How Germans Celebrate Easter: Regional Traditions & Customs
germanculture
Germany is home to some of Europe’s most unique and diverse Easter traditions. While Easter egg hunts and the Easter Bunny (Osterhase) are well known, different regions in Germany have their own local customs, foods, and celebrations that make Easter even more special.
From Bavaria’s decorated Easter fountains to Northern Germany’s massive Easter bonfires, each area has its own take on the holiday. But what makes Easter in Germany so unique compared to other countries? And how do different German states celebrate it?
Let’s dive into Germany’s fascinating regional Easter traditions—some of which you might not know about!
A Nationwide Celebration: The Core Easter Traditions in Germany
Easter is one of the most important holidays in Germany, celebrated with religious services, festive meals, and outdoor activities. Here are some of the nationwide traditions found across the country:
Ostern (Easter Sunday): The highlight of the Easter season, featuring family gatherings, festive meals, and egg hunts.
Karfreitag (Good Friday): A public holiday where religious Germans attend solemn church services, and many observe a quiet day without loud celebrations.
Ostermontag (Easter Monday): A second Easter holiday, unique to Germany, where many families go hiking, visiting relatives, or attending local festivals.
While these traditions unite the country, different regions have their own unique Easter customs, deeply rooted in history and folklore.
Unique Regional Easter Traditions in Germany
1. Bavarian Easter Fountains (Osterbrunnen)
In Bavaria and Franconia, Easter is not complete without the Osterbrunnen—public fountains decorated with garlands, colorful eggs, and fresh flowers.
This tradition started in the early 20th century in Franconia and quickly spread across Bavaria.
Some towns, like Bieberbach, create elaborate displays with thousands of hand-painted eggs, attracting tourists from all over Germany.
The decorations remain on display for at least two weeks after Easter, symbolizing life, purity, and renewal.
2. Easter Bonfires (Osterfeuer) in Northern Germany
In Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, and Schleswig-Holstein, massive Osterfeuer (Easter bonfires) are lit on Holy Saturday as a symbol of driving away winter and welcoming spring.
The tradition dates back to pre-Christian times, when pagan Germanic tribes believed that fire had protective powers.
Today, it’s a community event where families gather around huge bonfires,enjoy grilled food, and listen to live music.
The biggest bonfires can be found in cities like Hamburg, Bremen, and Hanover.
In southern Germany, particularly in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, special Easter processions take place, featuring horse-riding parades and religious reenactments.
The most famous Easter ride (Osterreiten) happens in Upper Lusatia (Oberlausitz), Saxony, where horsemen dressed in black carry religious banners while riding from town to town.
These processions, dating back to the Middle Ages, are meant to bless the land for the coming spring and ensure a good harvest.
4. The Easter Egg Trees of Thuringia
In Thuringia, families decorate entire trees and bushes with Easter eggs, creating a breathtaking display known as the Ostereierbaum (Easter Egg Tree).
The most famous Easter tree was created by the Kraft family in Saalfeld, featuring over 10,000 hand-painted eggs!
This tradition is similar to Christmas trees, but instead of ornaments, the branches are covered in vibrantly colored eggs.
5. Sorbian Easter Egg Painting in Saxony
In Saxony and Brandenburg, the Sorbian ethnic minority practices the art of wax-resist egg decorating, creating some of the most intricate and stunning Easter eggs in Europe.
The Sorbs use beeswax and dyes to create geometric patterns and symbolic motifs, a technique passed down for centuries.
These eggs are considered lucky charms and are often given as gifts during Easter.
Easter in Germany is a holiday full of diverse traditions, blending Christian, pagan, and folk influences. From the bonfires of the North to the Osterbrunnen of Bavaria, each region celebrates Easter in its own unique way.
Whether you’re hunting for eggs, lighting an Osterfeuer, or visiting an Easter market, Easter in Germany is an experience like no other.
