Bonfires chase away winter in East Hesse - Hutzelfeuer Tradition Lights Up Hesse as Winter Fades into Spring
On the first Sunday of Lent, communities in eastern Hesse gather for the Hutzelfeuer—a centuries-old tradition to chase away winter. Great bonfires light up the hills, drawing crowds with grilled food, mulled wine, and a shared sense of warmth in the cold evening air. This year, the ritual once again brought villagers together against the dark.
The tradition runs deep in the Rhön mountains, the Fulda area, and parts of Thuringia. Its roots stretch back to pre-Christian times, when winter demons were banished and spring fertility was celebrated. Today, the fires still burn on Hutzelsonntag, the Sunday after Carnival, marking the symbolic end of winter.
In Schachen, a district of Gersfeld, the fire blazes on a hilltop for all to see. Children carry torches to ignite a towering wooden pyre, crowned with a straw figure representing winter. The flames rise high, visible for kilometres across the Gersfeld valley basin.
Local clubs and volunteer fire brigades lead the preparations. Villagers collect wood and stack the pyre just before lighting. As night falls, the community gathers around the fire, sharing stories, food, and mulled wine to ward off the last chills of the season.
The Hutzelfeuer tradition continues to unite people through shared effort and celebration. Each year, the fires mark the transition from winter to spring, keeping an ancient custom alive. For those in the Rhön and Fulda regions, the glowing embers signal hope for warmer days ahead.
