St. Walpurga's Night
April 30/May 1st marks Halfway to Halloween on the calendar but April 30th also used to be believed as a day where dark magic was practiced so today’s Saint was honored to combat that. April 30th is also the feast of Saints Pius V and Marie Guyart of the Incarnation. In 2024 due to it being a Leap Year the actual halfway to Halloween is on May 2nd.
Today would be a fun day to watch spooky movies about witches to realize and acknowledge the existence of the supernatural but that evil has been overcome by Christ’s passion and resurrection especially during the Easter Season. In Bavaria they dress as witches to ward off demons and witches on this day and some cultures Easter customs replicate trick or treating and costumes. Putting up a Halloween decoration, wearing orange and black, using Halloween/Autumn scented candles, Halloween music and scary stories are a fun way to celebrate Halloween and to plan for it as well even by means of planting pumpkins. Halloween treats like doughnuts that are especially associated with the feast would be fitting as well as the affiliated adult beverage and Beltane cakes with custard) I personally “created” for those who partake and it is legal, a drinking game where if you watch Hocus Pocus and Hocus Pocus 2, Halloweentown or movies about witches, you take a drink every time someone in the movie says “witch” or “witches”. Please play responsibly!
Above all we should partake in some religious aspect for today such as visiting cemeteries and saying some prayers there or asking for the intercession of St. Walpurga against witchcraft and malice. We can also, like on the feast of St. John the Baptist and Holy Saturday light bonfires and burn sacramentals that have been broken and are to be “retired”. This also reflects the customs of those who burned effigies of witches. Let us pray also for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Bells should be rung, Holy Water sprinkled and if available blessed sprigs displayed.
Finally, just as darkness is abolished by the light of Christ and All Hallows Eve makes way to All Saints Day so does April make way to May, the month of Our Lady.
Finally, just as darkness is abolished by the light of Christ and All Hallows Eve makes way to All Saints Day so does April make way to May, the month of Our Lady.
Note: When witches are referred to in this post it is to mean practitioners of dark magic which nowadays are most likely just outdated superstitions. This has nothing to do with those who practice different religions who may seem foreign or strange to Christians. Lest we forget the horror of the Salem witch trials, this emphasis is necessary.
More About May Eve (Note: The removal of wedding rings are practices that are to be rejected by those who deign to truly honor God and His Saints on this day by honoring their marriage vows and fulfilling their promise of authentic love.)
Litany of St. Walpurga (For Private Devotion)
Vegan Oatcakes (Beltane Cake)
Click Here for the All Hallows' Eve customs that we can celebrate today.
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