German Easter traditions are a colorful mix of old European spring customs, Christian beliefs, and a strong love of the new season. Easter in Germany is much more than hunting for eggs. It includes meaningful symbols, special foods, and many local activities. Together they celebrate new life, a fresh start, and light returning after the dark winter months.
Some parts of German Easter may seem familiar, like the Easter bunny, but many customs give real insight into German history and culture. Easter is firmly fixed in the German year. Families often celebrate over several days, combining quiet religious moments with happy get-togethers. Homes are decorated, special dishes are cooked, and towns and villages hold events that make Easter in Germany feel very special.
When and Why Is Easter Celebrated in Germany?
In Germany, Easter, called Ostern, is seen as the most important Christian festival, even more important than Christmas from a religious point of view. It marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who, according to Christian belief, died on Good Friday and rose again on Easter Sunday. This event is at the center of the Easter celebration.
Unlike Christmas, which always falls on December 24th-26th, the date of Easter changes each year. Church rules say that Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the start of spring. In the church calendar, spring begins on March 21st, so Easter can fall between March 22nd and April 25th. The main celebrations usually start on Maundy Thursday (Gründonnerstag) and end on Easter Monday (Ostermontag). Many people in Germany enjoy a long weekend, and schoolchildren often have a two-week Easter break (Osterferien), which shows how important this holiday is nationwide.
What Customs Mark the Holy Week (Karwoche)?
The week before Easter Sunday is called Karwoche, or Holy Week. It is a time of reflection and preparation. It starts with Palm Sunday, one week before Easter, often marked by processions where people carry palm branches to remember Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.
Maundy Thursday (Gründonnerstag, literally “Green Thursday”) marks the end of Lent. Although the name comes from an old German word related to mourning, many people now link it with the color green. Because of this, eating green food has become a fun tradition. Spinach is very popular, and many households serve a large green salad. In the Frankfurt area, a traditional green herb sauce is almost expected. In earlier times, people also used this day for a big house clean, called Osterputz, or Easter cleaning, which many now spread across early spring. Before Easter Sunday, church bells fall silent to mark Christ’s suffering and death. According to local stories, the bells “fly” to Rome to be blessed by the Pope and return on Easter Eve to ring in the resurrection.
Good Friday (Karfreitag) is a public holiday and is observed as a quiet, serious day. Many people avoid meat and have fish with their families instead. Dancing in public venues is banned in all German states on this day to keep the atmosphere calm and reflective. The Easter Vigil, held between Saturday evening and early Sunday morning, is another key part of Holy Week. A small fire is lit in front of the church, and from it the Easter candle is lit and carried inside, showing the light of Christ entering the darkness.
Easter Symbols and Decorations in Germany
German Easter traditions use many symbols and decorations that carry strong meaning and also look beautiful. Many go back to pre-Christian times and fill houses, gardens, and town squares with bright spring colors. Each element, from the Easter Bunny to decorated trees, adds to the story of Easter and joins older spring customs with Christian beliefs.
Families often spend time crafting together. Children learn from parents and grandparents how to paint eggs or hang them on branches. These symbols do more than just decorate rooms; they are part of games, displays, and celebrations, and form an important part of Easter in Germany.
What Is the Significance of the Easter Bunny (Osterhase)?
The Easter Bunny, or Osterhase, is one of the best-known Easter symbols in Germany and far beyond. Its roots lie in old European spring festivals that honored new life. Both the hare and the egg have long stood for fertility and renewal. They appeared in stories linked to figures such as Aphrodite and the Germanic goddess Holda.
The first written link between rabbits and eggs appeared in 1682 in the book “De ovis paschalibus – von Oster-Eyern” by Georg Franck von Franckenau. He described hares hiding eggs for children at Easter and warned jokingly against eating too many. For many years, other animals also “brought” the eggs, depending on the region: cuckoos, foxes, roosters, or storks. By the early 1800s, however, the hare became the main Easter animal. German immigrants then took the Easter Bunny to America, where children built nests for the Osterhase. Today many German children still believe that if they behave well, the Osterhase leaves a nest of colored eggs for them to find. The commercial side has grown too: around 200 million chocolate bunnies are made in Germany each year and fill shops long before Easter.
Why Do Germans Decorate Easter Egg Trees (Ostereierbaum)?
Decorating trees or bushes with Easter eggs, called Ostereierbaum, is a long-standing German custom that brings bright color to both gardens and living rooms. Its exact origin is unclear, but it has become very popular and is now seen in many European countries. Bare branches covered with colorful eggs are a common sight before Easter, outside homes as well as in shops and offices.
