• Monthly Columns

    Weyland’s Whey 2026 Walpurgis Night column

    I Looked it Up And I Still Can’t Pronounce it. Walpurgis Night. Many compare it to a Spring Halloween, although the two holidays are quite separate. Walpurgis Night is on April 30th, and originated in Germanic folklore. Historically, people believed evil spirits were especially active now, and that witches–yeah, that would be us–gathered on this evening. The night is named after Saint Walpurga, whose Feast Day is May 1st. Her canonization was meant to replace Pagan practices. The time became a blend of old Pagan rites and newer Christian influences. Walpurgis Night is celebrated in diverse ways in different countries. The most common tradition is large bonfires meant to frighten away…