Walpurgisnacht & Tag der Arbeit

On the evening of 30 April, many Germans mark Walpurgisnacht with a Tanz in den Mai, literally “dance into May.” In the Harz mountains, especially around Thale’s Hexentanzplatz and Schierke, the night is staged with witch costumes, bonfires, open-air music, and crowds that stay out until midnight. The Harz version draws on the old belief that witches flew to the Brocken on this night. Elsewhere, the customs are less theatrical but still very recognizable: a Maifeuer bonfire, a village party, or a club night that carries people into 1 May. At outdoor events, you are likely to see sausages on the grill, beer stands, and people wishing each other “Schönen ersten Mai!” after midnight.

1 May is Tag der Arbeit, a public holiday across Germany. In big cities, the day often starts with demonstrations, union rallies, speeches, and banners organized under the date “1. Mai”; in Berlin and Hamburg, political marches can shape the atmosphere for hours. In many smaller towns, though, the most visible ritual is the Maibaum. A tall tree trunk or pole, stripped and decorated with wreaths, ribbons, and local signs, is raised on the market square, sometimes by hand and sometimes with machinery. In Bavaria this ceremony is especially prominent, and it often comes with benches, beer, music, and families staying in the square through the late morning or afternoon.

The pack has 36 words spread across these domains.