06/13/2026
A wee bit of history for you
Ever wonder about about the history behind the Hampden County Hexenbruts who perform at the Connecticut Witchcraft and Culture Fest in Hartford? Their story shows how tradition and inspiration ripple across the world.
When the Wolfshäger Hexenbrut, a German dance troupe from the Harz Mountains, released a 2016 witches dance performance, it sparked a global movement. The MA Hampden County Hexenbruts caught that spark and now perform right here.
The "witches gathering on the Brocken" legend they all celebrate traces back to Harz folklore. In 1668, Johannes Préetorius published "The Blocksberg Performance," documenting these local tales and locating the April 30th Walpurgis Sabbath at the Brocken with illustrations.
German philosopher Johann Wolfgang von Goethe later drew upon Préetorius's published work for his 1808 play Faust, cementing the legend in popular imagination.
So when the Hampden County Hexenbruts perform, they're honoring a cultural narrative.
Here in New England there are many examples of "witches gatherings" and the "Witches Sabbat" in records of d our witch trials. The Hartford Witch Panic included such an accusation.
That's why we're excited to have them there. It's cultural history, art performance, and celebration all at once.
**Source:** "Witches and Walpurgis Night," OUPblog, April 30, 2017.
