Witches, fire and ancient rituals
Walpurgis Night in Europe celebrates the transition from winter to the warmer season — a magical interplay of tradition, myth, and festive energy.
A night of fire
In Ireland on the night of May 1, Beltane, an ancient Celtic festival, comes alive with ritual fires, Celtic music and spiritual rituals. It is one of the four major Celtic seasonal festivals (alongside Samhain, Imbolc and Lughnasadh) and marks the beginning of the summer half-year in the Irish calendar — a time of growth, fertility and life.
Ancient Celtic rituals
Thousands of people experience a mix of fire shows, dance, music and ritual theater based on Celtic myths. Traditionally, jumping over fire belongs to the ceremony at the Beltane festival. The fire jumping, accompanied by singing and drumming, is a living, ancient ritual that symbolizes courage and renewal to this very day.
Burning witches
In the Czech Republic (and parts of Slovakia), witches' puppets are burned symbolically during Walpurgis Night (Carodejnice) to celebrate ancient pagan spring customs and the victory of light over darkness.
Driving out evil spirits
This festival has nothing to do with the historical witch hunts. It's joyful and family-friendly. The custom dates back to pre-Christian times, when people believed that evil spirits, witches, and dark forces were particularly active on the night before May 1. Burning straw witches on bonfires was meant to symbolically drive away winter and evil.
A magic vibe
Walpurgis Night in the German town of Thale is one of the most spectacular and traditional celebrations in the Harz region. Each year on April 30, a spot high above the Bode Valley transforms into a bubbling witches' cauldron, attracting visitors from near and far.
Of witches and devils
The historic plateau near Thale is deeply rooted in German folklore. According to one legend, witches and devils gather on this spot during Walpurgis Night to welcome in spring and fly together on broomsticks to the Brocken — at 1.141 meters the highest mountain in the local Harz mountain range. Medieval markets and live music are part of the spectacle.
Welcoming spring
In Sweden, Walpurgis Night, known as Valborgsmassoafton, is celebrated on April 30. Originally a Catholic feast in honor of Saint Walpurga, the celebration has evolved over centuries into a nationwide tradition deeply rooted in Swedish culture.