While many customs and traditions around Easter are of religious nature, there are definitely some that predate Christianity. Fire customs fall into that category, for example Osterfeuer (Easter Fire) and Osterrad (Easter Wheel).
There are many fire customs throughout German-speaking regions in the spring. There is Biikebrennen in North Frisia in February, and Funkenfeuer during the middle of Lent in the Alemannic regions. These fire customs often stand in relation with the expulsion of winter, rebirth, and a cleansing to give room for the new. Fire holds a special place in human history and was and is often part of rituals, in cultures around the world.
Osterfeuer - Easter (Bon)Fire
On the Saturday before Easter or on Easter itself, you will see many towns having an Easter fire. Often they have a whole set up with drinks and grilling.
Easter fires or fires around Easter time are first mentioned in writing in the 8th century and at that time the ceremonial fire hadn’t been incorporated into the Christian belief system yet.
Later, the fire was used to light the Easter candle that was consecrated and carried into the dark church. The candle stands for Christ, a light in the dark and a light to follow.
The fires are often made with garden clippings, sometimes even the old Christmas trees. Sometimes a straw dummy is put on top of the wooden stack. It represents Judas.
Easter fires have recently come under fire (pun intended 😉) because many animals crawl into the stacked up wood and branches and then die in the fire.
Osterrad - Easter Wheel
An Osterrad or Easter Wheel is a large wooden wheel, normally made of oak. Straw is stuffed inside it and a wooden pole in the middle is helping the wheel keep its balance. In the evening the straw is set on fire and the lit up wheel is rolled down the hill or mountain.
The Fire Wheel has its origin in pre-Christianity and was also used to predict the harvest. If the wheel fell over, the harvest would be bad, but if the wheel made it all the way down the harvest will be plentiful.
The custom is regional to North-West Germany. The city of Lügde in North Rhine Westphalia calls itself Stadt der Osterräder (City of Easter Wheels) and has a special committee of around 600 members preparing the yearly Easter Wheel event.
Easter Fire in Fredericksburg, Texas
Germans aren’t the only ones lighting fires on Easter. In Fredericksburg, Texas, every year on Easter Saturday multiple fires are lit on 22 hills. German immigrants, mainly from the Hanover area, took this custom with them to the U.S. and established Easter Fires in their new home in Texas. The celebration of Easter with bonfires dates back to 1847.
Nowadays, these Easter bonfires have become a tourist attraction.
Sources and Resources
- Wiki – Osterrad
- Wiki – Osterfeuer
- Vivat
- Two Small Potatoes Travel Blog
- Osterräderlauf Lügde
- Easter Fires in Fredericksburg, Texas
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