the festival is named after saint walburga (known in scandinavia as "valborg"; alternative forms are "walpurgis", "wealdburg", or "valderburger"), born in wessex in 710 a niece of saint boniface. according to legend, she was a daughter to the saxon prince st. richard. together with her brothers she travelled to württemberg, germany where she became a nun and lived in the convent of heidenheim, which was founded by her brother wunibald. walburga died on 25 february 779 and that day still carries her name in the catholic calendar. however she was not made a saint until 1 may in the same year, and that day carries her name in the swedish calendar.