This short story written by Bram Stoker is part of an anthology of the same name.
Bram Stoker is known by his Vampires stories and this a good way to start reading him if you are not familiar with the vampire genre.
Bram Stoker-Short Story
jueves, 17 de junio de 2010
Walpurgisnatch
The short story we are reading now takes place during a very popular German Holliday called "Walpurgisnatch". This celebration is held the night before May Day (April 30th to May 1st) and it is very similar to the anglosaxon celebration of Halloween.
In the short story the writer, Bram Stoker; describes it in this way:
"Walpurgis Night was when, according to the belief of millions of people, the devil was abroad--when the graves were opened and the dead came forth and walked. When all evil things of earth and air and water held revel."
In fact, "Wlpurgisnatch" has a pagan origin (the term pagan means basically not christian), and it is a festival in which the natives light bonfires to drive away winter and welcome spring.
Celebrated mainly in Sweden, Finnland, Estonia, Latvia, and Germany, "Walpurgisnacht" gets its name from Saint Walburga (or Walpurga), a woman born in what is now England in 710. Die heilige Walpurga traveled to Germany and became a nun at the convent of Heidenheim in Württemberg. Following her death in 778 (or 779), she was made a saint, with May 1 as her saint day. Later on when the Christians came to Germany and named the bonfire festival "Walpurgis" a time when evil spirits wander on earth and should be driven away usually with loud noises and fire.
In Germany the focal point of "Walpurgisnatch" is The Brocken the highest peak on the Harz Mountains. Also known as the Blocksberg, the 1142-meter peak is often shrouded in mist and clouds, lending it a mysterious atmosphere that has contributed to its legendary status as the home of witches (Hexen) and devils (Teufel).
Speak up! What do you think about this celebration?
What is the relevance of it in the plot of the story?
In the short story the writer, Bram Stoker; describes it in this way:
"Walpurgis Night was when, according to the belief of millions of people, the devil was abroad--when the graves were opened and the dead came forth and walked. When all evil things of earth and air and water held revel."
In fact, "Wlpurgisnatch" has a pagan origin (the term pagan means basically not christian), and it is a festival in which the natives light bonfires to drive away winter and welcome spring.
Celebrated mainly in Sweden, Finnland, Estonia, Latvia, and Germany, "Walpurgisnacht" gets its name from Saint Walburga (or Walpurga), a woman born in what is now England in 710. Die heilige Walpurga traveled to Germany and became a nun at the convent of Heidenheim in Württemberg. Following her death in 778 (or 779), she was made a saint, with May 1 as her saint day. Later on when the Christians came to Germany and named the bonfire festival "Walpurgis" a time when evil spirits wander on earth and should be driven away usually with loud noises and fire.
In Germany the focal point of "Walpurgisnatch" is The Brocken the highest peak on the Harz Mountains. Also known as the Blocksberg, the 1142-meter peak is often shrouded in mist and clouds, lending it a mysterious atmosphere that has contributed to its legendary status as the home of witches (Hexen) and devils (Teufel).
Speak up! What do you think about this celebration?
What is the relevance of it in the plot of the story?
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