Well, actually it is probably just a tradition migrated from Valborgsaften (Walpurgis Nacht) on the 30th of April, where Germany has large bonfires to ward of evil and witches are said to party on Brocken.
I think we used to celebrate it too in Denmark, but Sankt Hans has taken over.
Edit: Though note that the witch is burned and send to hell, places in Germany is just often used as synonyms for hell (which I find much more interesting). Ad pommern til (To Pommerania), sendt til Brocken, etc.
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Well, actually it is probably just a tradition migrated from Valborgsaften (Walpurgis Nacht) on the 30th of April, where Germany has large bonfires to ward of evil and witches are said to party on Brocken.
I think we used to celebrate it too in Denmark, but Sankt Hans has taken over.
Edit: Though note that the witch is burned and send to hell, places in Germany is just often used as synonyms for hell (which I find much more interesting). Ad pommern til (To Pommerania), sendt til Brocken, etc.