Walpurgis Night

Hello friends, this is my little contribution to the knowledge on the subject (and celebration) Walpurgis Night. Enjoy ^^

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Walpurgis/ Thrimilci 22 April - 1 May

The festival of Walpurgis between the 22nd of April till the nigth of 1st of May, are the nights of both merrymaking and joy but also darkness and insight. These nine nights (from 22 to 30 of April) are to remember the self-sacrifice of Odin the Allfather, when he wounded himself with his own spear and hanged himself on top of the world tree Yggdrasil, for nine days and nights. At the ninth night, Walpurgisnacht, Odin beheld the power of the Runes and their magical purposes by ritually dieing and coming back with the Knowledge of the Runes. At that same moment, all light from the nine Norse worlds/realms was extinguished and chaos reigned. It's what still happens, but at the final stroke moment at midnight, the lights returns, ever bright, and the bonfires are lit. What happens next, is something similar than what happens during Samhain/Halloween/Hallow's end. On this night, Walpurgisnacht, the dead have full dominance upon our world, it is when the Wild Hunt comes to an end. At May th 1st the festival of Thrimilci is held, it is the beginning of Summer. Thrimilci is a festival filled with joy and contentment, and also fertility, much like Ostara. However, most of the Northern World is finally escaping from the snow at this time.

Walpurgisnacht - 30th of April

Walpurgisnacht or Walpurgis night, is a celebrations that takes place at the 30th of April to the 1st of May. It is often celebrated with dancing and huge bonfires. This is similar to the halloween festival, in that it has to do with the supernatural spirits, both ancestors and gods, also spirits of specific places and Elfs. The bonfires at this festival, is a warm welcome to the spring time, to receive the heat and say farewell to the harsh cold winter times.

In Norse traditions - and many others - this night is the time when the boundary between our world and that of the spirits is a bit shaky. Much like Samhain, six months later, Walpurgisnacht is a time to communicate with the spirit world. Bonfires are traditionally lit to keep away malevolent spirits or those who might do us mischief.

This celebrations takes place one night before the celtic celebrations of Baltaine.

The Birch Tree and the Wild Boar: Symbols of Light

In the time of this world when the light decreases, the birch emanates a glow, resistant to the death of nature in winter times, imposing itself in a life of  constant renewal. In the Proto-Indo-European, its etymological root, in the Germanic languages​​, Baltic and Slavic, this tree is idealized as the fifth essence of white. The birch is the first tree to bloom after thawing, it is the messenger of the breeding powers,  and it is essential to the survival of all species, it marks its begining. It has inspirational qualities that transmit light and innocence, it is the sacred tree to the shamans of Europe and the vehicle of the journeys of the shaman in out of the body expiriences. It is a symbol of life, energy and protection, and in Portugal, this is called Vidoeiro or Bétula tree and it is associated with wild boars. Bétula comos from the Germanic name, Beorgan which means, "To Protect". The rebirth of this tree after the winter also brings the old rituals of the hunt. The wild boar is a  challenge to the courage and bravery of the hunter.

The Boar carries a strong symbolism of abundance, celebrated in Yule, in the sacrificial death of the animal in honor of Frey, god of the sun rays and fertility, of the Nordic Mythology.
In Portugal the ancients honored the wild boar, depending on the meat to their survival. The killing of the Wild boar or the pig, is ritualized in the colder months, ensuring survival through the winter and up to the rest of the year.
Autumn is dying with the arrival of winter, however, the nature surrenders to the the magic and to the hope of rebirth. The Birch tree produces seeds that can remain alive at low temperatures, as a mother's womb at the peak of fertility.
Freya, the goddess of prosperity and magic in the Norse Mythology, travels through the Cosmic worlds on the back of the "battle boar", Hildsvín /  Hildisvíni.
The birch rod contains the fertilizing and regenerative powers. It is the evocation of the magical instrument of celestial influences. Its branches are great for campfires at the Walpurgis Night and in Haustablót. The slow combustion, the wood fueled the torches that lit the bridal bed, involving the environment in a pleasant fragrance.