Walpurga

Walpurga, St, sister of St Wilibald, came with him from England to Germany, was abbess of Heidenheim, and died about 778. Her day is the 1st of May. Hence she has been accidentally associated with some strange popular superstitions connected with the 1st of May. During 'Walpurgis Night,' between 30th April and 1st May, the witches rode on broom-sticks and he-goats to the ancient places of sacrifice, to hold revel there with their master the devil. The best known of these witch-hills was the highest point of the Harz, the Brocken (q.v.), famous as the scene of the witches' Sabbath in Goethe's Faust.