Walpurgisnacht

In Germany, Walpurgisnacht is the eve of April 30th into May 1st, allegedly when witches hold a large celebration on the Brocken and await the arrival of spring.  (Note: A Brocken spectre is the apparently enormously magnified shadow of an observer, cast upon the upper surfaces of clouds opposite the sun. The phenomenon is frequently seen on the Brocken, and thus is from where it draws its name.)  Walpurgisnacht festivities are also seen in Sweden by the name Valborg, when large bonfires are lit around the country.  An older tradition from southern Sweden was for the youth to collect greenery and branches from the woods at twilight, which were used to adorn houses of their villages.

The name "Walpurgisnacht" comes from a nun named Walpurga, brother of Willibald, and she was made a saint of the Roman Catholic church, whose feast day is technically February 25th, but whose relics were moved on May 1st to be buried beside her brother.  Some Pagans, myself included, have suspected that much as "Saint Brigid" is a carryover from Celtic Paganism, Walpurga/Valborg, while still a real person, may also be an alternate and more personal name of Freyja (as in "fortified place of the slain", fitting quite nicely with Her role as chooser of the first pick of the slain, who She keeps at Folkvangr), which is why Pagan customs would be observed on a saint's day.

On this night my hearth gives offerings to all of the land-spirits, especially those that might be Fae.  Typically sweet whole-grain bread covered with honey is a good offering.

Upon returning from there, we honor the Goddesses of the Vanir: Freyja, Nerthus, and Holda.  We give Them worth as the Mothers of Witchcraft, and all Witches, both male and female.

Three candles are lit, for each Goddess, and a libation is poured for each Goddess.

Freyja is honored for Her magick to enhance beauty and sexuality, and love relationships.

Nerthus is honored for Her magick of the cycles of nature (including weather), and the power of life and death She holds in Her hands.

Holda is honored as knowing great wisdom, and being competent and efficient in all things.

The celebrants then will each drink to the Goddesses, naming a gift of magick they would like to work in the coming year, and drink that into themselves.


(illustration of Brocken spectre)

Beltaine

...every parishe, towne, and village, assemble themselves together, bothe men, women, and children, olde and yong, even all indifferently: and either goyng all together, or deuidyng themselves into companies, they goe some to the woodes and groves, some to one place, some to another, where they spende all the night in pastymes, and in the mornyng they returne, bringing with them birche bowes, and braunches of trees to deck their assemblies withall.  I have heard it credibly reported (and that viva voce) by men of great gravitiie, credite, and reputation, that of fourtie, three score, or a hundred maides goyng to the woode ouer night, there have scarcely the thirde parte of them returned home againe undefiled.

--Philip Stubes, Anatomie of Abuses (1585, London)


And because the prophanation of the Lords-day hath been heretofore greatly occasioned by May-Poles, (a Heathenish vanity, generally abused to superstition and wickedness.) The Lords and Commons do further Order and Ordain, That all and singular May-Poles, that are, or shall be erected, shall be taken down and removed by the Constables, Borsholders, Tything-men, petty Constables, and Churchwardens of the Parishes, and places where the same be: And that no May-Pole shall be hereafter set up, erected or suffered to be within this Kingdome of England, or Dominion of Wales.

II Acts and Ordinances of the Interregnum 420 (1644).


The Maypole is a custom predating the 16th century, of course, and many Germanic Pagans recognize it to be a symbol of Yggdrasil.  Beltaine commemorates two things: Odin hanging upon the World Tree to gain wisdom, found in the runes; and the annual ritual mating of Frey and Freyja in Vanaheim, to "feed the tree" and give fertility and vitality to the Nine Worlds.  As a Vanic-focused Pagan, my Beltaine celebrations honor Frey and Freyja.  Dancing the Maypole with ribbons can be seen as symbolic of weaving Wyrd, the color of ribbons symbolic of what you want to "weave in" for the coming year.  The ribbons can be left on the Maypole and burned either six months later at Samhain, or a year later at the next Beltaine.


On Beltaine 2008 my other half and I started off the day with sex in Frey and Freyja's honor, then went to a local park and erected my staff as the Maypole.

We started off by him crowning me with a flower wreath, and then me crowning him with a wreath of leaves.  I invoked Frey and Freyja, and poured a glass of wine over my staff to offer Them and to consecrate the staff.

We then tied the ribbons to the Maypole -- red, green, gold, and blue.  I got the red and blue ribbons, to weave healing and love.  My other half got the gold and green ribbons, to weave protection and prosperity.  (We actually did not assign this ahead of time, but it seems fitting considering what we are both trying to work on.)  We did a very simple chant of "Weaving, weaving", as we went around the pole, myself clockwise, my other half counterclockwise.

After the Maypole, we had a picnic, where we gave Frey and Freyja the first part of the food.  I also saved some large, juicy strawberries for Freyja, as I know She likes them.

As you can see, the rite was very simple, but effective.  Frey and Freyja were present, and the ritual was light-hearted and fun rather than solemn.  Their joy was palpable, as They shared in our joy, and we in Theirs.


(illustration: our Maypole, 2008)

(C) 2008 Sigrun Freyskona.