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The Easter holidays are just around the corner. In Germany, Easter week starts with Holy Thursday, which Germans call “Gründonnerstag,” or green Thursday. The word green is not associated with the color but rather the old German verb “grienen,” which means “to bemoan.” Some people keep up the tradition and eat green vegetables that day, preferably spinach.
The following day, Good Friday (April 22), is an official German holiday. For Protestants it is one of the most important religious holidays, while Roman Catholics strictly observe it as a day of fasting. Germans celebrate Easter on two days, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.
Several weeks before Easter, decorations are put up inside the house and outdoors. It is most common to hang up Easter eggs and other ornaments on branches from forsythia, willow catkins and other trees. In some towns and villages, Easter trees are placed in public places, fountains are decorated with eggs, flowers and garlands, and Easter markets with selling booths and merry-go-rounds are held.
Easter Sunday usually starts with the hunt for Easter eggs and Easter baskets, the biggest joy for children who still believe the Easter Bunny delivers eggs, chocolate and candy. Another tradition is the Easter walk through the woods, where little ones may find some more eggs the Easter Bunny accidentally “lost.”
The Easter egg had its beginnings in the ancient past. Early philosophers gave special significance to the oval shape of elemental things, from the raindrop to the seed, and the oval Easter egg is an outgrowth of ancient pagan rites associated with the rebirth of nature.
In China 5,000 years ago, it was tradition to give away decorated eggs for the beginning of spring. In Finland, people claim that the universe derived from one giant egg. In Persia, eggs were only combined with spring festivities, because during the season of the new sun, poultry started laying eggs again.
It has not been explored why eggs play such a big role on Easter. In former times, decorated eggs were given as gifts throughout the year. Later it was just done on Easter. It was not only the Easter bunny giving away eggs, but also storks, foxes and donkeys were the bearers of eggs in mythology. In 1682, the Easter bunny was mentioned for the first time. When the production of Easter chocolate and bunnies as well as the printing of Easter picture books and postcards began around 1850, the long-eared bunny became an Easter trademark.
In some towns, Easter markets are set up, where vendors sell handcrafted decorations, candles, artificial flowers, stuffed animals and candy. The Easter market in Kaiserslautern is set up around Stiftskirche through April 23. The village of Schwedelbach will offer an Easter egg hunt at 11 a.m.
April 23 in the adventure park near the village square.
The Reichenbach Men’s Singing Association will present an Easter ball 7 p.m. April 24 in Maximilian-Kolbe-Haus in Reichenbach-Steegen.
The Kaiserslauten Gartenschau will have a life-size Easter bunny passing out Easter treats to children 1 to 3 p.m.
April 24. There also will be an Easter egg hunt and a band will perform.
The Zoo in Kaiserslautern-Siegelbach will hold an Easter fest featuring an Easter Bunny village with chicks, an Easter egg hunt, puppet theater, an inflatable giant slide and wagon rides April 24 and 25.
