Sharing the Easter Spirit!!

Since we are only 2 days away from the second largest holiday in Germany (second only to Christmas) I thought that this would be the perfect time to share some of the German Easter traditions.

*Germans decorate their houses for Easter like Americans do for Christmas.  Everywhere you look there are trees dripping with colorful eggs, tulips sprouting in all of the window boxes, and chicks and bunnies standing guard in the "yards". 

*Chocolate easter bunnies origionated in Germany....and they are EVERYWHERE!  It is not just the sure quantity of chocolate that haas been calling my sweet tooth over the past month, it is also the size.  I am pretty sure that Germans model their chocolate bunnies after the real ones.

*Children are off for 2 weeks surrounding the Easter holiday (usually comming only a few weeks after spring break!) 

* Good Friday and Easter monday are national holidays.  Everything including grocery stores, gas stations, and shops are closed.  No more running around for you last minute eggs or chocolate.  The easter bunny gets all of his shopping done early around here!

* Easter markets are open for a few weeks surrounding the holiday to sell hand painted eggs and homemade treats.  The most popular of which is the German Easter cake (similar to a crumbly angel food cake shaped into a sweet little lamb)!

*On easter morning German children hunt for their entire Easter basket...not just the eggs!  I guess this cuts out on the problem of lost eggs sitting around in bushes for months.....


I hope everyone enjoys their Easter weekend.  Wish me luck as I am attempting to make a full Easter feast for 15 people in my tiny little German oven...not sure exactly how I am going to bake a ham and the side dishes at the same time, but I am pretty sure there is going to have to be some crock pot action going on!

Frohe Ostern!!!!