Ostern

Easter in Germany

Die Kirche – The Church

As in England, Easter is also a Christian religious festival in Germany. It remembers the crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday (Karfreitag) and his resurrection on Easter Sunday (Ostersonntag).

Der Frühling - Spring

Der Frühling kommt. Der Winter ist vorbei!

Easter is also a celebration of the end of winter and the beginning of spring – new life!

Symbole des neuen Lebens Symbols of new life

• The traditions and customs that people have in Germany at Easter are mostly similar to the ones in the UK.

• They are all symbols of hope, light, new life and the coming of spring.

Osterei / Ostereier

Easter eggs (Ostereier) – are a symbol of new life and resurrection, In Germany Easter eggs are normally quite small, but you get lots of them.

Der Osterhase

The Easter bunny (der Osterhase) is actually a hare in Germany (not a rabbit). Children are told that he brings the Easter eggs. Most children will also get a large, chocolate Osterhase.

Ostereier färben

In the days before Easter, many people paint and decorate eggs.

bunte Eier

You can also buy colourful hard-boiled eggs (bunte Eier) from shops and supermarkets.

bunte Ostereier im Baum

Lots of people decorate the trees in their garden with painted and decorated real (hollow) or artificial eggs. This is a symbol of new life coming, even if the trees don’t have green leaves on them yet.

Osternest

Many children will make an Easter nest for the Osterhase to leave the eggs in. A bit like putting out a stocking at Christmas.

Ostereier suchen (im Garten)

As in some parts of the UK, it is a tradition for children to hunt for Easter eggs left by the Osterhase in the garden on Easter Sunday morning.

Osterfeuer

In many parts of Germany there is a tradition of lighting big bonfires in the night before Easter Sunday as a symbol of light.

Osterfeuer

Lots of churches will start their services outside while it is still dark , very early on Easter Sunday morning. People light candles from the Osterfeuer and take them into church. When they come out of church the sun has risen. Light, life, resurrection!

Schokolade

And of course, there’s loads of chocolate! Lindt and Milka are two of the most popular brands in Germany.

Frohe Ostern