The Knights of Walpurgis and Madam Malkin (Was: Black Names)

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 154303

Tonks wrote:
<snip>
> 
> I think the early DE were named the Knights of Walburga. What it all 
> means is a mystery IMO.

Carol responds:
Isn't it the Knights of Walpurgis? If so, it's a pun (like Knight Bus
and Knockturn Alley and many others) on Walpurgis Night, the festival
of Saint Walburga (good catch, Tonks!), an eighth-century Saxon nun.
The celebration of her sainthood somehow got mixed up with
celebrations for the arrival of spring involving bonfires. There's a
detailed explanation in Wikipedia: 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walpurgis_Night

Note to Catlady regarding Madam Malkin: "Malkin" means "cat," as in
"grimalkin" (gray cat). 
http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/malkin
http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/grimalkin

I think it's a surname, but since it's a derivative of Maud and can
also mean an untidy woman (not exactly the image I have of Madam
Malkin!), you could be right. Still, I'm betting on the cat connection
and the surname.

Carol