EASTER FOUNTAINS:) OSTER BRUNNEN

I really enjoy the Easter traditions in Germany! We went to an Easter Market near Wiesbaden that had over 50 vendors selling hand decorated eggs: painted, covered with paper and even with holes in the shell to make a design. They have Easter bonfires in the small villages on either Easter or Easter Monday. Our area of Germany is not only part of Bavaria but also part of Franconia/ Frankische. We are more rural and considered the "Hillbillies" of Germany... I love it;) Another tradition is Oster Brunnen or Easter Fountains which are especially elaborate in the Frankische Schweiz/ Franconian Switzerland villages. The village fountain, usually in the town square, is covered up in the winter to protect from the freezing weather. With spring and at Easter, the fountains are uncovered, the water is running and they are decorated with greenery (usually fresh but sometimes the artificial garlands we use at Christmas) and Easter eggs (usually real but sometimes plastic and also often strung like garlands). The picture on the left is in Bieberbach and famous for using the most Easter eggs... and they are beautifully hand painted as you can see in the middle picture. The other fountain is more typical but still lovely. Someone thought the fountains look like octopus, but they also have a "crown" appearance:) They are already being taken down until next year:( Try clicking on the picture to make it bigger.