Osterbrunnen: An Easter Celebration in Michigan’s Little Bavaria
In many places, Easter traditions mean a visit from that beloved bunny and a basket chock-full of chocolates. But in Frankenmuth, it's so much more.
Here in Frankenmuth, each year at Easter, we celebrate the true and timeless German tradition known only as Osterbrunnen. And we welcome you to take in all the sights, sounds, (and sweets!) with us this spring during our Bavarian Easter Celebration, right here in Pure Michigan!
History of the Osterbrunnen
The Osterbrunnen tradition (German for “Easter Well” or “Easter Fountain”) began over 100 years ago, when German villagers would decorate their wells each spring to honor water, essential for life, while also honoring Easter, the feast of renewed life. Everything from brightly colored eggs to evergreen garlands and “Pensala” (paper ribbons) were used to deck the wells and fountains, until the celebration soon grew into a friendly competition between villages in Upper Franconia, Germany and beyond. By the 1980s, nearly 200 villages had taken on the tradition, gathering together each year to greet spring joyfully.
How To Celebrate Osterbrunnen In Frankenmuth
This Easter, don’t settle for a boxed chocolate Easter Bunny and a few dip-dyed eggs! Come to Frankenmuth and immerse yourself in our Bavarian Easter Celebration, where a modern day twist on old world Osterbrunnen traditions will help you celebrate new life while making memories that’ll last a lifetime!
Not sure how to make the most of this magical time of year in Frankenmuth? Start by strolling Main Street! You’ll find bold, beautiful (and completely colorful!) egg displays throughout town and #Frankenmuth draped in decorations as we wait for blooming spring beauties like daffodils and Easter bells to arrive. While making your way along Main, you’ll even enjoy ornate Osterbrunnen sculptures throughout our Bavarian village, many of which are modeled after those seen in Germany.
Easter festivities in Frankenmuth, of course, don’t end with the dazzling colored egg displays, bright spring decorations, and sculptures (and they don’t end on Easter Sunday, either!) Pack up your littles and your loved ones and get to Michigan’s Little Bavaria between March 24th - April 23rd to enjoy the Frankenmuth Bavarian Easter Celebration!
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