April is a very special time but not because Easter usually takes place. The month is the official halfway mark to October, which means it’s halfway to Halloween! I know some people may roll their eyes wondering why there’s a need to think so far ahead and speed through the year. However, I don’t see it that way. Half-o-ween is more of an occasion to keep the spooky spirit alive and serves as a reminder that everyday can be Halloween if that’s what makes us happy. It’s become such a big deal in the Halloween and horror community in my area that there are even a few events happening to celebrate it. I thought it’d be fun to round up some of the relevant content I’ve created on Vamp Jenn’s Corner and feature it here. Enjoy, and I hope you find a special way to commemorate Halfway to Halloween.
Walpurgis Night
No discussion about half-o-ween is complete without talking about Walpurgis Night, which occurs on April 30th. The date has become notorious as a second Halloween, not just because it marks the halfway point, but because the occasion also has roots in ancient pagan practices like Samhain, which takes place on October 31st.
Both holidays, Walpurgis Night and Samhain, embody a macabre essence. It’s believed the veil between the living and dead is at its thinnest during these times, and that we also need to protect ourselves from evil spirits. Although that sounds daunting, festivities actually involve a lot of merrymaking.
Before it was called Walpurgis Night, April 30 was connected to the Celtic Beltane Festival, which recognized this time of year as one of renewal, leaving behind the dark, cold months of winter and welcoming the warmer season ahead. Over in Germany, it was known as Witches Night, a time when witches’ powers reached their peak and people needed to perform rituals to protect themselves.
Beginning the eve of April 30th and continuing through May 1st, pagan festivals were held, where people just partied and had a good time, imbibing in alcohol and indulging in delicious food. It was a time to celebrate life, fertility and romantic relationships. And from the sources I read, mating rituals were quite popular.
Beltane was paid homage to in this ancient way up until about the 9th century, during which time it became Christianized, a fate experienced by many pagan holidays. The modern-day name “Walpurgis” comes from Saint Walpurga, who lived from 710 A.D. to 779 A.D. She was a British nun who traveled to Germany with her brothers to carry out missionary work and convert the masses to Christianity. She had a reputation for being a wondrous healer and allegedly had the power to ward off the spells of witches. Devotees claimed her supernatural abilities continued to help them even after her passing. A century after her death on May 1st, her remains were transferred to a church in Eichstatt, a town in Bavaria, Germany, and she was canonized. To overshadow its ties to paganism, Beltane became christened as Walpurgis Night.
Today, however, those pagan roots have not been forgotten, and many ancient traditions have been revived with celebrations happening in Northern Europe and Scandinavia. Here in the U.S., many of us enjoy paying our respects to the holiday and bask in its magical connotations.
This is a very brief overview of how Walpurgis Night came to be, and I hope it provides you with some context on its significance. There are plenty of sources that discuss the occasion in depth if you want to learn more.
Vamp Jenn’s Corner Blog Posts
Best Ways to Keep the Halloween Spirit Alive Year-Round
Celebrating Halloween Around the World
11 Dark Podcasts to Listen to Now
7 Gifts for the Spooky Soul in Your Life: While I created this during the gothmas holiday season a few years ago, the recommendations on this list are great for any special occasion.
Sinister Pointe’s Spooky Spirit Lounge: What better way to commemorate half-o-ween than by looking back at some of my spooky adventures over the years? This is one of them!
Inside the ‘I Like Scary Movies’ Experience: Another macabre memory to reminisce over to get you into the half-o-ween spirit.
Countdown to Halloween 2024 Guide: While this blog post is from last year, it’ll give you an idea of what to expect from my future guides.
Vamp Jenn’s Corner Podcast
Happy Walpurgis Night & Halfway to Halloween: Public link to my podcast episode.
Best Ways to Keep the Halloween Spirit Alive Year-Round (podcast version)
Celebrating Halloween Around the World (podcast version)
Half-o-ween Content by Other Creators
Eyestetix Studio via Unsplash
The Boulet Brothers’ Halfway to Halloween TV Special: This is a link to the official trailer, but you can watch the entire show on Shudder and AMC+.
Jade the Libra: Halfway to Halloween Mantel 2025
Spooky Little Halloween: How to Celebrate Halfoween
Shudder Horror Movie Streaming
Halfway to Halloween Expo: An event happening in Ann Arbor, MI.
Halfway to Halloween Festival: An event happening in Southern California.
Reign of Terror Haunted House Presents Halfway to Halloween: An event happening in Thousand Oaks, CA.
Waldorf Estate of Fear Presents Halfway to Halloween 2025: An event happening in Lehighton, PA.
Blumhouse Halfway to Halloween 2025: Blumhouse will be resurrecting three of their spine-chilling horror films at Cinemark theaters on select dates across the U.S.
Vamp Jenn's Corner 
Walpurgis is a big holiday in Sweden, where I am from originally. We make large bonfires, shoot fireworks (poor dogs), drink and eat and party, and there carnival like activities. In Uppsala, my student town, 50,000 people run down the street and shout. There are champagne breakfasts around town, and people ride home made decorative boats down the river (I did that). In addition, for Easter the children dress up as easter witches and go from house to house and ask for candy, like Halloween in the US. So I guess Sweden is a real Half-o-ween country.
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How fun! I’ve wanted to visit Sweden ever since reading The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo books, so if I do, Walpurgis sounds like a good time to go.
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Yes that is a fun festival
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