Easter Memories Are Not Cancelled

Who would have thought this time last year would be a 180 degree perspective on world affairs.

​Part of my self-isolation therapy is remembering, writing and appreciating my past few Easter holidays when I lived abroad.    ​

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Bunnies, Markets, Castles, Oh My! 

Spring is in the air

​The Easter holidays in Germany around the local towns Stadtmitte and Zentrum for the scheduled events during Easter markets Ostermarkt and rushing around in preparation leading up to their important traditional Easter Sunday Ostersonntag.

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The vendor stalls are brilliantly decorated with bright pastel colors and local artists showcase their unique beautifully intricate works of art, proudly displaying their talents. I have never before seen festive eggs in so many forms of mediums such as paint, wood, plastic, food, flowers and many other creative objects.

According to local legend the story of why Easter eggs came to the German land dates from the medieval era.

“Centuries and centuries ago, there was another rivalry war during the spring season, so a German Duchess and her family had to flee from their castle home and found refuge in a small isolated mountain village.

The poor villagers were very kind to the Dutchess’s family and gave them food and shelter. The Dutchess and her family returned home to their castle during the quasi piece time between the neighborhood kingdoms.

To repay her gratitude to the village people for their kindness, the Dutchess gave them chickens to lay eggs. The villagers never seen or heard about this fantastic gift that keeps on giving and were most thankful for this new food. To display kindness and gentleness, the Dutchess taught the villager women different ways to cook, prepare and eat the eggs.

For the children, the Dutchess prepared beautifully colorful eggs to brighten up their day with rhymes written on them and a delicious feast of supper with the villagers. Then to walk off a full tummy, the Dutchess and children went into woods to gather moss, twigs, and leaves to build a nest for their decorated Easter eggs.  An egg is the first gift of the reviving Spring. When the children saw the rabbit in the forest, they assumed the rabbits brought the eggs, hence, the egg and bunny connection.” (cited)

This tradition spread all over the lands and came to be a feast of eggs on Easter Sunday.

Today’s trendy eating establishments were yesterday’s medieval tax burdens

During medieval times, taxes were heavily levied in Germany. The locals were taxed on sunlight, so they built houses with small windows. They were taxed on square footage of land, so the they built houses with smaller in square feet on the first floor and increased its square footage in building height.  Today, these same historic buildings are now restaurants, hotels, office spaces, museums, and bistros to enjoy fresh air outside seating.

The Easter holiday colors are beautiful, refreshing and visually appealing against the backdrop cold grey skies. After the Easter holiday, Spring is on its way and gradually the neighborhood bier gardens and restaurants start opening for the warmer seasons.

​Probe, wine tasting, is offered inside stores. Winestube, wine shop, offers German wines that you may never see on the shelves back home. Ratskeller, a tavern bar, usually offers authenic local cultural vibes. Essingen is known for Germany’s oldest Sekt House.

Zentrum, town center, has fun art such as scupltures passerbys rub and Banksy inspired streetart

This year, throughout the world, the Easter holiday will be remembered through social distancing while celebrating over a glass of wine. On the 7th day God rested and on the 8th day God created wine.

Virtually every vineyard I visited in Western Europe had religious statuary protecting their vines. Wine & Religion are integral parts of their lives.

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