night from April 30 to May 1, is called "Walpurgis Night" - is the most significant of the pagan festival dedicated to fertility.In the Middle Ages there was a belief that Walpurgis Night is a night of feasting witches throughout Germany and Scandinavia.Witch sat astride a broom and fly to the mountains, where they spent time in the wild feasts and dances.
The Celts called this festival "Belteyn."It was believed that on this day the gates wide open to another world, a country of elves.
this day and chose the May Queen - the only girl who on this day was allowed to wear green, favorite, according to legend, elves.Queen becomes a mediator in the dialogue between the people and the people of the hills (the fairies).
Belteyn widely celebrated in the United Kingdom today, especially in Ireland and Scotland.People decorate the window sills and thresholds of houses with green branches or sprinkle petals primrose, to the magical folk thought to penetrate into people's homes while they are celebrating.All this must be cut without the aid of steel, only to dismiss the fairies, and not to offend them.After all, the fairies do not tolerate iron and steel Nobody in this day should not be cut and tear hawthorn, because it will bring trouble and love failure.
Nowadays Walpurgis Night is celebrated throughout Central and Northern Europe - a celebration of spring meetings, when huge bonfires are lit to ward off witches fly that night to the Sabbath.
In many European countries, with the sunset boys start screaming and exploding firecrackers, as the best means of spirits - the noise.
In Scandinavia bonfires to attract spring, scare away the spirits and get rid of the accumulated during the winter debris.And eating gravlax - fresh salmon, marinated in salt, sugar and dill.
in the Czech Republic on the eve of Walpurgis Night is poured on the threshold of sand or grass to witches could not enter the house until they count all the grains of sand or grass.
Finns believe that at midnight of the last day of April no one hilltop where witches would not sit with the witchers.
Photo source: zabava730.narod.ru
Articles Source: calend.ru
