Easter in Berlin: celebrating under restrictions

Usually, Easter in Berlin is celebrated all over the city and nationwide in Germany. This year, however, there were many customs which had been replaced by strict rules imposed by the German government for 2021.

How Germans were allowed celebrate 2021 Easter in Berlin:

• Easter Egg Hunts
  • In private backyards with no more than 5 people from 2 different households (not counting children under the age of 14).
  • In public parks: as long as you keep a distance of 1.5m and respect the rules of meeting other people. No big gatherings were allowed either (no more than 5 adults from 2 households).
• Flower Shops – these are now open and a nice way to celebrate the beginning of spring. More details about the rules regarding non-essential shops can be found further down in this article.
• Limited gatherings in religious places – churches were also subject to Covid-19 rules during the Easter break in Berlin. Only a limited number of seats were available in religious places. To satisfy and meet the needs of all their faithful followers, churches turned to online platforms. They offered their members virtual representations of the Easter celebrations which took place this weekend.

What changes have been caused by Easter in Berlin?

The changes experienced by Germans after celebrating Easter in Berlin this year are mainly linked to Coronavirus restrictions in the city. If the incidence rate is high, more and more measures become an everyday part of our lives. The government had launched a reopening plan but because of the Easter celebrations in Berlin, they chose to make some changes to it and took a step back.

Here is the list of changes which had been put in place due to Easter weekend in Berlin:

• Free test – once a week, each Berliner may take a free test called “kostenloser Bürgertest”.
• FFP2 Masks – wearing an FFP2 mask on public transport, supermarkets or other public areas is now compulsory.
• Negative test to shop – as explained before, to go shopping in the non-essential shops,such as flower shops or hairdressers, you will need to obtain a negative test 24 hours beforehand.
• Working from home – before the 6th April, working form home, if possible, was advised. As of now, half of the employees in each company must be working from home.
• 2 tests per week for employees – working from home is not the only new rule for companies. They must also provide their staff with two Covid-19 tests per week.

These new rules emphasise the importance of keeping up the efforts to overcome the virus. The next steps are the reopening of leisure centres, so don’t give up! We need to be efficient together so that we will can have a great summer, with minimum restrictions and lots of travelling!

What Germans usually do to celebrate Easter:

• Spring Festivals
• Easter Markets
• Bonfire
• Religious celebrations at church
• Public Easter Egg Hunt

On top of these events, many Berlin-based companies offer other activities which are specifically designed for the Easter break. They feature content (and sometimes prices) which are only available for the Easter period. Below you will see our original blog article about Easter in Berlin, which, during these times, is a somewhat sad to read.

Spring festivals

The sun arrived and with it came the spring festivals. Spring festivals are the perfect family activity! Located in different neighbourhoods all around Berlin, you can enjoy a delicious Bratwurst while watching your children scream with joy on several attractions.

• Every year there is guaranteed fun at Kurt-Schumacher-Damm in Reinickendorf. This year, the fair will entertain you from 29 March 2019 – 22 April 2019. A big fair with about 60 different attractions and rides is waiting for you!. Both child-friendly and thrilling, scary and exciting rides can be found here. But be aware! Once you enter this fun zone, you might never want to leave again.
• If you have no plans during the Easter weekend (20/04/19 – 22/04/2019), why not take a dive into the past with us? At the Spandau Citadel you will discover a medieval revival, a fest with jousting tournaments, jugglers and craftsmen. Make your experience complete with authentic music, theatrical performances and of course, lots of food! The Knight’s festival will show you the bright side of the Dark Ages.
• In Gutspark Britz Festgelände, you can become at one with springtime. Every year, you can visit the “Volksfest Britzer Baumblüte” in this area. Under the blooming cherry blossom trees you can enjoy over 40 attractions, a stage show and to top it all off, fireworks! While the little ones look for the Easter bunny, the adults can enjoy a glass of fruit wine (or two). This folk festival takes place from 5.04.2019 – 22.04.2019 and is open from 14:00 – 22:00.

Easter markets

You have probably heard of Christmas markets but have you ever been to an Easter market? In Germany you can find them everywhere. They pop up during Lent – the 40 days in the run up to Easter.

Berlin is proud to present the fabulous Berliner Ostermarkt! There are multiple of these across the city and they all offer a fun day out where you can make the most of painted eggs, various little shops and delicious food.

The easiest Easter market to spot is found in Alexanderplatz, right in Berlin Mitte. Visit the Easter petting zoo, enjoy a drink at the Biergarten, and admire the demonstrations led by various craftsmen. Have a fully booked schedule and can’t make it? No problem at all – this market will be available from the 19th April until the 5th May.

Bonfire

One of the coolest Easter traditions has to be the the Easter fire or Osterfeuer! People gather around a big fire to drink & sing together. It’s the perfect activity, even if the weather is cold! Typically, these bonfires are ignited on Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday and stay lit until Easter Monday – an official holiday in Germany.

The fire symbolises the end of Winter, a great event to celebrate! On top of that, there is also a religious side to it, which symbolises the son of God, Jesus Christ. Nowadays the bonfires have lost most of the religious meaning but arestill a great event to attend and make some nice Easter memories.

In Berlin you can find multiple bonfires across town and in the neighbouring cities. You don’t even need to move from the festivals in Spandau citadel and Britzer Garten, since they offer the complete Easter special – bonfire and everything!

If you want to travel to Berlin but don’t speak German, we can support you in the achievement of your goals with our German courses in Berlin!