Many families cut branches from blossoming trees or forsythias on Maundy Thursday, put them in a vase, and decorate them with painted eggshells before Easter Sunday. These can be real, hollowed-out shells or eggs made from plastic, wood, or ceramic. One famous example is the Easter egg tree in Saalfeld, Thuringia. The Kraft family decorated an apple tree in their garden for 50 years, from 1965 to 2015. They started with 18 plastic eggs and ended with over 10,000 mouth-blown, hand-painted eggs. Today, the city of Saalfeld continues the tradition in Schlosspark, where many visitors come to admire it each year.
What Are Painted Eggs (Bunte Eier) and How Are They Used?
Painted eggs, called Bunte Eier (colorful eggs) or Ostereier, are a key part of Easter in Germany and full of meaning. Coloring hard-boiled eggs is very old and existed long before Christian traditions. Written records of painted eggs in Germany go back to the early 1200s. Eastern Orthodox Christians were among the first to color eggs, and in Germany people later began to hang them on trees.
Today, many families dye hard-boiled eggs for egg hunts or as small gifts. The bright colors recall spring flowers and often carry symbolic religious meanings: red stands for Christ’s sacrifice, yellow for the search for wisdom and insight, white for purity, green for innocence, and orange for strength and determination. Painted eggs are not just for show; they are also used in many Easter games. The Sorbs, a Slavic minority in eastern Germany, are especially famous for their detailed wax-resist egg designs, which you can see in places like the Spreewald Museum in Lübbenau. Giving Easter eggs has become a friendly gesture that goes beyond religion and culture, bringing joy to children and adults alike.
Eggs on Twigs (Osterstrauch): Meaning and Practice
The “Eggs on Twigs” decoration, called Osterstrauch, is a simple and charming Easter custom in Germany. It literally brings signs of spring into the home. People decorate cut branches from early-flowering bushes such as forsythia or pussy willows with colorful eggs and place them in vases.
To make an Osterstrauch, many families hollow out eggs. They carefully prick a hole at each end, blow out the contents, and then paint or decorate the empty shells. Once dry, the eggs are hung on the bare branches with ribbons. The finished Osterstrauch is like a small Easter tree and stands for new life and the return of nature after winter. It is a very popular decoration across Germany and adds a homemade feel to the celebrations.
What Is the Role of Easter Bouquets and Fountains?
Besides individual eggs and twigs, German Easter also features larger decorations such as Easter bouquets and Easter fountains. Easter bouquets work much like the Osterstrauch: branches from blossom trees or forsythias are placed in a vase and decorated with painted eggshells. They often stand in living rooms or on dining tables as bright reminders of spring and the holiday.
The Easter fountains, or Osterbrunnen, are even more striking. This custom began in Franconian Switzerland (Fränkische Schweiz) and later spread through central and southern Germany. Villagers decorate public fountains and monuments with greenery and many colored eggs, often arranged in arch or crown shapes. The tradition likely started in the early 1900s to draw visitors to the region and to honor both water as a source of life and Easter as a celebration of renewed life. These fountains are community projects and show the close link between Easter customs in Germany and the natural cycle of the seasons.
Traditional German Easter Activities
German Easter is not just about decorations and food; it is also full of activities that bring people together. Some are light-hearted games with eggs, others are serious religious events with long history. Many of them echo the themes of new life, community, and the arrival of spring.
From egg hunts full of excitement to processions filled with faith and tradition, these customs give people of all ages a way to take part in Easter. They help pass stories and habits from one generation to the next and keep German Easter traditions alive and active.
How Is the Easter Egg Hunt Organized?
The Easter egg hunt is one of the favorite parts of Easter for children in Germany. Kids search for treats hidden by the Easter Bunny, a practice that has existed in Germany since at least the 1600s.
On Easter Sunday morning, children look for chocolate eggs, sweets, and sometimes small rabbit toys. The treats are usually hidden outside among trees and bushes. If the weather is poor, the hunt moves indoors. Parents tell children that the Easter Bunny has visited and left colored eggs, gummy bears, and chocolates in nests or baskets. Some towns, such as Weimar, even organize official hunts for children, showing how important this activity is for local communities. The joy of searching and finding the hidden surprises makes the egg hunt a highlight of Easter in many German families.
