This country is honestly so strange sometimes....
March 1st: Buergbrennen
This Luxembourgish ritual takes place in the evening of the first Sunday after Ash Wednesday. The practice seems to have Pagan origins and is thought to be a purification rite to commemorate the end of winter or chase the winter spirit away.
People in the villages erect a huge straw-covered cross or wheel of wood, topped with an evergreen tree, and place it on a hillside. According to tradition, the most recently married couple or large groups of children light the cross or wheel at nightfall in the presence of spectators.
Before the ceremony village youth go around ringing doorbells to collect bacon or money for supper, which takes place in a local cafe after the burning.
Me enjoying some gluhwein
(spiced hot wine that they serve at luxembourgish events)
The kids about to light the cross
Robyn and I (sneaky Marcus in the background)
Burn Fire Burn!
What Luxembourger doesn't love a good cross burning?
The flames dying out
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