Observing Holidays

You may be surprised to know that one of the important holiday celebrations in Germany is Easter. Why be surprised? Because while it is commonly celebrated worldwide, we always picture Germans to be rigid or stern. Perhaps that's how they are always presumed to be!

Like in other countries, Easter is the time when family are all the more closely-tied or bound. Same in Germany, during the holiday the family celebrates by having a fine meal afterwhich the egg-hunt begins. They look for the Easter Eggs hidden by the so-called Easter Bunny. Same tradition follows. They also have what they call the Easter walk. The family treads through the fields or wherever they make take the stride together.

In some communities in Germany like Bavaria, they anticipate the Easter celebration even before the sunrise. They lit fires mostly in open fields and they call it the Easter Fire. For them, this ritual emphasizes a belief in life against death. Soon after, with lighted candles at hand, they take the walk to the nearest church.

There are similar traditions and customs that other nations may associate with Germans like the Oktoberfest. It is not a celebration but more like a festival featuring race horses. The Oktoberfest is likewise celebrated in other parts of America. It displays a friendly pact between two nations that was once tight-fist rivals. Meanwhile, their Christmas celebration is not far other practices. They also uphold the ideals of St. Nikolaus, also known as the Santa Claus. It is the time when children has to prove themselves by sing a song or reciting a poem and so they receive gifts, all for displaying goodwill.

Sometimes it marvels afew to have their notions actually mislead by impressions. But isn't it fascinating to learn a little trivia, hopefully in course of understanding a unique culture more.