still carries her name in the Catholic calendar. However she was not made a saint until 1 May in the same year, and that day carries her name in the Swedish calendar. Historically the Walpurgisnacht is derived from Pagan spring customs, where the arrival of spring was celebrated with bonfires at night. Viking fertility celebrations took place around April 30 and due to Walpurga being declared a saint at that time of year, her name became associated with the celebrations. Walpurga was honored in the same way that Vikings had celebrated spring and as they spread throughout Europe, the two dates became mixed together and created the Walpurgis Night celebration.