How Do Games like Egg Tapping (Osterei Titschen), Egg Roll (Osterei Schieben), and Egg Throw Work?
Painted Easter eggs are also used for several traditional games in Germany. These games add fun and friendly competition to the celebrations and are popular with both children and adults.
- Egg Tapping (Osterei Titschen): Also known as egg-pecking, this game needs two players. Each holds a hard-boiled egg. They tap the pointed ends together until one cracks, then repeat with the round ends. The egg that stays whole wins. A quick, well-aimed tap can make all the difference.
- Egg Roll (Osterei Schieben): In this game, hard-boiled eggs are rolled down a grassy hill. Children may use sticks to free stuck eggs. The egg that reaches the bottom first is the winner. Watching the eggs race down the slope is part of the fun.
- Egg Throw: For this more unusual game, players use a wool slingshot to throw hard-boiled eggs as far as they can across a meadow. The long grass helps protect the eggs when they land. In southern Austria, a related custom involves throwing eggs over a house and burying them on the other side as a sign of good luck.
- Egg Run: In this race, players balance a raw egg on a spoon and run about 25 meters. Whoever reaches the finish line first with an unbroken egg wins.
These games show how central eggs are to German Easter and how they are used for both play and tradition.
Easter Riding (Osterreiten): A Unique Procession
Osterreiten, or Easter Riding, is one of the most eye-catching Easter customs in Germany. It is mainly kept alive by the Sorbian minority in the Catholic parts of Upper Lusatia, southwest of Berlin. On Easter Sunday, men ride on horseback through the area in a long procession.
The riders usually wear formal clothing with top hats, long coats, and black ties. Their ride announces the resurrection of Jesus Christ and spreads the message through the countryside. Each year, people line the streets to watch this special event. Osterreiten expresses both strong faith and local pride and shows how varied Easter customs are in different parts of Germany.
Easter Bonfire (Osterfeuer) and Its Historical Roots
The Easter bonfire, or Osterfeuer, is a very old and widespread custom, especially common in rural northern Germany. These large fires are usually lit on the evening before Easter Sunday or on Easter Sunday night. They celebrate the coming of spring and the victory of light over darkness.
The origins of the Osterfeuer go back to pre-Christian times, when people burned big fires to welcome spring and drive away winter. Later, the church adopted the fire as a symbol for Christ’s resurrection. Today, people gather around the bonfire as a community event, often organized by local fire brigades. Sometimes the Easter candle is lit from the bonfire and carried into a dark church to connect the old custom with the church service. Often, part of the wood used for the bonfire comes from old Christmas trees, marking the end of the winter season. In Hamburg, huge Easter bonfires along the River Elbe attract many visitors and are an important part of the city’s Easter celebrations.
What Is the Burning Easter Wheel?
The Burning Easter Wheel is a dramatic and very old fire custom related to the Osterfeuer. It also started as a spring ritual and offers an impressive light show: large wooden wheels, set on fire, roll down a hillside at night.
Today, this tradition is best known from Lügde in North Rhine-Westphalia, where it takes place on Easter Sunday. The wheels, usually made of oak, are carefully built and filled with straw. Once lit, they glow brightly as they roll down the slope, watched by many spectators. The burning wheel stands for the sun and its power to bring warmth and life, making this event a strong symbol of the changing seasons.
Popular German Easter Foods and Recipes
Easter in Germany is closely tied to food. Over several days, families enjoy special dishes with religious and seasonal meaning. Meals range from simple fish on Good Friday to rich roasts and sweet cakes on Easter Sunday and Monday. Many recipes are linked to the end of Lent and the joy of eating together again after the fasting period.
Cooking and baking for Easter is often a family affair, with recipes handed down over generations. From meat dishes to sweet pastries, these foods help shape the festive mood and bring relatives and friends around the same table.
Traditional Easter Meals for the Five Days of Celebration
Easter celebrations in Germany stretch over several days. Each has its own food customs that people look forward to every year.
- Gründonnerstag (Maundy Thursday): As the name “Green Thursday” suggests, green food is common on this day. Families often eat Seven Herb Soup, spinach, or a large green salad to welcome the fresh growth of spring. In the Frankfurt area, green herb sauce is especially popular.
- Karfreitag (Good Friday): Because this is a serious day remembering Christ’s death, many people skip meat. A simple fish meal is traditional and reflects Christian rules on fasting.
