Walpurgis Night

American  

noun

1. (especially in medieval German folklore) the evening preceding the feast day of St. Walpurgis, when witches congregated, especially on the Brocken.

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Walpurgis Night British  

/ vælˈpʊəɡɪs /

noun

1. the eve of May 1, believed in German folklore to be the night of a witches' sabbath on the Brocken, in the Harz Mountains

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Etymology

Origin of Walpurgis Night

C19: translation of German Walpurgisnacht, the eve of the feast day of St Walpurga, 8th-century abbess in Germany

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Walpurgis Night

The Walpurgis Night scene is dominated by an A-bomb.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 22, 2013

He arrives in 1930s Moscow under the guise of conjuror Professor Woland to host his annual Walpurgis Night celebration: the "Spring Ball of the Full Moon".

From The Guardian ● Dec. 12, 2012

Contains the usually omitted ballet music for the Walpurgis Night.

From Time Magazine Archive

James sets the scenes of his stories with cunning realism, hearty plausibility; he never needs Bohemia or Walpurgis Night.

From Time Magazine Archive

Nothing could check the mad carousal of the sparks and flames, which danced, leaped, whirled, reversed, and intertwined, like demons waltzing with a company of witches on Walpurgis Night.

From John L. Stoddard's Lectures, Vol. 10 (of 10) Southern California; Grand Canon of the Colorado River; Yellowstone National Park by John L. (John Lawson) Stoddard

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