#ostereierbaum

Easter tree in Germany.

Easter trees makes festive spring decorations - Even though trees may be more widely associated with Christmas, Easter trees are an increasingly popular and festive tradition that trace their roots to Germany.

Easter trees makes festive spring decorations – Even though trees may be more widely associated with Christmas, Easter trees are an increasingly popular and festive tradition that trace their roots to Germany. Easter trees makes festive spring decorations Easter is coming and it’s time to put up the tree. For those thinking right now that trees are for an entirely different Christian holiday,…

Every year since 1965, the Kraft family in the town of Saalfeld in Thuringia, has decorated the apple tree in their garden with Easter eggs. From a few dozen eggs in the first years, the tradition grew to 10,000 hand-decorated eggs, and the spectacle has become a major tourist draw in the town of 25,000. But the decorating of the tree always remained in the hands of Volker and Christa Kraft and their daughter, Gabriela Rumrich. Until this year, that is.

When the Krafts, both in their 70s, decided to retire from their decorating gig after Easter 2015, it wasn't exactly clear if or how the tradition, which has become a symbol of the city, might live on in Saalfeld. Then local innkeeper Uwe Gerstenberg stepped in and, with the cooperation of the Krafts, has organized a community event over three weekends in the garden of Saalfeld Palace.

Volunteers of all ages came out on March 19 and 20 to help decorate a chestnut tree, which will remain decorated over Easter weekend and then be "undecorated" on the weekend after Easter. One important element has remained the same, however: the Krafts have passed on nearly 10,000 of their hand-decorated eggs for what is now the community's Easter tree.