Easter Fire

A pre-Christian Saxon tradition at its origin, the Easter Fire is still lit in many parts of Northwestern Europe. The easter candles are carried from the church on Holy Saturday outside the village where the Easter Fire is lit. It is supposed to chase winter and darkness away, celebrate the coming of spring and ensure fertility.

On this occasion the whole community gathers and some spend the whole night by the fire. Sometimes incidents happen too. This year in an Austrian village, in Lutzmannsburg a young man, after consuming a large quantity of alcohol, fell into the fire and was severely burned. 

Lutzmannsburg, Austria, 23/04/2011