Ostara and Easter- A Legend that May be Younger than You Think

While digging in to stories about Easter in Germany, I frequently come across references to the Germanic pagan goddess Ostara. In fact, Ostara and Easter appear to be so entwined, that even the word Ostern (Easter) comes from this goddess of Spring. And sources attribute many of the non-religious Easter symbols like eggs and rabbits directly to her. So, I…

German Easter Candy and Sweets to Fill Your Easter Basket

When I was young, we looked forward to receiving packages from my Opa a few times a year. Brown paper wrapped packages, tied up with string (actually twine… but Julie Andrews never mentions twine in her song). They came at Christmas (in the odd year he didn’t visit), our Birthdays, and Easter. After Mama carefully untied the knots and saved…

Sorbian Easter Eggs- How are they made, and who are the Sorbs?

Some of the most beautifully decorated Easter Eggs that I’ve ever seen are Sorbian Easter Eggs. My mother introduced us to them when we were children, and she remembered them from her childhood. You see, my Opa, her father, is from Weißwasser… a town in eastern Saxony, Germany, a town that once belonged to Upper Lusatia or Upper Sorbia. While my family isn’t…

The German Easter Holidays- Easter Weekend in Germany

Celebrating the German Easter Holidays is much more than just finding eggs or church on Sunday. You celebrate the Easter weekend in Germany! Although the country is becoming more secular, Easter feels much more celebrated or acknowledged than here in the US. I’m not talking about the commercial aspect. Yes, there are colorful eggs and decorations in every store. Still,…

Eierlikör Torte Recipe – Perfect for Easter or the Kaffeeklatsch

I am not a trained baker. What I am is a woman who loves to eat baked goods, so I started baking at home. I had a theory… If I have to bake it myself, I won’t eat as much, because it will take time/energy to create delicious baked goods, and I’m a bit lazy by nature. It turns out…

Write to the Osterhase, Hanni Hase, at the German Osterpostamt

Do you know someone who is excited about the Osterhase (Easter Bunny)? Why not get out some paper, pencil, and maybe some colorful markers, and let your little one write a letter to the Osterhase, Hanni Hase in Ostereistedt! The idea for an Easter Bunny Post Office came from an Advertising company in Hamburg back in 1982, as part of…

German Easter Nest Tradition- From Germany to Texas

My friend Chuck grew up in Yorktown, Texas, about an 1 ½ hours south of New Braunfels (the heart of German Texas), where his great great grandfather Johann Jost settled in 1848 after leaving Womelsdorf, Germany. Much of his family is still there. Because of the pandemic stay-at-home order, his sister is sorting through Afflerbach family history, and recently came…

Kinder for Easter- Fill the Easter Basket with Kinder Chocolate

Kinder for Easter… that’s how I grew up. So, I know how terribly disappointed many of you are that Kinder Surprise Eggs aren’t available in the United States (I cover that issue in depth here–> Kinder Eggs). Still, there are many other WONDERFUL Kinder Treats that will be more than welcome in ANY child’s Easter Basket. Kinder chocolate is always …

German Wooden Easter Decorations – The German Christmas Shop at Easter

[no_toc] I pull my German wooden Easter decorations out every year. Wooden Bunnies and hanging eggs from the Osterbaum (Easter Tree) makes the house feel more festive in the Springtime. And although Nutcrackers and other German Christmas Ornaments have taken off here in the US… it’s still more difficult to find German Easter Ornaments. This year, the German Christmas Shop…

Oma’s Münsterländer Struwen Recipe for Good Friday

Around Münster, a Good Friday without Struwen is unimaginable. So, every Good Friday, my Oma would make the . And now, thanks to my Tante Anne, I have the recipe for Münsterländer Struwen. These yeast dough pancakes satisfy hunger in a time of Fasting without appearing (as my aunt said) “üppig” (extravagant). Struwen are sweet, but not too sweet, topped…

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