- Ostersonntag (Easter Sunday): Easter Sunday is the main feast day. Families gather for a big meal, with lamb as a typical main course. Lamb stands for innocence and humility and in Christianity represents Jesus as the Lamb of God. Some families serve roast lamb, others choose hare or another festive roast.
- Ostermontag (Easter Monday): As another public holiday, Easter Monday often means another family meal. Many people eat leftovers from Sunday, sometimes as Eier in grüner Soße (eggs in green sauce), which uses hard-boiled eggs and herb sauce. In parts of Eastern Europe, there is also a playful custom on this day where young men sprinkle water (or perfume in Hungary) on others, which can turn into cheerful water fights.
These meals bring together faith, seasonal ingredients, and family time, rounding out the long Easter weekend.
Easter Lamb Cake (Osterlamm) and Its Symbolism
The Easter Lamb Cake, or Osterlamm, is a much-loved sweet dish in Germany and some neighboring countries. It is a simple sponge or pound cake baked in a lamb-shaped mold and usually covered with white icing or powdered sugar. Sometimes a small flag is added to the lamb’s back.
The lamb is one of the strongest Christian symbols of Easter. With its white wool, it has long been used as a sacrificial animal. In Christian belief, it represents Jesus, who is called the Lamb of God. The cake on the Easter table is a tasty reminder of this image and often plays a central role at the Easter Sunday coffee table.
The Most Popular German Easter Cakes and Sweets
Those who enjoy sweets have a lot to look forward to at Easter in Germany. Bakeries and supermarkets start offering special Easter treats soon after the Christmas products disappear. Many of these sweets are shaped like spring symbols and add color to the Easter table.
In addition to the Osterlamm, one of the best-known baked goods is the Osterkranz, a ring-shaped bread or cake. It is often made with yeast dough, decorated with dried fruit, and sometimes holds colored eggs in its twists. From the early 1900s, bakeries also began to offer bunny-shaped pastries. Over time, hollow chocolate bunnies became very common, often produced using spinning molds adapted from beekeeping tools. Today there is a great variety of bunny and egg-shaped sweets made from chocolate, marzipan, and other ingredients. Families enjoy these cakes and sweets after the main meals, giving Easter a deliciously sweet finish.
Ostern Bunny Brioches and Other Baked Goods
Besides large cakes, smaller baked treats are an important part of Easter in Germany. Bunny-shaped brioches are especially popular. These soft, slightly sweet breads often have raisin eyes or a light sugar coating and are favorite snacks for children during the Easter holidays.
Many bakeries also sell rich sweet breads and rolls, often flavored with citrus peel, vanilla, or spices. People enjoy them at breakfast, brunch, or afternoon coffee. Shaping dough into bunnies or eggs connects baking with the main Easter symbols and turns a simple meal into a playful, themed treat.
Easter Brunch Customs
Easter brunch is a key part of the holiday for many German families. It usually takes place on Easter Sunday or Monday and offers a relaxed setting after the excitement of the morning egg hunt. Tables are often nicely set with good dishes and fresh flowers.
A typical Easter brunch is quite generous. It may include an Osterkranz, a selection of Aufschnitt (cold meats and cheeses), and plenty of fresh Brötchen (bread rolls) from the local bakery. Chocolate in many forms – especially bunnies and eggs – is almost always present. The colored hard-boiled eggs from the egg hunt are often peeled and served too. This long, shared meal gives families time to talk, relax, and enjoy the holiday together.
Regional Variations in German Easter Traditions
Many Easter traditions are common throughout Germany, but local customs give each region its own style. Differences in history, religion, and landscape have shaped how people celebrate. From special decorations to unique processions, each area adds its own flavor to the shared Easter story.
These regional customs are important parts of community life. They show local pride and offer visitors a chance to see how one holiday can be celebrated in many different ways across a single country.
Easter Fountains in Franconia
One of the most charming regional traditions is the decoration of Easter fountains, or Osterbrunnen, which began in Franconian Switzerland (Fränkische Schweiz) in Bavaria. Public fountains and wells are covered with greenery and thousands of colorful eggs. The eggs are often arranged in careful patterns, sometimes forming crowns or arches.
The custom likely started in the early 20th century to draw visitors to this hilly region and to honor the importance of clean water. Over time, it spread to other parts of central and southern Germany. The finished fountains are community works of art and show both local creativity and neighborly cooperation.
Good Friday Procession in Bensheim
In the town of Bensheim in southwestern Germany, Good Friday is marked by a solemn procession that reenacts the crucifixion of Jesus. Each year, thousands of onlookers gather for this event, which stands out among German Easter customs.
