From Easter Trees to Hand-Painted Eggs: European Traditions You’ve Never Seen Before

Easter in Europe: The Traditions We’ve Been Missing

In Australia and the United States, Easter is an understated holiday. It arrives with chocolate eggs, long weekends, and perhaps a family lunch. It’s warm, relaxed, and over before you know it.

In much of Europe, however, Easter carries a very different energy. In countries like Austria and Germany, it's more than a four day weekend; it is a season filled with rituals, markets, traditions, handcrafted decorations and traditional Easter ornaments that make the celebration feel akin in spirit to Christmas.

The Easter Tree Tradition (Osterbaum)

 

One of the most striking traditions in Germany and Austria is the Easter tree, known as the Osterbaum or Osterstrauch. Similar to the tradition of decorating a fir tree in December, families bring willow branches indoors in early spring and adorn them with delicate hanging ornaments, such as hand-painted eggs, small figurines, and symbols of the season. The effect is light, colourful, and quietly joyful. It reflects the shift from winter to spring, from darkness to renewal.

Unlike Christmas trees, which are often grand and central, Easter trees are more personal. Sitting on dining tables, in hallways, or displayed near windows, they are a way to add a touch of the season to everyday living, rather than a single focal point.

To recreate this in your home, all you need are a few branches, a vase and a handful of carefully chosen ornaments - either hand-made as a fun family activity, or heirlooms you can pass down over the generations. A few cheeky chocolate eggs for a sweet treat never go astray!

Markets, Craft and a Culture of Decoration

 

Across Austria and Germany, Easter markets appear in town squares in much the same way Christmas markets do in December. Stalls are filled with hand-painted eggs, wooden toys, glass decorations, and traditional foods.

With an emphasis on craftsmanship, many of the items are made using techniques passed down through generations. Families return each year to add to their collections, building a set of decorations that carry both beauty and memory.

Eggs are the main event, coming in all shapes, sizes, colours and materials - but it's not a proper market without food and drink, and as the market heralds the start of spring, you'll find pops of colourful flowers to brighten your day. 

The Meaning Behind the Symbols

 

European Easter traditions are rich with symbolism, adding meaning to the beauty of the holiday. 

Eggs
Eggs are perhaps the most recognisable symbol of Easter across Europe. They represent new life, renewal, and the arrival of spring after a long winter, which is why they are carefully decorated and displayed rather than simply eaten. In countries like Austria and Germany, hand-painted eggs are often collected over time and brought out each year as part of the home’s seasonal styling.

Hare / Rabbit
The hare, which later became the rabbit in many cultures, is strongly associated with German Easter traditions. It symbolises fertility and the arrival of spring, tied to nature’s cycle of renewal. The Easter hare was originally said to lay eggs for children to find, blending symbolism with storytelling in a way that still shapes modern Easter customs.

Lambs
Lambs carry both religious and seasonal meaning. They represent purity and are linked to Christian traditions of Easter, but also reflect the agricultural rhythms of spring, when lambing season begins across Europe. As decorations, they bring a softness and quiet significance to Easter displays.

Flowers
Flowers and greenery mark the end of winter and the return of life to the landscape. Branches, blossoms, and fresh foliage are commonly used in homes, particularly in Easter trees. They bring a sense of lightness and renewal, reinforcing the seasonal shift that Easter celebrates.

Chickens and Chicks
Chickens and their newly hatched chicks symbolise birth, nurturing, and the continuation of life. They are closely tied to the egg tradition and often appear alongside it in decorations. In European homes, they add a sense of warmth and familiarity, reflecting traditional farm life and the broader themes of growth and new beginnings.