Easter Wells (Osterbrunnen)

In the eastern parts of Germany it is customary to decorate the wells and fountains during Eastertide. Typically, evergreen branches, yellow and purple ribbons, and decorated eggs are used in the lovely and sometimes very elaborate Easter Wells.

Decorating the wells seems to have originally been done in conjunction with an annual cleaning out of the well for health purposes. However, "Easter Water" drawn from the depths of the well was especially prized by the village girls for improving their complexions as well as protecting livestock from illness.

The well does not have to be spring fed: village pumps are decorated as well.

Sonntag Aktuell Nr. 5 – R/U 1990

Below are some photos of decorated village wells in the Bamberg/ Upper Franconia area of Bavaria in the spring of 1996.

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These wells were especially nice as the local school children had decorated many of the eggs; both plastic and real blown eggs.

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