| Celebration of Easter in Germany, as with all other | | | | and are decorated with hand painted wooden eggs, |
| Christian countries, is a major event for Catholics as | | | | hollowed out real eggs and little wreaths. |
| well as for Protestants. And many of the customs | | | | It brings a splash of colour in an otherwise often |
| associated with its celebration are originally coming | | | | grey season, giving the towns' squares and streets a |
| from this country, such as the used of decorated | | | | joyful air. |
| eggs and the Easter bunny. | | | | The Osterbrunnen |
| Also, most kids get a two weeks holiday from school | | | | The Franconia region of Germany (Franken in |
| at Easter and you can see family and friends walking | | | | German) is the only place where you will find the |
| together outside at this time of year, enjoying the | | | | custom of the Easter fountain (or well). It is an old |
| new warmth. | | | | tradition celebrating the life giving water and it is |
| Easter Decorations | | | | believe that the water blessed on Easter Sunday |
| Many of Easter decorations used in Germany, and | | | | morning has special powers. |
| that the Germans brought with them while emigrating | | | | Throughout the year, hollowed out eggs are |
| into other countries, come directly from the pagan | | | | collected, hand painted and string together to make |
| Frühlingfest's (Spring festival) symbols of fertility | | | | colourful garlands that will be used to decorate the |
| such as the Ostereier (Easter eggs) and the | | | | village's fountain. Arches and crowns, usually placed at |
| Osterhasen (Easter bunnies). | | | | the tip of the fountain, are also made of evergreen |
| But Germany has kept a few customs for itself only, | | | | branches decorated with a eggs, little rabbits and |
| such as the "Osterbaum" (the Easter Tree) and the | | | | roosters or hens. All these decorations on the |
| "Osterbrunnen" (Easter Fountain). | | | | fountain make the town centre a very colourful and |
| The Osterbaum | | | | festive sight, specially with the vendors' stalls around |
| These Easter trees can be made of branches from | | | | it on Saturday's Market before Easter. |
| flowering bushes or of small living trees and bushes | | | | |