Editing Bonfire (section)

===Alpine and Central Europe===
{{Further|Pre-Christian Alpine traditions}}
[[File:Jahresfeuer ganz1Ausschn.png|thumb|Distribution of {{lang|de|Funkenfeuer}} in Alemannic Europe, France and Northern Italy. Red shows traditions of {{lang|de|Funkensonntag}} (the Sunday following [[Ash Wednesday]]), blue shows traditions of 1 March.]]
Bonfire traditions of early spring, lit on the Sunday following [[Ash Wednesday]] ({{lang|de|Funkensonntag}}, otherwise called [[Quadragesima Sunday]]), are widespread throughout the [[Alemannic German]] speaking regions of Europe and in parts of France. The burning of "winter in effigy" at the [[Sechseläuten]] in [[Zürich]] (introduced in 1902) is inspired by this Alemannic tradition. In Austria, the custom of the "''[[Osterfeuer]]''" or Easter fires is widespread, but also regulated in some cities, districts and countries to hold down the resulting annual peak of PM10-dust emission. There are also "{{lang|de|Sonnwendfeuer}}" ([[solstice]] fires) ignited on the evening of 21 June.

Since 1988 "{{lang|de|Feuer in den Alpen}}" (fires in the Alps) have been lit on a day in August on mountains so they can be seen from afar as an appeal for sustainable development of mountain regions.<ref>[http://www.feuerindenalpen.com/ Organizers of "Feuer in den Alpen"], see: "Hintergründe"</ref>

In the [[Czech Republic]] the festival called "Burning the Witches" (also Philip and Jacob Night, [[Walpurgis Night]], or [[Beltane]]) takes place on the night between 30 April and 1 May. This is a very old and still observed folk custom and special holiday. On that night, people gather together, light bonfires, and celebrate the coming of spring. In many places people erect [[maypole]]s.

The night between 30 April and 1 May was considered magical. The festival was probably originally celebrated when the moon was full closest to the day exactly between the spring equinox and summer solstice. People believed that on this night witches fly to their [[Witches' Sabbath|Sabbath]], and indeed this is one of the biggest pagan holidays. People also believed, for example, in the opening of various caves treasures were hidden. The main purpose of this old folk custom was probably a celebration of fertility.

To protect themselves against witches, people lit bonfires in high places, calling these fires "Burning the Witches". Some people took to jumping over the fire to ensure youth and fertility. The ash from these fires supposedly had a special power to raise crops, and people also walked their cattle through the ashes to ensure fertility.