Ahead of us is the magical night from April 30 to May 1, known as the "burning of witches", Beltaine, St. James's Day or Walpurgis Night. This evening full of secrets and traditions has many names, all of which share a fascinating story – they mix pagan origins with Christian elements and medieval fears. Let's uncover the secrets of this night together! Not only will we delve into its historical development, but we will also explore lesser-known witchcraft and protective herbs, not only from our homeland. These herbs, shrouded in myths and legends, promise protection and magical power.
Prepare for a journey through history and nature that will reveal the connection between our ancestors and the present. Accept the invitation to a magic and mysticism that inspires and surprises to this day!
Night of glowing fires
The following excerpt from the book Woman in the Transformations of the Year tells us what the folk traditions of this night looked like, reflecting natural cycles:
"A night of glowing protective fires, the power of which was supposed to protect a person from demons and dark forces. But also a night of joyful ceremonies to honor sexual power, the most powerful creative energy ensuring fertility. The purpose of the ceremonies performed on the night of fire was to accept and control sexual power, strengthen the inner flame of passion and the sacred union of man and woman, ensuring the continuation of life." (Naďová, Alena: A Woman in the Transformations of the Year. CPress, 2021, p.40.)
Celebrations of the god Belene
These traditions probably originate from an old Celtic folk custom. Beltain, i.e. the celebrations of the god Belene, the druid teacher and protector of the people. The druids lit fires on the night of 30.4. to 1.5. and the inhabitants of the opids carried them to the fireplaces of their homes. These celebrations were associated not only with the protection of homes, but also with abundance and fertility. I believe that they are generally known and popular, and therefore we will focus on the second part of our historical journey, namely the designation Walpurgis Night.
Princess Healer St. Walburga
St. Walburga (Walpurgia) was an Anglo-Saxon princess, abbess and missionary who worked in the 9th century in the German monastery of Heidenheim. During her life, she miraculously healed six-week-olds, sick children and performed many other miracles. Therefore, she was posthumously canonized by Pope Hadrian II. and the commemoration of this day falls on May 1, or rather its eve, April 30. She became the patron saint against hunger, need and diseases, such as plague or cough, six-week-olds and children. The cult of St. Walburga grew greatly in the Middle Ages. Because the church needed to overcome the still-living tradition of burning purification fires and celebrating the end of darkness and the beginning of a new life, it used the cult of this saint to do so. Moreover, it linked it with the fight against witches, as "women endowed with magical power", who were supposed to gather on that very night to celebrate the Sabbath. ("Well-known places of Sabbaths were, for example, the Brdy mountain Plešivec, Haltrava in the Chodsko region, the Beskydy Mountains, Petrovy kameny in the Jeseníky Mountains, Třístoličník in the Šumava Mountains.") Many protective rituals were performed in the villages to prevent witches from entering the houses on this night. Among other things, men lit and guarded large fires, the metaphorical meaning of which is reflected in the connection "burning witches".
Designation Walpurgis Night is still used in Germany today. According to historian Čeňek Zíbrt, the burning of bonfires, as a symbolic burning of witches, came to us sometime in the mid-19th century. "There is scant information on the older history of bonfires in Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia," in the book Customs and Celebrations in Czech Folk Culture, writes Věra Večerková. It was more common to light fires until June 24, the feast of St. John the Baptist, or Midsummer Night.
Where did the St. Philip and St. James night come from?
And to make matters worse, during another medieval effort to strengthen the Church's position against the pagan holiday, the day was dedicated to the apostles St. Philip and James, whose legacy was to overshadow the rituals. Hence the name Philip Jacob's Night, which many of you may remember from the children's cartoon series The Little Witch.
We can also learn from the following excerpt what witch burning looked like at the beginning of the 20th century:
"In Bohemia, on the eve of May Day, young people light fires on hills and peaks, at crossroads and in pastures, and dance around them. They jump over the glowing embers or even jump over the flames. The ceremony is called 'burning witches'. In some places it is customary to burn a puppet representing a witch at the stake. We must remember that May Day is the famous Walpurgis Night, and the air is full of invisible witches on their hellish errands." (FRAZER, James George. The Golden Bough. Translated by Věra Heroldová-Šťovíčková, Erich Herold. Pilsen: Aleš Čeněk Publishing House, 2007. 671 p. ISBN 978-80-7380-017-8. P. 685.)
The modern concept of “witch burning” was suspended during World War II due to night blackouts. Communism then transformed this tradition into the so-called peace bonfires. Nevertheless, “witch burning” has survived to this day. In a purely modern guise, it is celebrated as a family-neighborhood entertainment with an emphasis on children and their experiences.
