Easter Traditions Happy Easter from GA-English!

Bonn · For many, Easter is the chance for a few days of holiday, a ray of hope after the long winter and after the fasting during lent. Relaxation, bringing the family together for meals, eating and chatting. A long spring walk in the fresh air.

And the desire to get outside and be active increases along with the warmer temperatures. You will find some tips and ideas for Easter activities in our what’s happening guide.

But before the fun starts, there a few practicalities to think of. For example, is the bakery open on Easter public holidays in Germany? Or the florist? On Good Friday and Easter Sunday, bakeries and florists can open until midday according to NRW regulations. On Easter Monday, they remain closed. Service stations, emergency pharmacies and restaurants are open over Easter. But from Maundy Thursday at 6pm until Easter Saturday at 6am public dance events are prohibited. The cinema is open though. Good Friday in Germany is a so-called ‘quiet’ day, which means that sport and music events, folk festivals and markets are prohibited. But private events are not included in these.

Easter is the most important Christian festival which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus on the third day after his death (Good Friday). Maundy Thursday, the day of the last supper, is called Gründonnerstag or Green Thursday in Germany. This green does not refer to the green of spring but comes from the Middle High German word ‘gri­nen’ which in today’s German is ‘grei­nen’, translating as to complain or to cry. The German word for Good Friday is Karfreitag and Easter Saturday is called Karsamstag. This prefix ‘Kar’ means complaint, distress or sorrow. Many Easter symbols and customs have their origins in pre-Christian times and are still used today. Light played a significant role as a sign of life. In many evangelical and catholic churches a fire is lit in the early hours of Easter Sunday. In ancient times fire was holy. In Pagan times spring fires were lit to greet the sun, for the victory over the dark winter. The festivities were thought to guarantee fertility and growth. In Christianity, the resurrection of Jesus was reinterpreted as the light of the world.

The giving of Easter eggs as presents belongs to a more secular tradition but one which also has strong symbolic power. The egg is a symbol of life and resurrection. Its shape – without a beginning and an end – symbols eternity. Painting eggs makes them particularly precious.

How about the tradition of the Easter bunny, or Oster­ha­se in German? He first became significant in the 19 century. This animal is symbolic for fertility as rabbit families mostly have their first young at Easter time. In many families, the outdoor Easter egg hunt is a regular event. (Orig. text: ga)

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