Easter Feast
Easter (besides Christmas) is the most important holiday in Germany.
On this sacred day all Christians celebrate the resurrection of Christ
from the grave. This is the greatest and most joyful event of the year
for the believers, when the tragedy of Jesus' crucifixion on Good
Friday was healed by the message of the angel at the empty tomb "He
is not here. He is risen!"
There is a belief
that the name "Easter" originates from an ancient Anglo-Saxon
goddess of the dawn named "Eastre", "Eostre", or "Ostara".
The time of celebration is very special and determined by the Church on
the Sunday, following the Vernal Equinox. Thus Easter is always the first
Sunday, after the first full Moon, after the Vernal Equinox. If Easter
Sunday were to fall on the Full Moon itself, Easter will be postponed
to the following Sunday instead. Thus, honoring of Christ coincides with
awakening of the nature to the new life after the wintry sleep. In German
households there is Spring cleaning and decorations are brought into the
home, budding twigs, crocuses and daffodils, willow and birch, the first
shoots of grasses, or wheat sprouts. Easter trees, small trees or branches,
decorated with eggs, have long been a part of German Easter celebration.
An inseparable part of the holiday is the gorgeous Easter meal taken after
a long period of severe fasting.
One of the best sites on the net most fully uncovering the topic of German
Easter is Ostern in Deutschland.
The site gives exhaustive info on all aspects of Easter, starting from
its religious
meaning, attributes like Easter hare,
Easter eggs,
Easter lamb,
Easter water
and candles,
and to Easter recipes
and games.
The site is totally in German, but its English version is on the way to
be available soon.
To have a better idea of what German Easter is like, take some time to
browse through the links below:
Easter Eggs: Traditions and
Recipes
Discover German traditions and recipes for Easter eggs. Find out
popular methods and complicated techniques of decorating the Easter eggs.
Bunte
Ostereier
Learn how to color Easter eggs with onion skin. In German.
Easter Cake
Decorating Ideas
Review the great ideas for the Easter cake decoration. Pick one for yourself.
Easter
Cards
Send your virtual Easter card!
Gallery
of Easter Eggs
I would never believe these are just average eggs, with their
fabulous decoration. There is a description for each egg. Also learn some
Tips & Tricks.
In German.
Osterfest
in Deutschland
The greatest resource of Easter religious
basis, traditional attributes
like Easter eggs,
rabbit,
lamb,
Easter-related literature,
and of course Easter recipes!
In German.
Osterfeuer
Bonfires - one of the Easter customs in Germany.
Oster
Gifs
Enjoy some funny Easter bunnies - animated Easter gifs from Roman
Schneider.
Ostermarkt
in Deutschland
Easter markets around Germany.
Ostermenue
Easter menu from WildWeb.
Ostern
- Easter
Introduction to Easter in Germany in comparison with that in
the U.S.
Osterspiele
Traditional Easter games with eggs.
Was ist
Ostern?
Historical and religious explanation of Easter. In German.
White
Chocolate Easter Cake With Strawberries
The title alone is worth setting all your occupations aside and cooking
this culinary masterpiece.
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