Happy Easter weekend folks! If you’ve been keeping up with me on social media, you know that this spring in Germany has been extra everything good. Extra sun, extra blooms, extra awesome weather… you name it, it’s extra! D and I managed to get out to a local Ostereimarkt or Easter Egg Market in Siegelbach near Kaiserslautern. I really wasn’t sure what to expect. I think I figured it would be alot like a Christmas Market, but just Easter themed. I was sort of right, and way wrong all at the same time.
Nothing could have prepared me for the most amazing Easter eggs I have ever seen in my whole life. I have been super curious as to why Germans hang these beautiful creations from trees both inside and out. Well, this year I did my research and found the answer “The tradition of hanging decorated eggs on an Easter tree (usually a cluster of branches brought into someone’s home and kept in a vase) comes from Germany, were originally handmade ornaments were hung instead of eggs. The ornaments represented different Bible verses, all the way from Genesis to the Gospels. Children would add one ornament per day to the “tree” all the way through lent up to Easter. Sometimes just one ornament was added per week, then one each day during the week before Easter. Another meaning of the Easter tree is the medieval legend that the tree which provided the wood for Jesus’ cross came from a long line of trees which began with a beautiful tree in the garden of Eden. This shows the dual death/rebirth nature of the cross.” – WikiAnswers
There were about twelve booths that had distinctly different hand painted/created egg designs. I picked my favorites and managed to converse with the owners with the help of an extremely kind German woman. The people present at this event were some of the kindest Germans I have had the privilege of talking with. The hand illustrated bunnies were my favorite. What can I say, I love the classics. I looked up the book Die Häschenschule and it turns out the story is about The Bunny School. It’s a classic German children’s picture book much like Peter Rabbit. The calligraphy eggs had me over the moon with excitement! They sport the traditional Bible verses that were originally painted on the eggs. D even bought me one with my name! It also hit me like a ton of bricks that I definitely needed to calligraphy some eggs for Easter! It was one of those “Ohmigoshwhydidn’tithinkofthat?!?!” moments.
If you are interested in purchasing these beautiful eggs feel free to contact the following vendors. Be aware that some of them speak little English.
For the Die Häschenschule or The Bunny School Eggs:
Marianne Strasser | Stockborner St. 10 67688 Rodenback | 06374 2668
For the calligraphy eggs:
Werner Müller | Waldstraße 7 66625 Nohfelden-BOSEN | 06852 1235 | wmuekalli@t-online.de
I want to wish all of you a wonderful Easter weekend, full of celebration, family, and love. D and I will be attending the early service {9 am} at Frontline Community Church. Come on down and join us if you’re on the hunt for a church here!
