#Walpurgisnacht (Madoka Magica)

[feathered-yelloweye]

About Kriemhild Gretchen

Madoka's witch, Kriemheld Gretchen, might be based on the Brockengespenst (Brocken spectre). This is an atmospheric optical phenomenon (presumably) first described on the Brocken, in which the greatly enlarged shadow of the observer can be seen on a fog or cloud bench. The head of the shadow is often surrounded by coloured rings. The cloud/fog wall not having a smooth surface and being in motion makes the shadow appear ghostly.

Source (of both the image and the explanation I vaguely translated)

Source (just image)

As you can see the "spectre" itself resembles Kriemhild Gretchen in appearance; additionally one could argue that a small, seemingly inconspicuous Magical Girl turning into the witch with the potential to "destroy the world in ten days" is representative of a regular person's shadow turning into something so huge and imposing.

It's also important to note that the Brocken is associated with witches. This was "perpetuated by Goethe who described the Brocken as a centre of witchcraft revelry in his Faust. One of his scenes is of Walpurgisnacht, (Walpurgis Night, 30th April) when witches meet on Brocken to hold revels with their gods, and there are still bonfires lit on the mountain to this day." (Source)

You probably recognise Walpurgisnacht as the name of the witch that acts as the antagonist for the main series, which further solidifies the connection. (If you want to read up on Walpurgisnacht itself, I like this article)

Now this last point is something most people already know but I'd like to mention it anyways, for completion's sake. Walpurgisnacht's and Kriemhild Gretchen's silhouettes on top of each other make up an hourglass.

Here, I think it's interesting that Walpurgisnacht makes up the top part. She's there first, signifying the beginning of the end of the world, in a way, as the sand trickles down from her part of the hourglass — Kriemhild Gretchen then, who is destined to come after her as "even if Walpurgisnacht is defeated, a stronger witch is destined to appear after her" and holds the power to "destroy the world in ten days" is the lower part and signifies the end of time.

There's also an entire possible tangent to get into about Kriemhild Gretchen's name itself, but I need to re-read the Nibelungenlied before I feel like I can say what needs to be said about it.

[pemprika]

a love so eternally bedeviled 🌏

[mariorsomething]

new madoka movie announcement we are SOOOOOO back

[charlottesolstice]

[sammilimyy]

We are so back ✨

[wormontwostrings]

new trailer is changing my brain chemistry

[nqwhd]

i think im insane

[sour-macaron]

Homura [?]

I really enjoy the theory that this version of Homura we see in the newest walpurgis trailer is just one of her clara dolls. To me it kind of explains that empty smile she wears, as if she's just a vessel to hold her creator's desires

[faeriegirl]

I will go with hope.

[hellengomes]

[charlie-boyfriend]

IM SO EXCITED

[sayakube]

Puella Magi Madoka Magica The Movie: Walpurgisnacht Rising Trailer

[inspectorcrayon]

its finally happenin

[red-skady]

Me and the squad at the premiere of the new Madoka movie

[pastelsailorr]

I think every version of her would of wanted that dance to happen

[tothepointofinsanity]

God shattering star.

[Click for better quality.]