Magical herbs known and less known
The evening of this folk holiday raises the question of using traditional, well-known and lesser-known "protective witch herbs." So, do you know what they are?
Aromatic Wormwood Annual
You will surely agree that when we say magical plant, the first thing that comes to mind is Wormwood or Anniversary Artemisia. In Bulgaria it is called Sweet Wormwood and I think that describes it perfectly. Sweet spicy distinctive aroma its essential oil strongly stimulates, helps concentration and triggers emotions. In history, this herb was used as a protection against all evil. Nowadays we find it as a part of fragrant compositions for emotional healing and strengthening the aura. However, be careful, this essential oil is not suitable for children, nursing mothers and pregnant women. Its gentler variant, beautifully sweet-smelling flower water, Use it especially for relaxing baths. It stimulates the soul on an emotional level and perfectly relaxes the body on a physical level. It is also beneficial for oily skin.
Dragon Wormwood Tarragon
And what would you say to his relative Estragon, for example, or Wormwood tarragon, which is obtained from the flowering tops of the plant Artemisia dracunculus?! The Latin name of this plant means dragon or snake, from which we derive the historical connection of tarragon with protection against reptiles and their bites. For centuries it has also been used as a remedy for snakebites. The sweet herbal-spicy aroma with aniseed notes of this essential oil invigorates the mind, keeps it alert and stimulates our mental and creative powers. And what's more, it gives us courage and strength!
Joyful Rosemary
Another traditional protective herb against magic and witchcraft is Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis whether sage rosmarinus). It is one of the most aromatic and healing plants that has accompanied humanity since ancient Egypt. Its warm essential oil brings joy, happiness and strengthens confidence in one's own potential. It is suitable for low self-esteem, excessive thoughtfulness and doubts about every action. Its magic lies in purifying negative mental emotions and behavioral patterns.
Jalovce Energy Shield
And of course, I can't leave out Juniper essential oil, which dissolves and cleanses negative influences, literally creating a protective energy shield. The fresh scent with green undertones of the oil from juniper needles (Juniperus communis oil ) will take you to a fairy-tale forest of new possibilities in difficult moments of so-called "locking in" (or when we stand still and cannot move). Whereas the sweet-bitter woody aroma juniper berries or their fruits (Juniperus communis fruit oil) in turn strengthens courage and determination. Juniper hydrolate It is known for its anti-inflammatory, cleansing and draining properties. It stimulates blood and lymphatic circulation. Therefore, it is suitable for baths for “heavy legs” and cellulite.
Magical Elderflower
Perhaps a lesser-known magical herb is the last one on today's list – Elderflower (Sambucus nigra). This shrub was considered a magical tree and a symbol of regeneration, especially in Anglo-Saxon mythology. The Druids saw it as a gift from Mother Earth. In medieval England, its role shifted to a purely protective one. Elder bushes were planted near homes or its branches were hung on doors to protect its inhabitants from all evil forces. Elder wood was not burned and furniture was not made from it, because it was believed to have its dark side. According to some superstitions, witches sat under elder branches and could even change into them. So it is clear that having elder furniture at home would be playing with the dark side.
Nowadays, we can use the magical aroma of its flower water, which calms us and reduces mental and physical stress. Or indulge in its detoxifying effects on the urinary tract and kidneys in homemade lemonades and other drinks. But be careful, if you have chronic problems with these organs, you should avoid it and use it for hair rinses. It brings shine, vitality and fragrance to the hair.
There are a lot of magical herbs, so let's save some for next time. For now, take a look at one of the previous articles. The journey of essential oils from shamanic rituals to households.
Sources:
Naďová, Alena: A Woman in the Transformations of the Year. Reflection of the Natural Cycle in a Woman's Life. CPress, 2021.
FRAZER, James George. The Golden Bough. Translated by Věra Heroldová-Šťovíčková, Erich Herold. Pilsen: Aleš Čeněk Publishing House, 2007.
KG STILES – Essential Oils Complete Guide, 2019.
Gabriel Mojay- Aromatherapy for Healing the Soul, reprint 2019.
Dr. Josh Ax - Essential Oils: Ancient Medicine, 2016.
Susanne Catty - Hydrosols the Next Aromatherapy, 2001.
Lydia Bosson - Hydrosol Therapy, 2019.
https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pálení_čarodějnic
https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svatá_Valburga
https://padesatprocent.cz/cz/paleni-carodejnic-valpurzina-noc-filipojakubska-noc-nebo-beltine
https://www.denik.cz/z_domova/filipojkubska-noc.html
Beautiful article full of interesting information. Thank you.
Thank you.