Two Saturdays ago Dave and I went for a hike up in the Ardennes region of Luxembourg. The Ardennes is the northern part of the country, known for it's beautiful rolling hills, lush forests, rivers, and ham! We found a really nice hike that started around the dammed section of a river. Even in the gray weather and the late winter brown it was a beautiful hike.
A barn we passed on our hike.
One of many small religous shrine/shelter things we see all over this area.
I can't wait to see these hills when they are green in the spring and summer.
No, this is not what you think it is. It's a burn pile ready for a springtime celebration called "Burgbrennen". Dave and I didn't know about the celebration when we saw this cross on top of a hill, in the middle of the countryside. It was just a little bit jarring to see it, but we knew there must be an innocent holiday behind it. Burgbrennen comes from Pagan rituals that celebrate spring. Now they are done the first sunday after Lent and the fire is supposed to burn away the bad, old spirits, and the spirit of winter and let in good, new spirit and to welcome Spring. Sometimes farmers would burn the cross to pray for good crops for the coming season. They are often fueled with dead Christmas trees saved from the local residents. The villagers eat and drink around the fire as it burns. I also read that it's customary to have the newest-married couple light the fire. There was a really big fire in the Grund in downtown Luxembourg and they served hot wine, snacks, etc.
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