Walpurgis Night

High school (ages 12+)
Holidays & Celebrations

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/walpurgis-night

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the date of observance?The night of April 30th and the day of May 1st
2. What is the saint walpurga's reputed powers?Protection against pestilence, rabies, whooping cough, and witchcraft
3. Why do people light bonfires on Walpurgis Night?The bonfires honor Saint Walpurga and help keep away bad spirits and witches. They also symbolize cleaning the land for the new season.
4. Who was Saint Walpurga?Saint Walpurga was a powerful abbess from the 8th century. She was known for healing people and protecting them from witchcraft.

Syncretism: The merging of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought.
Pagan Festivals: Ancient celebrations and rituals predating or existing alongside Christianity.
Relics: Objects associated with a saint, often considered sacred.