Thread by @sarah_calavera

THREAD
Tomorrow, April 30th, is Walpurgisnacht (Witches’ Night), also known as the ‘other Halloween’ — a night that belongs to WITCHES.

2. Walpurgisnacht falls exactly 6 months after Samhain/Halloween, which means we’re halfway to Halloween!

3. It’s believed that on these two nights the veil between the worlds separating the living and the dead, the seen and the unseen thins; allowing otherworldly beings to mingle openly among us

4. Many of them will be on their way to the Brocken, the highest peak in Germany’s Harz Mountain range, surrounded by a deep forest which is often shrouded in thick mists, and believed to be inhabited by strange, supernatural beings.

5. Witches celebrated Walpurgisnacht with lavish feasting, orgies, and general merrymaking, with the Devil himself presiding over the festivities

6. You may remember the Night on Bald Mountain segment from #Disney ‘s 1940 film Fantasia, which depicted a witches’ night in progress (watch here: )

7. Extra care and precautions were necessary for mortals on Walpurgisnacht. There were numerous rules and rituals that were believed to safeguard people from supernatural harm.

📷: William Mortenson

8. Doorways & livestock were painted with crosses & adorned with bouquets of herbs in hopes of repelling mischievous beings & witches who would often enchant the beasts & fly on their backs to the Brocken

9. Noisemaking, such as ringing bells, was often employed to scare away evil spirits

10. Massive bonfires were built with the hope that the flames would rise high enough to burn any witches who were flying overhead

11. Brooms and children were hidden away on Walpurgisnacht to prevent witches from taking them up to the Brocken to possibly be eaten (the children, not the brooms)

12. To this day you can attend Walpurgisnacht festivities in German towns in the the Hartz mountain region.

For more info, check out these 2 episodes on Walpurgisnacht from @boneandsickle boneandsickle.com/tag/walpurgisn…