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| Oh, just the cute, little local bonfire. |
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| O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum... |
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| Things got pretty hot. |
This blog began when I got the opportunity to live in Aachen, Germany, which happens to be 5000 miles away from my home state of Oregon. Although I am back in the US, I'm continuing the blog to keep friends and family all over the world updated on my life in America.
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Hop Hop Hoppity-ing Around the Easter Fire
After a lovely time in Copenhagen, it was just a hop and a jump down to Ostfriesland to visit host Oma and Opa on the North Sea for Easter. It was a very restful few days catching up with the family and of course drinking lots and lots of tea.
It's tradition the evening before Easter to set off an Osterfeuer, or an Easter fire. We had a small one in the backyard, fueled by dried branches, twigs and other bits collected by my host grandma as well as our Christmas tree. I thought it was a pretty healthy, roaring fire... until we went to the neighboring town to check out theirs.
A mix of tourists as well as locals were hanging out watching the ginormous, smoking bonfire down by the harbor. There was even a live band and it smelled of the pomme frites, sausages, and waffles from the various stands set up especially for the event. We walked out to the pier away from the crowd and witnessed a gorgeous sunset. Looking back on the mainland all these synchronized flashing red lights were blinking at us from the many many wind turbines that inhabit Ostfriesland.
And apparently the Easter Bunny didn't stay up too late partying at the bonfire because the next morning I found some goodies hidden for me. I hope everyone had a safe Spring Break, nice Easter and a wonderful start to spring!