The night from April 30 to May 1 in many Western European countries is called the Night of the Witches. Although much more often her name is Walpurgieva - in honor of Saint Walpurgis, the founder of one of the monasteries in Bavaria, who is usually commemorated on the first day of May … What does she have to do with witches? Is that this saint was able to work miracles …
According to legend, Saint Walpurga (or Walburga) was born in Devonshire around 710. She was the daughter of one of the kings of Western Saxony, Richard, and her mother was Wynn, sister of Saint Boniface. The girl was brought up at Winbourne Monastery and, having matured, became a nun there. In 748, Walpurga's uncle Boniface decided to create a system of monasteries in Germany. At his request, the Abbess of Winbourne Monastery sent several of her nuns there. Among them was Walpurga.
On the way, the ship on which the missionaries were sailing got into a storm, but Walpurga, kneeling right on the deck, began to pray, and the hurricane died down … It was taken as a miracle. In Germany, Walpurga was greeted with awe, and since then she has been considered the patroness of sailors.
Walpurga became the abbess of a monastery in the Bavarian town of Heidenheim near Aistadt and became famous for her virtues and miracles. She died on February 25, 777. A century later, her name was almost forgotten, but then the new Aishtadt bishop decided to restore the church and monastery in Heidenheim … During the work, Walpurga's grave was disturbed, and one night the bishop saw her angry ghost in front of him … He ordered to transport the remains of the late abbess to Aistadt. It happened on May 1.
The nun's relics were buried in a hole in the rock, from where oil soon began to flow, which turned out to be healing … After that, Walpurga was canonized, canonized … By the way, both of her brothers, Willibald and Winibald, were also canonized. Later, the remains of Saint Walpurga were taken to different cities in Germany. The days when this happened - February 25, October 12 and September 24 - were also dedicated to her.
In many European countries there are beliefs that on the night of May 1, sorcerers, evil spirits and the souls of the departed gather for their "gatherings" … Since this date coincided with the day of commemoration of St. Walpurgis, in Germany the "witchcraft" night began to be called Walpurgisnacht (Walpurgis night). And later the name spread throughout Europe …
According to sources, the belief about the Sabbaths that take place on Walpurgis Night took shape at the end of the 8th century. Historians believe that Christians took for sabbaths gatherings of pagans, who, due to persecution, organized traditional May Day festivities in deserted and inaccessible places, for example, in remote forest glades and hilltops …
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By the way, a number of experts believe that it was not for nothing that Saint Walpurga gave her name to the magical holiday. In her images there is symbolism that suggests certain thoughts. Thus, the crown at the feet of Walpurga indicates her royal origin. The staff is a sign that she was the founder of the monastery … With that, everything is clear.
But there are other symbols as well. For example, the saint is painted against the background of old lime trees and hills. But lindens, according to the Scandinavian sagas, were sacred trees and were associated with Friggi, the goddess of fertility. The hills were the dwellings of Holda, the ancient deity of nature, and were also associated with the world of the dead …
Saint Walpurga was often portrayed in the company of a dog, despite the fact that in her biography there is no mention of this animal. Meanwhile, the dog often accompanies German and Scandinavian pagan goddesses. The dogs were the helpers of the same Frigga, as well as the Dutch goddess Nehalennia. The name of one of the goddesses was literally translated as “mother of a poodle”. The image of the dog was associated with health and fertility. So, the ancient Germans specially fed the mysterious "wind dog" - windhound, so that there was a good harvest.
In some of the frescoes, Saint Walpurga holds a triangular mirror in her hands. There is a legend that somehow at the end of April the peasants met a girl in the forest who was running away from the hunters. She had a mirror in her hands that showed the future. One of the peasants hid the girl in a pile of grain, and the next morning he found that all the rye had turned into gold.
Perhaps the legend should be taken symbolically: the hunters are winter, the escaping girl is spring, or rather, the pagan goddess of fertility. So there is more a connection with pagan folklore than with the Christian religion …