Spring in Germany
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Spring in Germany BY CLYDE MAGRO April is a fantastic month for visiting Germany and it is traditionally filled with Easter holidays, spring festivals, and celebrations of the arts. While April is generally considered low season for tourism, the exception is the week before Easter when most Europeans are on spring break and traveling all across the continent. Signs that Spring has arrived in Germany Cherry blossoms are erupting Nothing screams springtime in Germany like bursts of pink everywhere. In Frühling, streets and parks come alive with rows of Japanese Kirschblütenbäume (cherry blossom trees) decorated with pretty pink blossoms. For around two to three weeks in April and May, rows of these beautiful cherry blossoms brighten up the country, banishing the cold winter blues. IN BONN, THE GORGEOUS CHERRY BLOSSOMS ARE IN FULL SWING. Germany loves this flower so much that there are even dedicated festivals, such as the Bonn Cherry Blossom Festival held every year in the Bonn Altstadt. Everyone sits outside Throughout winter, pubs, restaurants and cafes have a feeling of gemütlichkeit (cosiness) that’s aided by candles and dim lighting. But as soon as the temperature hits 15C - or even when it's a bit cooler - you’ll find Germans outside soaking up the sunlight. Cafe culture comes out in full force with tables and benches placed outside again after the long break. Even if it’s not that warm, Germans will still don a coat and swaddle themselves in scarves, enjoying the extra light that springtime brings. IN STUTTGART RECENTLY WHERE IT WAS ONLY 10C, PEOPLE ENJOYED EATING AL FRESCO. In Berlin you’ll find people buying beer and drinking it outside the Spätis (late night shops). Elsewhere in Germany, people will relax by canals, rivers and in parks. Basically, people make the most of each sunny day as if there's a possibility they may never see one again. Ice cream shops open Again, it doesn’t matter if it’s not that hot, Germans are so happy to be in the sunlight that they’ll enjoy ordering a tasty treat from the Eis stand, many of which have just opened after the Winter pause. It’s not at the stage yet where huge queues regularly form at ice cream stalls, but those who happen to walk past will have the urge to get a sugary ice treat, the first of many this year no doubt because who can resist an Eis? Spargel creeps onto the menu Much-loved Spargel (asparagus) explodes in popularity at this time of year. Once Spargelzeit (asparagus season) is in full swing, you'll see it everywhere. From menus dedicated to the vegetable soup (Spargelsuppe) to beauty pageants held to crown the next Spargel queen. Huts will be set up on roadsides by Spargel sellers, while farmers' markets will have their star veg - asparagus of the white variety - on display for all to admire and snap up. Much like spring, Spargelzeit is fleeting, running from around April to June, which makes the vegetable even more desirable. White asparagus time in Berlin! For approximately 8 weeks in spring, every year this delicacy is available. Usually served with Hollandaise sauce. Bikes re-appear on streets People in Germany ride bicycles all year round of course, but there are much fewer on the streets during winter. So as the lighter nights and higher temperatures return, people dig out their bikes from the Hinterhof to ride around. So that means it's time to pay extra attention when you're crossing the road or generally going about your business. The last thing anyone wants is to collide with a bike. Bikes that have been unused for a while are often in need of some TLC, so bike shops are bound to have a lot of customers at the moment as cyclists pour in for new brakes, air for their tyres or bike lights. Bring on cycling season! German Events in Spring Spring in Germany is full of annual festivals and holidays, plus signs of a country re-awakening. Easter is a national holiday and coincides with school holidays. The spring fairs in cities like Stuttgart, Frankfurt, and Munich will remind visitors of Oktoberfest with rides, live music, and lots of beer drinking. In reality, Oktoberfest is just one of Germany's many festivals throughout the year. The first of May is a major holiday with celebrations in the north and the south appearing quite different. Erster Mai in Berlin and Hamburg are all about labor rights and involve protest as well as partying. Berlin's events centres on the colourful neighbourhood of Kreuzberg. Frankfurt’s annual spring festival, or Spring Fair in Frankfurt Dippemess, is one of the largest folk festivals in the Rhine region. The fair dates back to the 14th century when it was a medieval market for pottery. Its ceramic bowls and pots (called "dibbes" in the Frankfurt dialect) are well-known and responsible for the name of the festival. Today, the spring fair is also popular for rides, roller coasters, and fireworks. Stuttgart's Spring Fair, or the Stuttgarter Spring Fair in Stuttgart Frühlingsfest, begins in mid-April and runs through early May, featuring carnival rides, food stalls, and lots of German beer. Visitors can also make purchases in the expensive Trader's Market, where over 50 local artisans set-up stalls selling their crafts, including textiles, art, leather goods, spices, jewellery, and more. It's one of the biggest events in this southwest German town. Munich may be most famous for its fall Oktoberfest, but Spring Fair in Munich the springtime Frühlingsfest is a city-wide party also worth your time. Lovingly known as "the little sister of Oktoberfest," the Munich Spring Fair is a two-week event that brings out the entire city from the long winter hibernation to celebrate the warming weather and blossoming flowers. Just as with Oktoberfest, local beers are one of the highlights of the festival, and attendees can be assured that there will be plenty to enjoy. Easter in Germany Easter is one of the most popular holidays in Germany. It is celebrated over a long weekend including Good Friday and Easter Monday (public holidays) with school holidays for the two weeks surrounding that weekend. In almost any town you will see spring flowers on display and traditional ostereierbaum (Easter trees). Eggs are still hand-blown and delicately decorated in the traditional method. And chocolates are everywhere, including the Italian-born and German-adored Kinder Surprise (Kinder Überraschung).