German Easter Fountains- a German Easter Tradition
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One way towns in Germany prepare for Easter is by decorating fountains. These German Easter Fountains are covered with flowers and colored eggs, making them a festive centerpiece to the city center square.
History of Decorating an Easter Fountain in Germany
In parts of Germany, there was a tradition of drawing Easter Water (Osterwasser) for health and purification. Sprinkling it on the eyes was good for eyesight, and Farmers would give it to their animals to stay healthy. In Pomerania Easter Water meant Life and Fertility, and unmarried women would go to collect some before the sun came up… if she could sprinkle it onto the man she loved, there could be a wedding soon.
To honor the water, the giver of life, people would clean the wells in Springtime, and, over time, it became customary to decorate wells with ribbons, flowers and eggs.
The modern tradition behind the decorated fountains only goes back to the early 1900s. In 1909 the first Easter Fountain was decorated in Aufsess in Upper Franconia (Northern Bavaria). The idea spread, and in just a few years, fountains all around Franconia were being decorated. Unfortunately, the onset of WWII put a halt to the tradition.
In the 1980’s the idea of decorating an Easter Fountain gained traction again. The idea was to tie it in to the tourist industry, and it worked. BUSLOADS of tourists traveled to see the decorated fountains. And the custom is spreading throughout Germany. Today, wells are decorated with evergreen branches, flowers, paper ribbons, and plastic eggs (to combat vandalism and hold up to the elements).
Take a look at these beautiful German Easter Fountains
Teuchatz, Germany
Osterbrunnen in Teuchatz By Immanuel Giel – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6556217
Neckargemünd Marktplatz, Germany
From http://www.journey-to-germany.com/easter-in-germany.html
Tiefenpoelz, Germany
Wikipedia Creative Commons= Own work by uploader |Author=Immanuel Giel |Date=April 2009
Biberbach, Germany
Easter Fountain, Biberbach Germay photo from http://www.ferienwohnung-ebermannstadt.de/umgebung/umgebung.htm
Oberstadion, Germany
Schloßberg, Oberstadion, Land Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Kleingesee, Germany
Bierosterbrunnen – Beer Easter Fountain Kleingesee Germany
Bad Überkingen, Germany
photo- https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/Bad_%C3%9Cberkingen%3B_Osterbrunnen.jpg
Kornwestheim, Germany
Easter Fountain Dorfkirche Kornwestheim photo by Richard Schanz http://www.panoramio.com/photo/73899400
Göppingen, Germany
Osterbrunnen Faurndau, Göppingen, Germany photo by Helmut Oechsle
Ansbach, Germany
Ansbach Fountain photo https://www.pinterest.com/pin/11822017744457126/
You can see… many people enjoy visiting these beautiful Easter Fountains.
More Beautiful Easter Fountains
Love Seeing these Fountains? Maybe want to Try making an Easter Fountain in your Hometown?
You can find more photos in these Books.
Fränkische Osterbrunnen: Bilder mit Text (German Edition)
Osterbrunnen – Ausbreitung eines oberfränkischen BrauchtumsOsterbrunnen in der Frankischen Schweiz: Schwerpunkt und Ausweitung eines Brauchs (German Edition)Fränkische OsterbrunnenOsterbrunnen in Franken – Author: Kulla Alexander
Some are plastic eggs indeed, but most are still real blown out and intricately painted chicken, duck, and goose eggs, sometimes even ostrich eggs. They just have to be varnished correctly.