Moneytane
In New Zealand we have never heard of such a thing.
The last night of April is traditionally marked by spells, charms and bonfires. A similar holiday is celebrated in many European countries (Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Germany, Austria). Different countries refer to this holiday by different names.
We keep and celebrate the traditions of thousands of years, we teach our children to respect their ancestors. Yes, only a straw mannequin dressed in clothes is suitable for fire ( The girls are dressed in witch costumes, but we don't throw them into the fire anymore - we have pretty and smart girls - they just don't want to do magic anymore)
The night from April 30 to May 1 is still alive today and a very old folk holiday. Everything points to the fact that it is based on the most important Celtic holiday, Beltine. The popularity and importance of this holiday could not be broken even by the influence of Germanic culture and subsequent Christianization, this holiday was only adapted to the needs of the church.
In ancient Celtic, Beltine means "fire in honor of the god Belen" the teacher of the Druids and the protector of the people. The ceremony began on April 30 with the Druids lighting a fire from which the people of the oppida or village lit fires in their hearths (element of fire). Ceremonial dances (earth element) were performed around the fire. In some areas maypole (air element) was raised.
The Christianization mission first fought against this holiday, but then (again) very purposefully dedicated it to Saint Walpurgis, the fighter against dark forces (hence Walpurgis night). So it is a Christianized pagan tradition of the end of darkness and the beginning of a new fire of life.
During Walpurgis Night, the witches gather at their gathering to dance, feast and rejoice in all the evil they have done. Then they disperse or fly around on brooms to harm people, livestock and future crops. The task of every "proper housewife" was to protect herself, her family and the economy from the mischief of witches and devils.
https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%A1len%C3%AD_%C4%8Darod%C4%9Bjnic
https://www.google.com/search?q=Valpur%C5%BEina+noc&rlz=1C1NHXL_csCZ927CZ927&sxsrf=APwXEde65IDXLLAHhrdL9r8lVmV00d_Ymg:1683100188117&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiJ3tXm1Nj-AhUTg_0HHeuYBh8Q_AUoAXoECAMQAw&biw=1366&bih=625&dpr=1
I personally hate the Labor Day on the first of May, as a young man I had to go to parades with flags under communism - I was cold and there was no excuse for it - I hate this day :
,,Labor Day or May Day is an international workers' day celebrated on May 1 since 1890. The holiday was introduced in 1889 by II. international commemorating the outbreak of the American workers' strike in Chicago on May 1, 1886, which resulted in the Haymarket Massacre and subsequent trials. In the Czech lands, it was celebrated for the first time in 1890 on Strelecky Island in Prague,,
A nice day to the island with the best standard of living - you don't have to throw anyone into the fire there -humor.
Ivan
