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.