Easter well tradition stems from Bavaria’s ‘Little Switzerland’

This article is copied from the Welcome to Bavaria edition of The Bavarian News

and written by Susanne Lehr.

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Germany is a country of numerous traditions. As Easter nears, you may start to see interesting things popping up in your community related to this very important Christian event. Easter is the most important religious feast for Christians because they celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

 

Countries around the world celebrate Easter in their own unique way. In Germany, like the United States, one of the best known traditions is the Easter egg hunt. Real eggs painted various colors, and also some made of chocolate or other sweets, are hidden and children run around searching for them. Germans also celebrate with Easter markets. At these markets, shoppers can buy Easter-related items and special children's programs are offered to visitors. Of course, typical food and drinks are available too. The Paschal Lamb is a cake in the form of a lamb and reminds us of Jesus who died innocently for the people.

 

The Easter well is an Easter tradition specific to Bavaria and originated in Little Switzerland (Fraenkische Schweiz). In smaller towns and villages, the community gathers to decorate public wells with painted Easter eggs and colorful bows.

 

The purpose of this custom is not exactly known. Some say this tradition would guarantee health, wealth and success. Others say it had a direct relation to water as Little Switzerland is known to be poor in potable water.

 

Although the Easter tradition in general is more than 2,000 years old, decorating Easter wells is relatively new. According to oral tradition, the first Easter well was decorated in Aufsess in 1909. Each town gives its well a unique look. In 2005, the town of Sulzbach-Rosenberg decorated its Easter well with more than 16,000 eggs, which earned it a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records…

 

 

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Germans also decorate trees and bushes with plastic eggs in celebration of Easter. We recently purchased a dozen plastic decorated eggs to hang on the small trees that Daddy bought for inside our house--pictures to be posted (after I take them) later. I only purchased a dozen this year since I expect to get a few each year :)