Walpurgisnacht

April 30 in Germany is the eve of the feast day of St. Walpurga (8th century). Walpurgis Night, also known as Saint Walpurga's Eve and Walpurgisnacht, is the eve of the Christian feast day of Saint Walpurga, an 8th-century abbess in Francia, and is celebrated on the night of 30 April and the day of 1 May 

It is also called Hexennacht or ‘Witches’ Night’. It is supposedly the night of a witches meeting. This is the night they meet on the Brocken (the highest peak) in the Harz Mountain. The Harz mountains are located in central Germany between the rivers Elbe and Weser. The holiday is celebrated throughout Europe. Some celebrate with big bonfires that are meant to prevent the witches from going to the Brocken and also to keep away malevolent spirits. The day is also associated with May Day and is a way to welcome Spring!

Tomorrow might be May Day, but the revelry begins tonight.

In many areas of Germany, as well as northern and central Europe, it is WALPURGISNACHT...a legendary night of mayhem celebrating the arrival of spring.

A tradition from the time witches were thought to gather on the Brocken, enjoying themselves, whatever that involved for witches, while waiting for dawn to break and bring with it the beginning of summer.

Together with their pet bats and cats, Hexen flew around the Brocken, highest of north central Germany's Harz mountains, partying with the Devil and assorted warlocks creating occult mischief.

Maps of Germany were still drawn showing "Witches Areas", as a warning for unwary travelers, as late as the 18th century...so it seems they didn't appear just once a year.