20 Facts Every Harry Potter Super-Nerd Should Know
17. The Death Eaters Were Originally The Knights Of Walpurgis
Much of JK Rowlings borrowed mythology has European folkloric roots, and this unused name is no different. Walpurgis Night, or Walpurgisnacht, is a German folkloric festival occurring on the night of April 30th, and is the eve of the feast day of Saint Walpurga. On Walpurgis Night, it was said that witches would gather in the wooded hills of the Brocken to hold revels with the Devil himself. Knights of Walpurgis, the predecessor for the slightly more wieldy - and slightly less fanfiction-esque - Death Eaters is clearly a clever play on the witchy mythology of this feast day. Though most likely purely coincidence, it may be interesting to note that Voldemort was defeated on May 2nd, meaning that the last day of the Death Eaters reign was May 1st, corresponding to the day of the feast of Saint Walpurga.
Canadian student. Spends probably an unhealthy amount of time enthusing over musicals, unpopular TV shows, and Harry Potter. Main life goal: to become fluent in Elvish.
