Easter in the Harz Mountains

From cosy guesthouses and traditional half-timbered houses to luxurious hotels, the Harz Mountains offer a wide range of accommodation to suit every taste and budget. Family-friendly holiday apartments for family holidays with plenty of space and play facilities for the children are available, as are romantic mountain huts for couples looking for peace and relaxation. If you prefer to be close to nature, you can pitch your tent in one of the numerous campsites in the Harz or park your caravan or motorhome to spend the night under the twinkling stars. For the adventurous, there are also mountain huts, which are far away from the hustle and bustle of the Harz towns and often offer unique views of the surrounding Harz landscape.

Those who prefer something a little more comfortable can stay in a charming hotel or inn in the Harz Mountains, which often impress with their traditional flair and first-class service. After an eventful day on a bike tour, hike or sightseeing tour, you can relax in a cosy room and enjoy a well-earned break. For an authentic experience, we recommend booking early. Especially during the Easter period, when many travellers want to discover the beauty of the Harz Mountains, good offers at attractive prices sell out quickly in many places.

As in many regions of Germany, it is a tradition in the Harz Mountains to light Easter fires in many places on Easter Saturday to celebrate the victory of the sun over the end of winter. It was also believed that the glow of the fire would protect the germinating seeds from evil spirits. For this reason, the fires were considered a ritual act to ensure fertility, harvest and growth. In some Harz villages, the Easter fires are traditionally piled up to form imposing and elaborate piles. A spruce pole about 16 metres high is erected in the middle to serve as a guide tree. Dry spruce branches and pieces of hedge are piled up around it, gradually forming the large piles, which often measure no less than 12 metres in diameter. At nightfall, the piles are finally ignited from the inside, causing thick clouds of smoke to rise for a long time until the first flames finally reach the surface of the pile.

The so-called "torch-swingers" and "blackeners" provide a particularly mystical sight during the blazing Easter bonfire. During the bonfire, they swing their burning Easter torches over their heads in a circular motion that looks like circles of flames and further emphasises the mystical image of the resin. During the so-called "Schwarzmachen", the faces of the spectators are blackened with soot-coloured hands, which is said to bring good luck. This tradition is particularly popular with children, while locals and holidaymakers celebrate around the Easter bonfires in the Harz Mountains until late into the night. If you want to take part, you should choose old clothes to be on the safe side. Wood torches can be purchased from some tourist information centres.

The tradition of swinging torches has its origins in the 11th century, when the fires in the hearth at home were first extinguished before setting off for the Easter bonfire. Once at the Easter bonfire, people would light their torches to rekindle the hearth at home. The faces of the spectators were then blackened with hands coloured black by the soot, which was supposed to bring good luck and a rich harvest. Look forward to a cosy get-together with a glowing fire and warming embers. Food and drink are usually provided thanks to delicious food and tasty drinks.