Heiliger Donnerstag (Holy Thursday) makes sense… but why is the Thursday before Easter called Grünerdonnerstag in Germany? The word “Heilige” or “Holy” makes sense, after all, the day is an important part of the Karwoche (Holy Week). The Thursday before Easter is associated with the Last Supper and the end of Lent. The night of Jesus’s betrayal and arrest marks…
Category: German Easter Traditions
Burning Easter Wheel In Germany- UNESCO Heritage in Lüdge
Cover image by Nifoto, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsIn 784 Charlemagne visited the town of Lügde, and according to his chronicler Einhard, witnessed large oak wheels stuffed with straw, set on fire, and sent rolling down the Osterberg to greet the Spring. What an impressive sight! Burning wheels of fire careening down the hill…sparks flying all around. Although no one…
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…
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 …