Easter is celebrated throughout Germany and is one of the most important festivals of the year. In addition to typical customs such as painting eggs, there are a number of other traditions associated with the Christian festival. TRAVELBOOK presents five well-known and popular Easter traditions in Germany.
Every year, with the beginning of spring, Easter also approaches, with which Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a big festival, especially for believing Christians and children who are looking for the colorfully painted eggs and other sweet treats and then nibble them. Numerous Easter customs are associated with him in Germany. Some are well known, others less so – and many have centuries of history.
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1. Painting Easter eggs
A widespread tradition at Easter is the painting and hiding of eggs. Children in particular paint hard-boiled eggs with different colors in the days leading up to Easter and on the holidays. The painted Easter eggs are often used as decoration or hidden so that the children can then look for them. Hiding the eggs is done – as parents often want their children to believe – by the Easter bunny. This Easter custom goes back a long way and has a religious background. Because the egg and the rabbit symbolize fertility, new life and rebirth in many places around the world.
While the egg symbolized the origin of the world for the ancient Egyptians, the egg also has a special meaning in Christianity. It symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. According to the children’s knowledge magazine Geolino In the Middle Ages, the eggs were painted red to evoke the blood of Jesus. Since the strict period of Lent begins around 40 days before Easter, freshly laid chicken eggs have been collected and cooked over the last week. This extended their shelf life – and so the eggs could be eaten and given away at Easter. Today, chocolate eggs and other sweets are given away or hidden in addition to painted chicken eggs.
2. Easter fire
In many cities and communities in Germany, a so-called Easter bonfire is lit at Easter. The exact background of this custom is unclear, but it is assumed that it is of pagan origin. Depending on the region, the fire is lit either on Good Friday, Holy Saturday or Easter Sunday and is intended to symbolize the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In earlier times, the Easter bonfire was also lit to drive away winter and welcome spring.
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3. Easter lamb
The traditional Easter meal in Germany is the “Osterlamm”. The lamb is also symbolic of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and recalls loudly “NDR‘ to the sacrificial lamb in the Bible. Jesus is also referred to as “Agnus Dei”, the “Lamb of God”, who was killed in order to give new life.
Most Easter is served with roast lamb or leg of lamb, dishes that were once eaten as the first meal after Lent on Easter Sunday. A cake in the shape of an Easter lamb is also popular these days.
4. Easter water
In the early morning of Easter Sunday it is customary in some regions of Germany to fetch water from a spring, the so-called Easter water. The tradition is pagan in origin and centuries old. It used to be believed that the Easter water would heal diseases and rejuvenate. Today, however, this Easter custom is “practiced less and less,” writes t-online. It is more likely to drink a schnapps at Easter, which is also called Easter water.
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5. Easter shrub
Twigs are used as Easter decorations, most often decorated with painted eggs, colored ribbons, feathers and other things. Traditionally, willow and birch twigs are used for the shrub NDR writes, to be cut and set up on Maundy Thursday so that they bloom on Easter Sunday.
