Maifeuer Westerdeichstrich

Walpurgis Tradition on the North Sea Coast

On Walpurgis Night — the night of April 30th to May 1st — May bonfires are lit in many communities in Dithmarschen and Schleswig-Holstein. The tradition is old and dates back to pre-Christian times: The spring fire was meant to drive away winter spirits and celebrate the transition to the warmer half of the year. Today, the volunteer fire departments usually organize the respective May bonfire for their village.

Westerdeichstrich and the Stinteck District

Westerdeichstrich is a municipality in the Dithmarschen district (state of Schleswig-Holstein), located at the transition between Geest and Nordseemarsch. The district of Stinteck is situated directly on the Wadden Sea and, with its beach and the Hennings riding stables, is a tourist-oriented part of the municipality. The Stinteck beach parking lot serves as a large open space for the May bonfire — with a wide view over the Wadden Sea landscape.

Program for April 30, 2026

The 2026 May bonfire follows the proven choreography:

• 6:30 PM — Gathering and catering begins at the Stinteck beach parking lot
• 7:30 PM — Lighting of the fire by the Westerdeichstrich Volunteer Fire Department
• Following that — Stick bread activity for children, further catering, social gathering

Embedded in the Dithmarschen May Bonfire Calendar

In Dithmarschen, over 40 May bonfires burn simultaneously on Walpurgis Night. The local press (Boyens Medien, dithmarschen.de) publishes a map of all May bonfires in the district each year — a tradition that elevates the May bonfire experience beyond the individual community into a regional ritual. Anyone driving through Dithmarschen on Walpurgis Night will see the fires glowing in the marshland from afar — a hallmark of the Dithmarschen district.