Night of the Witches: Folklore, Traditions & Recipes for Celebrating Walpurgis Night

$15.95

by Linda Raedisch

“Spring has come to the northern forest. The evening wind blows cold as the breath of the frost giants. Just overhead, there is a sound like the rushing of crows’ wings. Can it be a coven of witches has flown over these woods?

“On any other night, you would probably swear that there was no such thing as a witch?at least, not the kind that streaks through the sky on a broomstick with guttering taper and billowing cloak. But this is no ordinary night; it is the thirtieth of April, the eve of May. Tonight is Walpurgis Night.”

The roots of Walpurgis Night reach deep into the Pagan past, and modern Europeans celebrate it with as much abandon as their ancestors. Learn about the sacred rites of spring and the “lost” holiday has changed from a lusty fertility festival to a children?s night of fun and treats. Learn about brooms and how to make one, and meet a collection of old-time witches, from Ash Wives to Wolf Crones. This charming, impeccably researched book features a wealth of folklore and herb lore, plus original and traditional recipes, crafts, and activities.

240 pages | 5 x 8 x 1 inches

1 in stock

SKU: 9780738720586 Category: Tags: , , ,

Description

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter One: Goodbye Bedbugs, Hello Spring!

Germans and Celts. Burning herbs. Floralia. Beltane. Walpurgis Night. Crossroads of the year.

Chapter Two: The Brockengespennst and Other Tricks of the Light

Goethe?s Faust. The Brocken. Legends of the Harz. Brockengespennst. Toot Osel

Chapter Three: From Fertility Festival to Children?s Parade

Fairies and dwarves. The gods transformed. Sex, death and the Vanir. The Witches? Sabbath. The modern Walpurgis Night.

Chapter Four: The Good Walburga

Abbess Walburga. Legends of Saint Walburga. The folkloric Walburga. Walburga?s symbols: oat ear, spindle mirror; dog, oil flask.

Recipe: Walburga?s Oil.

Craft: Quilled Window Ornament.

Chapter Five: A Field Guide to Old World Witches

Alraune. Ash Wife. Bilwis. Cauldron Carriers. Drude. Easter Witches. Elder Mother. Hags. Valkyries. Weathermakers. Wild Women. Wise Women. Wolf Crones.

Recipes: Quarkkeulchen. Poor Hags. Crispy Witch Salad.

Crafts: Origami Kitchen Witch. Paper Crone’s Mask. Witch’s Hat.

Chapter Six: A Bit About Broomsticks and How to Make One

The Quintessential Witch?s Broom. Be Your Own Broom Squire. A Few Words of Caution. More Broomstick Superstitions.

Recipes: Broomstick Bread. Flying Ointment #1, Flying Ointment #2.

Activity: Flying License.

Chapter Seven: A Walpurgis Herbal

Angelica. Anise. Bear?s Garlic. Chervil. Dill. Fennel. Flax. Juniper. Mullein. Rosemary. Rue. Sage. Sweet Woodruff.

Recipes: Cold May Punch. Crappy Weather Tea. Fennel, Chicken and Potato Soup. Green Soup.

Crafts: Walpurgis Wand. Herb Bells. Runic Garden Staves. Hag Taper.

Chapter Eight: The Walpurgis Table

Valborg. Vappu; Carodejnice and the Burning of Morena;

Recipes: Smoked Salmon with Mustard Dill Sauce. Swedish Crisp Bread. Sima. Finnish May Day Biscuits. Green and Pink Beans. April Hoppelpoppel. Berry Porridge with Brocken Tops and Vanilla Sauce. Syllabub. Cucumber Sandwiches. Red-cap Cake.

Crafts: Magic Rune Lantern. Witch?s Brew Pouch. Ship of the Vanir Salt Cellar. Sonnenbarkenvogel Table Lamp. Greening Candles. Cauldron for a Day.

Chapter Nine: Getting the ?Coven? Together

Activities: Which Witch? Guessing Game. Fun with Runes.

Crafts: Toothpick Futhark/Runic Rubbings. Glitter Runes. Witch Boxes. Crayon Candles. Eleventh Hour Costumes. Walpurgis Wishes

Activities: Witch Walk. Witch Elections.

Conclusion: The True Witch

Glossary

Index

Additional information

Weight 0.7 lbs
Dimensions 8.25 × 5.5 × 0.75 in

NOTE: These are shipping dimensions only and may not represent the actual dimensions of the product.

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