Rabbit is “German” – Did you know? This is how Austria celebrates Easter

Easter is one of the most important church festivals of the year and is one of the portable feasts (the calendar date of which varies from year to year). The 40-day fast, which ends on Maundy Thursday—or, depending on how you count it, Palm Sunday—is a preparation for the Feast of Resurrection. At the end of Lent, which is still often marked by renunciation and abstinence, there is Holy Week, which heralds its final peak on Easter Sunday – in 2022 on April 17.

On the occasion of the Easter celebrations, many customs are celebrated in Austria, where there are many similarities – Easter markets, bonfires and eggs, blessings of food, etc. – but often there are also regional differences or points of interest.

• For example, anyone traveling to Salzburg at Easter can look forward to GodnleitPinching of yeast dough and the custom of the so-called Antlaßeies be happy. The latter are often fed to chickens so that they can be dutifully left lying or thrown over houses – which is supposed to protect the house from storms or lightning.

• Another original custom is: Palm donkey processions, designed to imitate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. This custom is also celebrated in Tyrol.

• This is not the only thing that takes place in Tyrol every year “Grass sauces” where young men try to drive winter out of the Tyrolean mountains by ringing bells. In addition, the “Ratscherbuam” travel through the country, because during Holy Week the bells stop and, as is known, only ring again on Easter Sunday.

• This is also the case in Lower Austria “rattle” Customization. Also common in many cities: fasting cribsdepicting the passion of Christ or his death.

• In different states Veiled Altars and often colorful, illuminated glass orbs set up around a fake “grave”.

• In Upper Austria, on the other hand, it is customary to celebrate Lent confession to go. On confession days, confessional croissants or pretzels are often eaten.

• are a pagan tradition easter fire, which are burned mainly in Carinthia and Styria on the night of Easter Sunday. They are a symbol of joy for the resurrection of Jesus, but are officially banned in many places.

• You can relax in Carinthia spring scarves (e.g. in cucumber) and shot put looking forward to Spinach on Maundy Thursday and – the children – on one “Goth Strutz” — a pastry that often comes with toys and chocolate bunnies.

• Especially in Carinthia and Styria, the blessing of food is traditionally celebrated on Easter Saturday, meat devotion called. Ham, smoked meat, eggs and also pastries – in Carinthia for example a Reindling – are blessed in often woven baskets as part of a service or prayer.

• They wear it in Styria too Weihfeuer from house to house.

• As is known, throughout Austria Painted eggs and given away – Easter nests and other gifts are hidden from children.

• Of the Easter Bunnywho brings the eggs has become an integral part of Austrian culture – regardless of the state.

Incidentally, the Vierbergenloop in Carinthia no longer falls during Easter: it is an age-old custom whereby two weeks after Easter a route of more than 50 kilometers is driven from the Magdalensberg. According to legend, anyone who has mastered the not easy march three times will surely find their way to paradise.

Where does the Easter Bunny habit come from?
The rabbit is considered a fertility symbol and has already appeared in Egyptian mythology. The idea of ​​the rabbit as an Easter egg bringer was first documented in the 17th century – in Germany. At that time, Meister Lampe was mentioned as the carrier of colored eggs by a doctor from Frankfurt who obtained his doctorate in Heidelberg (the thesis was entitled “De ovis paschalibus – von Oster-Eyern”). According to him, the custom originated in Alsace, the Palatinate and the Upper Rhine.

Why can’t eggs be missing at Easter?
The egg is an ancient symbol of fertility, the origin of life, of being and becoming. As early as 5000 BC, people ate colorfully painted eggs at the spring festival. The gift of colorful eggs, which is common today, can even be traced back to the ancient Chinese. Until the 15th century, “Easter eggs” also meant “interest eggs to be delivered at Easter”. According to popular belief, the eggs laid on Maundy Thursday or Good Friday also have the effect of warding off evil and bestowing blessings. Decorated Easter eggs are first mentioned in 1615.

What is the origin of the custom of blessing the food (initiation of flesh)?
The custom of blessing the food at Easter – erroneously called meat devotion – is mostly mainly cultivated in Austria, Bavaria and South Tyrol. It goes back to the 7th century. Foods such as meat and eggs, the consumption of which was forbidden in the strict medieval fasting precepts, gained special importance and strength in the popular belief through the Easter blessing.

What does a traditional Easter snack consist of?
A juicy smoked ham, a few hard-boiled eggs with colorful shells, a slice of dark bread, followed by a crumbly piece of yeast dough Pinze – this is how many Austrians traditionally have breakfast on Easter morning. Horseradish and eggs should of course not be missing!

Why do we light an Easter candle?
The use of a special paschal candle, liturgical praise in the Easter vigil and at the same time sacrifice and blessing, first appeared in Piacenza in 384. Over the centuries, this symbol of the risen Christ has taken on its present form and design. On the front is a cross written in wax, above which you can read the first (alpha) and the last (omega) letter of the Greek alphabet. The paschal candle is lit at every service and at every baptism until the feast of the Ascension of Christ.