The tradition came to Bensheim with migrant workers from southern Italy and closely follows the style of processions in their home regions. Participants dress in costumes that recall the time of Jesus and carry crosses and other symbols through the streets in a slow, serious walk. This gives Good Friday a very emotional and reflective tone and shows how customs from other countries have become part of German Easter life.
How Traditions Differ from Bavaria to Hamburg
Easter customs in Germany vary a lot from south to north, shaped by different religious and cultural backgrounds. While all regions share the basic themes of resurrection and spring, they express them in different ways.
In Bavaria, especially in Catholic areas, Easter traditions often have a strong religious character and are quite detailed. The Osterbrunnen in Franconia are a good example, with their rich decorations. Serving lamb and baking Osterlamm cakes is common. In Sorbian regions such as Upper Lusatia (in Saxony and Brandenburg), Osterreiten (Easter Riding) is a highlight, showing a mix of Slavic and German traditions.
Further north, in places such as Hamburg and Lower Saxony, older spring and fire customs play a larger role. Osterfeuer (Easter bonfires) are extremely popular and can be very large, especially along the River Elbe in Hamburg. Although these fires are now often linked to Christian meaning, they still carry strong traces of earlier spring rituals. In Lügde in North Rhine-Westphalia, the Burning Easter Wheels offer a spectacular reminder of ancient fire ceremonies. Across all regions, supermarkets sell plenty of chocolate eggs and bunnies, but local customs and community events remain central, giving Easter in Germany a rich and varied face.
Frequently Asked Questions about German Easter Traditions
Why Are Easter Eggs Associated with Easter?
Eggs have been linked to Easter for many centuries. Long before Christianity, eggs were seen in Europe as symbols of fertility, new life, and spring. They fit naturally into festivals that marked the end of winter and the start of a new growing season.
In Christianity, the egg gained another layer of meaning. It stands for Christ’s resurrection: just as a chick breaks out of its shell, Jesus is believed to have risen from the tomb. For a long time, red-dyed eggs in particular were used to show Christ’s sacrifice. During Lent, many people did not eat eggs. When the fast ended, boiling and coloring eggs was a way to mark which ones were ready to eat. People used plant dyes to change their color. Over time, eggs began to appear in many colors and designs, and the habit of giving, hiding, and hunting for them spread across cultures and religions, mainly as a fun spring custom.
Why Does the Easter Bunny Hide Eggs?
The idea of the Easter Bunny hiding eggs comes from a mix of old beliefs and later writings. Hares and eggs were both ancient symbols of fertility and new life and were tied to spring. The first known written link between the Easter hare (Osterhase) and hidden eggs appears in a 1682 book by Georg Franck von Franckenau, who described hares hiding eggs for children.
For some time, different regions believed that different animals delivered the eggs – such as cuckoos, storks, foxes, or roosters. Gradually, during the 19th century, the hare became the standard Easter animal. German immigrants then brought the story of the Osterhase to the United States, where it quickly became popular. Today, many German children are told that the Easter Bunny visits gardens on Easter Sunday and leaves colored eggs, gummy sweets, and chocolate in nests or baskets. This playful story adds mystery and excitement to the Easter egg hunt.
What Is the Meaning of Easter Greetings (Ostergrüße)?
Sending Easter greetings, or Ostergrüße, is a friendly and common habit in Germany. People usually say “Frohe Ostern,” which means “Happy Easter,” to family, friends, and colleagues around the holiday weekend.
Many also give small presents, such as baskets filled with chocolate, decorated eggs, or little gifts. These gestures strengthen social ties and spread good mood at the start of spring. Saying “Frohe Ostern” or sharing a small treat is a simple way to wish others health, happiness, and a pleasant holiday time.
Are Shops Closed During Easter in Germany?
Yes. For most of the Easter weekend, shops in Germany are closed. Good Friday (Karfreitag), Easter Sunday (Ostersonntag), and Easter Monday (Ostermontag) are public holidays. On these days, almost all stores and supermarkets are shut, with only a few exceptions such as some shops at train stations or airports.
On Easter Saturday (Ostersamstag), shops are open as usual, so people can buy food and gifts for the coming days. Public transport runs on a holiday timetable over the long weekend, which makes towns and cities feel quieter than normal. The general slowdown of daily life encourages people to spend time with family, take part in Easter customs, and enjoy a pause from regular routines.
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