Mastodawn

📷 Matthias ⚓️3d ago

@ambivalena We have something similar here in northern Germany: Walpurgis Night. It is celebrated on the night of 30 April to 1 May, the night when witches held a great festival, particularly on the Blocksberg (actually ‘Brocken’), but also at other high points.

@Moorknipser We celebrate that too, "Valborsmässoafton" and it has the same origin that you have, but today we celebrate it for the arrival of spring.

📷 Matthias ⚓️3d ago

@ambivalena Oh, I see! Learnt something new again.

Bob Tregilus 3d ago

@ambivalena Nice story! Maybe a witch, but it looks more like a swallow or a kestrel in flight to me--kind of a scary big one too!

@elaterite Thanks a lot Bob, and I can see that too :)

And yes it is a nice story, the origin goes way back in time.

Bob Tregilus 3d ago

@ambivalena Well, a party with witches sounds like fun! As long as the devil stays home. 😉

@elaterite Ha ha, well they used the Devil for sex, so no he has to be there ;-)

Bob Tregilus 3d ago

@ambivalena Ha ha, no comment. 🙄

@elaterite Ha ha ha, no need for that 😆

I saw a bird first, but a witch makes perfect sense too! 😲 German witches have their party on the Blocksberg, which is an old name for the Brocken. 🤓 Nearby, there's a famous plateau called Hexentanzplatz – Witches' dance floor! 🧙‍♀️💃 They gather on the night of 30 April for Walpurgisnacht (Walpurgis night), probably after they've finished celebrating in Sweden! 🤭

@meoralis It does look like a bird too, and yes I just got that explained in the thread underneath the image :) And this has the same origin that your party on the Brocken. We celebrate that to but more for the arrival of spring these days and in history to scare witches and evil spirits away with the fire.

@[email protected] Damn, I'm typing too slow! 😂 Celebrating spring is a wonderful reason for a party!

@meoralis Ha ha ha, don't you just hate to be late ;-)

Germany and Sweden have a lot of common origin folk tales, these are not the only onces :) And a lot of similarities in the language too :)

I wish we had @[email protected] more trolls in our folklore! 🙂 Unfortunately, I don't speak a word of Swedish, but I often recognize words in your or wimi's posts and that always makes me happy! 😁 But actually speaking the language is an entirely different kettle of fish, isn't it? With a k that can sound like a sh in certain words? 😵‍💫

https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huldra

@meoralis Yes, you definately need more trolls and Huldra and Skogsrå and more.

I don't know if you can translate these sites on wiki about Huldra and Skogsrå, but I hope so

https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skogsr%C3%A5et

He he, well that is of course a totally different thing to see some words you recognize and to speak or read it :)

Huldra – Wikipedia

@[email protected] Oh wow, Huldra and the Skogsrå sound really badass (and like a cool name for a band, haha)! I bet they never had to choose between a man and a bear ... 🫣

@meoralis Ha ha, I think there is a band with the name of Huldra, but not sure. And yes it would be cool names for a band.

Ha ha, thats probalby true 😆

𝕋𝕠𝕞 3d ago

@ambivalena Incredible shot! That cloud really looks like a figure racing through the sky. Interestingly, here in Poland, especially in the Kashubian region, we have very similar legends about gatherings on Rowokół Mountain. It seems that witches know no borders and they all have a busy weekend ahead!