How to Celebrate Easter in Germany

Celebration of Easter in Germany, as with all other Christian countries, is a major event for Catholics as well as for Protestants. And many of the customs associated with its celebration are originally coming from this country, such as the used of decorated eggs and the Easter bunny.

Also, most kids get a two weeks holiday from school at Easter and you can see family and friends walking together outside at this time of year, enjoying the new warmth.

Easter Decorations

Many of Easter decorations used in Germany, and that the Germans brought with them while emigrating into other countries, come directly from the pagan Frühlingfest's (Spring festival) symbols of fertility such as the Ostereier (Easter eggs) and the Osterhasen (Easter bunnies).

But Germany has kept a few customs for itself only, such as the "Osterbaum" (the Easter Tree) and the "Osterbrunnen" (Easter Fountain).

The Osterbaum

These Easter trees can be made of branches from flowering bushes or of small living trees and bushes and are decorated with hand painted wooden eggs, hollowed out real eggs and little wreaths.

It brings a splash of colour in an otherwise often grey season, giving the towns' squares and streets a joyful air.

The Osterbrunnen

The Franconia region of Germany (Franken in German) is the only place where you will find the custom of the Easter fountain (or well). It is an old tradition celebrating the life giving water and it is believe that the water blessed on Easter Sunday morning has special powers.

Throughout the year, hollowed out eggs are collected, hand painted and string together to make colourful garlands that will be used to decorate the village's fountain. Arches and crowns, usually placed at the tip of the fountain, are also made of evergreen branches decorated with a eggs, little rabbits and roosters or hens. All these decorations on the fountain make the town centre a very colourful and festive sight, specially with the vendors' stalls around it on Saturday's Market before Easter.

Frohe Ostern! Happy Easter!
Hélène Dompierre is a Pastry Chef, Journalist and a Traveler who loves discovering new places and food, and experience other cultures!
She lived in Canada, Australia and Germany. Traveled in USA, Canada, Caribbean, Europe, Australia, North Africa and Japan. She traveled alone or with her family. And can't see herself ever stopping! She is also the web-master of Journey to Germany, a web-site aimed at helping people to discover Germany. Using her own family's experience at moving into a new country, she created this web-site as a practical guide to relocate more easily in Germany.