Frohe Ostern! Happy Easter!

Germany is regarded the birthplace of modern day Easter icons such as Easter bunny and Easter tree. German kids were told of an "Easter bunny" (Osterhase) that hid eggs and chocolates for children to find on Easter Sunday. German immigrants to America brought the tradition with them and spread it to a wider public.  The tradition of egg tree is also popular in Germany.  The Easter tree is embellished beautifully with hollowed eggs, which are dyed and hung with colorful ribbon, throughout the spring. Towns also decorate fountains with eggs as well.  (I never realized how many traditions we follow are from German origins!)

Another thing that is kind of cool- Catholic churches do not ring their bells from Green Thursday until Easter. It has become a tradition for children to walk through town with Good Friday Rattles, wooden noise-makers of various kinds, which are supposed to replace the ringing of the bells, calling Christians to worship. 

I went to the Nuremberg Ostermarkt (Easter Market) on Saturday.  It was just so great to be out in the warm weather. I love this beautiful sky! The market was nice and really, really crowded