Walpurgis Night is April 30th each year, the night before the pagan festival of Beltane. In Germany, Medieval and Renaissance tradition held that during Walpurgis Night (Walpurgisnacht), witches celebrated their sabbath and evil powers were at their strongest. On this night, the witches meet on Brocken, the highest peak of the Harz Mountains in central Germany. Villagers would light fires on the hillsides to protect themselves and their stock. In Bavaria, it is sometimes called Hexennacht, literally meaning “Witches Night”.

The Shoot

Our concept for our Myth and Magic shoot was thus; Morticia Addams had invited several friends to dinner to celebrate the witches sabbath. Her guests are three witches, a vampire family, the Grim Reaper, and Morticia’s serving girl Dorothy. This was the largest cast I had put together since our Addams Family shoot.

Morticia

Morticia is a witch, and her family tree can be traced back to Salem, Massachusetts. She is the matriarch of the mysterious and decidedly odd Addams family. Slim, with ashen skin and long flowing straight black hair, Morticia commonly wears black hobble dresses. These match her hair, with tightly form-fitting, with a fringe of octopus-like cloth “tentacles” at the lower hem. As is her tradition, on Walpurgis Eve, she is at her ancestral holiday home high in the Bavarian hills. Seeing that dinner is planned, Morticia has invited her dearest friends to meet with her over a few fresh “wines” to celebrate the Hexennacht.

Morgan Le Fey

Morgana is fresh from meddling in King Arthurs business. She is the possessor of the Philosopher’s Stone that grants eternal life. Morgana is also the oldest and most experienced witch to grace Morticia’s table.

Marie Catherine Laveau

Known as the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, Marie is a voodoo practitioner. A beautiful and wise woman, she holds the rank of the Supreme witch.

Sybil Leek

Sybil was taught witchcraft as a child by Alastair Crowley. One of the most famous witches in modern history, she has written many well-known books such as Diary of a Witch, Sybil Leek’s Book of Herbs, and Star Speak: Your Body Language from the Stars.

Marius De Romanus

Marius is a 2000-year-old Vampire. He was born in Rome in 30BC. Abducted by Druids when he was approximately 40 yrs old, he was made into a vampire by the God of the Grove just before the Feast of Samhain. In 1482 during a visit to Rome, he fell in love with the Venetian courtesan Bianca Solderini, subsequently making her a vampire.

Bianca Solderini

Bianca is an Italian vampire born in Florence, Italy, in the late 1470s. A Venetian courtesan, she is the partner of Marius, her maker.

Grim Reaper

The Grim Reaper is the Lord of Death. He carries a scythe that was traditionally used to harvest crops. However, in his case, he uses it to harvest souls. His signature and most mysterious skill is separating souls from the body. Most stories claim that this spectre’s mere presence will begin to draw the soul from the body. Then, when you take your last breath, he collects your soul with a well-practiced cut of his razor-sharp blade.

Harry the ‘ghoul’

Harry, who can only remember his first name, has been taken in by Bianca and Marius after finding him in Hogwarts’ ruins.

Dorothy the Possessed

Oz wasn’t quite like it’s been portrayed in books, and Dorothy has a devil of a time getting home. Morticia has provided her with a haven while she ‘recovers’.

Our Set

Our backdrops were four large polyester velvet backdrops. We set up two creating a corner of the interior – with our table in front, another two off to the side depicting the house’s exterior – and the forest they walked through to get there. The table was set with candles, potions, a spellbook and various drinks.

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