Easter is a favorite time of year for the people in Germany as well, who celebrate the holiday like the rest of the people in the western countries. On Saturday evening on Easter, people in the city of Berlin and in all other parts of Germany go on a mass prayer in the local churches. That prayer goes on until the early hours of Eastern Sunday. From then on for several days, people greet each other with “Frohe Ostern”, which means “Happy Easter”. On the special day of Easter Sunday, families use to gather around the festive table for the holy lunch on Easter. On that lunch are being served lamb made according to a special receipt, colored eggs and an Eastern cake. The kids love the holiday, as they are given gifts in the form of colored and beautifully decorated eggs and a festival is being organized.
The city of Berlin is believed to be also the birthplace of some interesting festivities connected with the Easter week. These include the Easter tree and the Easter bunny. In the past, the children in Germany were told that there is an Easter bunny, which hides eggs and chocolates for the kids, who have to find them on the morning of Easter Sunday. That nice tradition were then brought to America from some German immigrants and was spread so widely that most people today think that this is an American tradition. Nowadays, children get Easter eggs as presents on Easter day. The other tradition is connected with the egg tree. It is a tree decorated with eggs’ shells from the eggs used for the production of different cakes and specialties for the Easter Sunday. This is a tradition that is typical just for Germany and is not in practice elsewhere. The time for decoration of the Easter tree is time to spend with friends and relatives.
Another celebration that is typical for Germany and actually quite popular in the country, is the carnival called Fasching, which precedes the Lent. The Fasching carnival is most popular in the city of Cologne, but also in the capital Berlin and in the rest of the cities in Germany. It is associated with masks and large paper statues. In some other towns, locals organize another event, which symbolizes the walk of Jesus to his crucifixion and death. There is yet another celebration that is very typical for the Easter holidays in Germany and this is the special Easter fire. That fire is made from the Christmas trees that are collected at one place and are burned there. It is believed that this fire is chasing away the winter and is bringing the spring. All those traditions are carefully observed by the people in Germany, who believe that the traditions is what keeps the spirit of the nation together. For that reason, they attend the church services, celebrate with their families, prepare special meals and take part in different festivities, walks and celebrations.