Signs of Spring in Germany
When spring arrives in Germany, Easter is one of the first events that truly makes you feel the change in season.
I still remember my first spring in Berlin. What struck me most were the Easter decorations appearing all over the city—trees in people’s gardens hung with colorful eggs, and cute little bunnies and eggs placed along sidewalks.
And in the supermarket? Entire shelves were taken over by chocolate bunnies and eggs. It felt like a springtime candy festival. Since then, I’ve come to associate Easter with that feeling of excitement—“Ah, spring is finally here.”
What is Easter?
Easter is a major Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
It’s known as Easter in English, Pâques in French, and Ostern in German.
The day is filled with symbols of new life and hope, and it’s celebrated as spring begins to blossom.
While Easter has religious roots, it’s also said to be linked to older springtime traditions that honored nature’s renewal.
Today, in both France and Germany, Easter has become a joyful seasonal celebration—a time to be with family, enjoy sweet treats, and welcome spring together.
It may not have the twinkling lights of Christmas, but for many, it holds just as much importance in a softer, quieter way.
Easter in Our Franco-Japanese Home
Our family is French-Japanese, and during this season we always celebrate Pâques, the French way.
Although our daughters spent their early childhood in Japan, they looked forward to Easter every year.
Why? Because on Pâques, a little bunny would come and hide chocolate eggs in our garden! In France, there’s a tradition that church bells bring the eggs, but my husband grew up believing it was the bunny.Perhaps these stories vary from home to home 😊
The night before, once the kids were asleep, we’d quietly go outside and hide the chocolates.
Then on Easter morning—without fail—the girls would be up bright and early, baskets in hand, racing through the garden to find their treasures 😅 They searched with such enthusiasm, it almost turned into a competition. It was funny, adorable, and honestly… we parents had just as much fun watching them 😄 For days afterward, it became a little routine: one chocolate each morning after breakfast.
On rainy years, we’d hide the eggs inside the house—and even now, our younger daughter still says, “I want to do the hunt again this year!” with the same sparkle in her eyes 😄
One day, when she was still quite small, she asked me a question I’ll never forget:
“Why does the bunny only come to our house? My friends said he didn’t visit them…”
Since Easter wasn’t widely known in Japan back then, her confusion made perfect sense—and maybe to her, it felt like a really big mystery. I think I replied with something like, “Maybe the bunny got lost and only found our house?”
Not the most convincing answer, but it got us through the moment 😅
Egg Hunts in Germany, Too!🇩🇪
As it turns out, Germany has the same egg-hunting tradition!
In Berlin, where parks are everywhere, you’ll often see children with little baskets searching for eggs over Easter weekend.
Watching their excitement reminded me of our own garden hunts—and it was a nice reminder that, wherever you are, children’s joy at Easter feels exactly the same.
Easter Treats to Welcome Spring🐑
There are many ways to celebrate the return of spring, and enjoying seasonal food is one of the most delightful.
In France, Easter meals often include Gigot d’agneau, or roasted leg of lamb.
Slow-roasted in the oven with garlic and herbs, it’s a dish that brings both comfort and the aroma of spring to the table.
In Germany, Easter sweets like the Osterlamm (a lamb-shaped sponge cake) and Osterzopf (a braided Easter bread) are very popular. Bunny-shaped chocolates and pastries are everywhere, and stores set up entire Easter sections—colorful and festive.
Lately, I’ve also noticed carrot cake becoming a popular Easter dessert. Maybe it’s because bunnies love carrots?
Either way, it’s a fun and tasty way to celebrate the season.
👉 On Umami, I’ve shared our favorite German-style carrot cake recipe. It’s wonderfully simple and perfect for a springtime tea break.
Why not give it a try and enjoy a taste of Easter at home? 🥕
