Witches in Prague: Firefighters in Prague did not intervene once
The last night of April belongs to witches and those who welcome spring by burning symbolic fires. This custom, which originally had social, religious and protective significance, is now a social pastime. According to firefighters, however, the wine of negligence and inattention ends every year with unnecessary fires and burns. Therefore, before the celebrations, firefighters annually encourage caution and safety.
Weather plays the biggest role in the number of fires during witch celebrations. If the drought and heat are long before April 30, the fire will sound easierthan when the soil is soaked with water. A strong wind is also dangerous, which blows hot coals around and easily catches dry grass, for example.
According to an ancient tradition, the holiday was originally celebrated for the full moon, which was closest to the day exactly between the vernal equinox and the summer solstice. Fires were lit on the elevated places to protect them from the witches. To this day, only the firing of fires, during which one feasts or sings, or dances and jumps over a lit fire, has mostly been preserved. In addition, a witch’s figurine or brooms are being burned somewhere. The Celtic spring holiday Beltine falls on the same date, in northern Europe the last night of April is called Walpurgine.
Witch on Prague’s Ladronka.
Author: Blesk.cz – David Malík