There’s a tradition at this time of year that can be spotted all over Bavaria and beyond from Good Friday onwards, and usually lasts until a couple of weeks after Easter. Osterbrunnen (Easter Fountains or Wells) were thought to celebrate water – obviously essential for life, at a time when renewed life is also traditionally celebrated…
We saw these Osterbrunnen during our trip to gorgeous Rothenburg just after Easter last year. Unusual in that they are made from real hand-painted eggs rather than plastic ones, I can’t imagine how long they must have taken to make…
Thankfully Rothenburg’s hoards of guests seemed to have kept their respectful distance from these beautiful decorations, and we only spotted a couple of broken shells. I am sure the breakages weren’t intentional however, and were probably down to scenarios in which an admirer tried to work out whether the eggs were in fact real or not…
Along with the traditional Osterbrunnen, we also spotted something else that happens only at this time of year. The thing that looks a little like Mr Messy in the top right hand corner of the photograph below? That’s a stork’s nest… The very same storks reputed to make incredibly special deliveries. At the moment they are busy looking after offspring of their own…
Whilst I have spotted several nests during the time that we have been here, I had yet to see a stork perched atop, and this is slightly blurry, but look….
And as it turns out, this could possibly have been something of an omen for us! If all goes to plan, we are expecting a stork delivery of our own at the end of September. Small person No. 3… Watch this space!
Pia says
Goodness, Emma! Like Mary, I’d missed this post, so today when I read ‘expansion’ I got all excited – I had to trace back your posts till I found this (it was lovely to catch up) I didn’t want to shout “Congratulations on Small Person number 3!”, only to realise you were taking about expanding your house with an extension :)
Well – CONGRATULATIONS ON SMALL PERSON NUMBER THREE! So very happy for you, Emma. Much love!
Emma says
Thanks so much Pia, what a lovely comment to wake up to this morning! :) xxx
Mary @AsturianDiary says
Woohoo! Congratulations Emma, I am so happy for you. Can’t believe I missed this. I tracked it back from your raspberry and almond cake post (another wonderful post btw).
Wishing you all the best with the pregnancy and beyond. XXX
Emma says
Aw thank you Mary! Will not be at BritMums this year sadly because of this! :/ xxx
Helen The good life mum says
Congratulations lovely lady with a belly full joy number 3 cant wait to see your next big adventure unfold
Emma says
Thanks so much Helen! (:
Rachel @ The Ordinary Lovely says
I missed this post completely never mind the little announcement at the end. Massive, huge, amazing congratulations! Such lovely news. I’m slightly jealous as there’ll be no more little ones in my life but I adore hearing news of others xx
Emma says
Thanks so much Rachel. I am still trying to get my head around it! :) xx
diana @ Life in German. says
I love all the Easter decorations we can find around Germany!
Emma says
They do seasonal stuff so well don’t they? Thanks Diana! :)
mama syder says
Wow, what a display! Love the pretty buildings in the background xxx
Emma says
Rothenburg is stunning if you ever want to visit a super pretty part of Bavaria! xxx
susanna says
I’ve never seen these before – thanks for posting about it.
Small person #3!! That’s exciting news x
Emma says
Thanks Susanna on both! :) x
Otilia says
how interesting! a bit weird to decorate fountains like that but they look really pretty
Emma says
Thanks Otilia! :)
Mummy Barrow says
I love that people don’t touch them and, as you say, respect the painted eggs. THey must be stunning up close. Great shots, thanks for sharing them!
Emma says
I am amazed they aren’t smashed to bits! I do think they might have been this year though, we had a big hurricane a couple of days before Good Friday! Thanks T! :)
Phoebe @ Lou Messugo says
Congratulations on your wonderful news! These Easter decorations are lovely, I’ve never seen anything like them. It seems Easter is another festival Germany (or at least Bavaria) does beautifully. Easter is very low key in France, except for delicious chocolates in the boulangeries from 2 weeks before there’s really no sign of it.
Emma says
Thanks so much Phoebe! :) I approve of delicious chocolates in the boulangeries! I might have to spend Easter in France next year! :D x
Emma says
Awww Emma, huge congratulations!!! I’m so excited for you. xxx
Emma says
Thanks so much Emma! I will be coming to you for 3 children advice! :D xx
Amanda says
HUGE congratulations lovely lady! I wish there was such an impressive Easter display here!
Emma says
Thanks so much Amanda! :)
Anya from Older Single Mum and The Healer says
Ooh I did wonder about the significance of the stork nests and congratulations to you! I love the way those fountains are decorated – simply stunning – and the eggs all being handpainted makes them all that extra special. Thanks for sharing :)
Emma says
Thanks so much Anya! :)
Boo Roo and Tigger Too says
Oh my how beautiful are those fountains, I can’t imagine how long it must have taken to decorate all those eggs before adding to the fountains.
Emma says
I bet it takes countless hours. I am not sure I would have the patience! :D
Nikki Thomas says
Those are so beautiful, they must have taken hours to put together, but they look gorgeous.
Emma says
Thanks Nikki! :)
Liz Burton says
I’m not particularly religious but I do hate how Easter here has become so commercial. We don’t seem to have any beautiful traditions like this in our public spaces. The displays look stunning, what gorgeous photos.
Emma says
Thanks so much Liz! :) x
Michelle Twin Mum says
Gosh I love those eggs and real ones too and I adore how you broke the news to us of your very special stork delivery, stay well Emma. Mich x
Emma says
Thanks Michelle! :) Haven’t announced it generally on social media, but this is a record of our time abroad so it had to go somewhere! :D xx
Helloitsgemma says
No way? Amazing! Congratulations.
Love the German dedication to painting eggs.
Emma says
Thanks Gemma! :D xx
Strictly jen says
congratulations!
Emma says
Thank you Jen! :)
Christie (A Sausage Has Two) says
AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH CONGRATULATIONS!!!! That’s fantastic news!!! Love how you just quietly slip that in at the end ;) How are you feeling? Not too exhausted I hope – I can’t imagine being pregnant with another two small folk in tow!
Also, I do love a good stork’s nest. And the Germans and their seasonal decorations… I ask you.
Thrilled for you! :)
Emma says
Thanks so much Christie! Been in the UK without a puter, so only just getting around to replying now! Still exhausted, but sickness is slowly disappearing thankfully! :D xx
Notmyyearoff says
Huge congrats Emma!!!!! So happy for you :) we have small person number 2 being stroked over in September hopefully :)
Emma says
And a massive congrats to you too! :) Thank you!