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The night from April 30 to May 1 is known as “Walpurgisnacht,” so beware the “witches” are out there!
It is not considered an official holiday but is still a noteworthy event for reasons that will become clear in a second.
In German folklore Walpurgisnacht is heavily linked to witchcraft and the supernatural. It is said that witches chose this day to dance on the peaks of hills and plague the populace by causing mischief.
Kids love the evening which is often simply called “Hexennacht” (witches’ night). You can think of it as a mix between Halloween and April Fools. A big part of the “holiday” is playing pranks on unsuspecting people. Usually this is limited to minor nuisances like spraying shaving cream on door handles and wrapping lamp posts in toilet paper.
On occasion some people might overdo it with the pranks. Just to be on the safe side, do not leave items out in your front yard as people might carry them off. If you own a garage, park your car inside to avoid cleaning up shaving cream in the morning or decorative toilet paper on the antenna or mirrors.
Sometimes kids will drape toilet paper across a street and demand a toll. Of course, you are not required to pay it, but just a few cents will spare you the pleading and the puppy eyes.
