Q 01/05

May Day, 1 May, falls roughly halfway between which two astronomical points of the Northern Hemisphere year?

A) Winter solstice and spring equinox

B) Autumn equinox and winter solstice

C) Midsummer solstice and autumn equinox

D) Spring equinox and midsummer solstice

Answer · why

D) Spring equinox and midsummer solstice

Halfway between the spring equinox and midsummer solstice is why old European festivals treated May Day as the first day of summer, not mid-spring.

Q 02/05

Saint Walpurga, after whom Walpurgis Night is named, was born in which country?

A) England

B) Germany

C) Ireland

D) France

Answer · why

A) England

Walpurga was born in Wessex, England, around 710 and went to Germany as a missionary, becoming abbess of Heidenheim; her canonisation on 1 May gave Wa...

Q 03/05

At Beltane on 1 May, cattle were driven between two bonfires before being sent where?

A) To market

B) To the lord's estate

C) To the slaughterhouse

D) To summer pastures

Answer · why

D) To summer pastures

At Beltane, cattle were driven between two bonfires for protection before being sent to summer pastures; people also walked between the fires or leapt...

Q 04/05

Walpurgis Night on 30 April commemorates the canonisation of Saint Walpurga in which year?

A) 870

B) 970

C) 1070

D) 1170

Answer · why

A) 870

Walpurga was canonised on 1 May 870 by Pope Adrian II, the same day her relics were moved to Eichstätt, where pilgrims collect vials of 'Saint Walpurg...

Q 05/05

In parts of Europe, bonfires are lit on Walpurgis Night to ward off what?

A) Wolves

B) Plague

C) Frost

D) Witches

Answer · why

D) Witches

Saint Walpurga was invoked against 'pest, rabies, and whooping cough, as well as against witchcraft'.