Journey

Bonfires are to say goodbye to the Winter

Whether on the island of Sylt, Amrum and in St. Peter-Ording, the Biike Burning in Nordfriesland blaze again on Sunday dozens of great fire. A public festival, the thousands of onlookers and attracts.

The Tradition of the Frühlingsfeuer is on the North sea more than 2000 years old. To many beading is considered the so-called Biike (Frisian for fire sign) as a “national festival”. The origin of the Custom was simply the joy at the end of the winter, ” explains Thomas Steensen, a historian at the University of Flensburg. “If you will, it is a Frisian variant of the carnival,” says Steensen. Especially since the fire, despite their pagan origin, for a long time with the beginning of lent zusammenfielen.

The origins of the Biike burning, go to the pagan Germanic tribes back. Wotan, the Supreme deity and ruler of war and storm, should with the help of the fire conveniently be tuned. Other declarations were not used, says Thomas Steensen clear. So the Bonfires are at no time a Procession for whalers have been, as is often claimed. “But many legends have a true core,” admits Thomas Steense. So don whalers in the 18th century. Century once are actually at this time of year in lake stung and would have preferred to Petritag, the 22. February, your contracts are signed.

In the past decades, developed the warming flames that winter also become a tourist attraction for coastal tourists otherwise little demand Season. Together with the Locals is sung, danced and drunk. The Biike fire burned down, it goes into the Inns to the common green cabbage dinner.

Germany competes with the Tradition of the Biikefeuers to be included in the list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity of UNESCO. The decision by the end of 2016 is expected.

at / ks (dpa)