Walpurgis Night celebrated on April 30, is an old European tradition rooted in pagan spring rituals and later connected to Saint Walpurga. Last year, I wrote about this night as something magical and in-between seasons.
This year, I feel it’s simpler than that.
I celebrated it in my own quiet way.
I walk through our fields (in the rain and cold) and tried to pick whatever I can find — small signs of life returning.
Brougth them inside. Lit candles, to set the mood. And started to make a composition from the plants (hard to call them flowers) I found outdoor. This is what I made! Not bad!
I will take proper pictures later.
This night, for me, is also about time. How far we’ve come from early spring… and how close we already are to the summer solstice. I decided no to light the bonfire.. rainy, windy… I don’t need that. Insted I have candle light.
This year I wrote two lists:
- A list of things that make me feel good. Things that lifts up my mood. Things that inspire me. Things I can’t live without! (Not gratitude — John knows that that word doesn’t feel like mine.)
- A list of things I invite into my life for an upcoming time period.
Simple things. Real things.
Lists can be saved or burned in the bonfire. I feel that this year.
That’s it. I’ll have a moment with myself to acknowledge simple and real things in my life.
Ilze
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a day in the life of a latvian mom 
I love this. We all need some quiet time to reflect. Your blogs help me
do just that.
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Thank you… that really means a lot to me 🙂
Sometimes I write these posts just to slow myself down a little, so it’s special to hear they bring that feeling to someone else, too.
Do you have your own small way of creating quiet moments during the day?
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I love candlelight! I love what you have done with the candles and the plants. Its real . . . yes, I too remember celebrating Walpurgis Night > thank you for sharing yours . . .
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Candlelight really changes everything, doesn’t it… it makes even the simplest things feel more meaningful 🙂
I think that’s what I needed this year—something real, not too planned.
How did you usually celebrate Walpurgis Night when you did?
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To be honest, it is so far back I remember the name but none of the details 🙂 ! Loved that you brought it up tho’ !
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You do look cold. Wise decision to stay inside
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Haha, yes—I was definitely cold out there 🙂 It didn’t feel like a night for standing outside for long.
Staying in with candles felt like the right choice this time.
Do you enjoy evenings like that—quiet and indoors—or do you prefer being outside when the weather allows?
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We prefer outside, but can’t walk any more. Fortunately we have a garden to sit in.
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For how many years Jackie created the garden?
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It was completely overgrown when we came here 14 years ago. Then I was able to do so much more clearing work. Thank you very much, Ilze
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Only 14 years—wow, that really puts things into perspective! It’s amazing what can be achieved in that time, and honestly, it’s really inspiring. Sometimes I feel like I’ll never see the “glory days” of my garden—trees take so long to grow, and I’ve barely planted any yet. But your experience reminds me that 14 years isn’t that long after all… and maybe I just need to start 😊
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Much appreciated. But we were both retired and could spend all day every day on the work
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Derrick, I try to get inspired 🙂 don’t say it’s impossible 🙂
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