May Day

The first of May has a lot of significance, both culturally and historically in Germany.

First of all, the night of April 30th, leading into the wee hours of May first is Walpurgisnacht. To the uninformed—as well as most of the media and people in Germany—Walpurgisnacht is a night of revelry and witchcraft similar to Halloween. Bonfires are built everywhere, and neighborhoods hold parties with grilling and games. However, the night is named after Saint Walpurgis, and Eighth Century Anglo-Saxon missionary from England to the Franks in what is now central Germany. Witches were indeed thought to revel on the night of April 30-May 1, but Saint Walpurgis is said to have battled against witches and pagans, as well as the pest, rabies, and whooping cough. So, people build bonfires on this night, not to celebrate witches, but to ward them off.

Also celebrated on May 1, as in much of the world, is Labor Day. In Eastern Germany, as in many communist countries, May 1 was less of a holiday and more of a mandatory celebration of the joys and benefits of communism. People were "encourage” to wear a carnation on their lapel and cheer on the government in parades taking place in every town. To not attend (and attendance was monitored) would risk you being exposed as an enemy of the State. Enemies of the State in extreme but all too common cases were punished by death.

So, as you celebrate this real holiday—be it Walpurgis or Labor day—be thankful that you are not a slave to the fear of witches or communist dictators, and enjoy your break from work. And ignore that punny, fake holiday that has outlived its welcome and its cleverness coming later in the week!