Easter in Bavaria

March 30, 2018

Germany is known around the world for its extravagant Christmas markets, but few know that Easter takes a close second when it comes to celebrating Christian holidays. In Bavaria, Germany’s most Catholic state, the Easter celebration spans nearly a full week. Residents of Bavaria enjoy a long weekend starting with Maundy Thursday and ending with Easter Monday. To many, though, Easter means more than just a few extra days off work.

Having grown up in a small suburb outside of Detroit where the Easter holiday was led by my parents and celebrated just amongst my close family, I’ve been fascinated watching the entire city gradually prepare for this Sunday. As children, my siblings and I celebrated Easter in the typical way: our parents bought us eggs that we drenched in dye and proudly displayed on the kitchen counter. 

Eggs are also part of Easter in Bavaria. However, instead of keeping quickly-made crafts at home only for the family to enjoy, residents of Munich display beautifully hand-crafted eggs outside their homes. The government participates, too, by adorning main city squares (especially fountains) with wreaths containing dozens of intricately painted eggs. My host family also decorated some of the plants in their home by hanging eggs they bought at Easter markets from the branches. 

Businesses have prepared as well and offer wide selections of bunny-shaped chocolates, brightly colored dresses, and fresh flowers. It’s nearly impossible to turn a corner in Munich without encountering some sort of reminder that Easter is just around the corner.

In addition to the many visual cues that have recently begun coloring the city, the arrival of Easter has brought a sense of anticipation and excitement to Munich’s city atmosphere. Easter is often associated with the start of spring, but this year Easter happens to fall at the end of a record-breaking harsh winter. As the temperatures begin to warm up and people finally feel brave enough to face the weather, Munich is steadily coming back to life. Although Easter and the start of spring occur around the same time by coincidence, I can’t help but draw parallels between Munich’s re-awakening after the brutal winter and the upcoming holiday that celebrates Jesus’ resurrection. At this point, it’s impossible to distinguish the city’s anticipation toward Easter from the anticipation toward the warm weather. 

Naturally, however, not every resident of Munich celebrates the religious aspect of Easter. Although Easter is, at its core, a Christian holiday, in Bavaria it’s treated much like the Fourth of July in the United States—everyone can take part in and appreciate the holiday. By watching the preparations unfold these past weeks, I’ve been reminded of how religious tradition and modern society are not mutually exclusive and can often balance each other nicely. Regardless of their faith backgrounds, locals can appreciate the history and significance of Easter together as Bavarians. This Easter has been a pleasant reminder for me that one of the main cores of religion is a strong and supportive community. Bavaria doesn’t hold back when it comes to Easter, and everyone is invited to celebrate. Happy Easter!

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