The Biikebrennen (meaning "
bonfire
A bonfire is a large and controlled outdoor fire, used either for informal disposal of burnable waste material or as part of a celebration.
Etymology
The earliest recorded uses of the word date back to the late 15th century, with the Catho ...
s" in
Northern Low Saxon), Biikebrånen (in
North Frisian) or Pers Awten (meaning "
Saint Peter
Saint Peter; he, שמעון בר יונה, Šimʿōn bar Yōnāh; ar, سِمعَان بُطرُس, translit=Simʿa̅n Buṭrus; grc-gre, Πέτρος, Petros; cop, Ⲡⲉⲧⲣⲟⲥ, Petros; lat, Petrus; ar, شمعون الصفـا, Sham'un ...
's Eve" in
South Jutish) is an annual
bonfire night celebration held on 21 February in
North Frisia, in the
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
state of
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein (; da, Slesvig-Holsten; nds, Sleswig-Holsteen; frr, Slaswik-Holstiinj) is the northernmost of the 16 states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Sch ...
and in
Southern Jutland in
Denmark
)
, song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast")
, song_type = National and royal anthem
, image_map = EU-Denmark.svg
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark
...
.
The origin of Biikebrennen is unclear but the roots of the festival stem from pagan times. The meaning has changed over time. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the event was especially associated with seafarers engaged in whaling. The ritual varies a little from location to location. At Biikebrennen, nearly all North Frisian towns, and many isolated farmhouses as well, light their own bonfires, known locally as , at or shortly after sunset to bid winter farewell.
See also
*
Up Helly Aa (fire festivals held annually in the
Shetland Islands
Shetland, also called the Shetland Islands and formerly Zetland, is a subarctic archipelago in Scotland lying between Orkney, the Faroe Islands and Norway. It is the northernmost region of the United Kingdom.
The islands lie about to the no ...
)
*
Burgbrennen
Buergbrennen is a celebration centred on a huge bonfire which takes place on the first Sunday in Lent in Luxembourg and surrounding areas. In Germany it is called ''Burgbrennen'', in France and Belgium it is known as the ''dimanche des Brandons''. ...
(very similar custom in Luxembourg)
*
Funkenfeuer
A bonfire is a large and controlled outdoor fire, used either for informal disposal of burnable waste material or as part of a celebration.
Etymology
The earliest recorded uses of the word date back to the late 15th century, with the Catho ...
(similar custom in Swabian-Alemannic area)
*
Feuerrad (similar custom in Westphalia, Hesse, Bavaria, Switzerland)
*
Hüttenbrennen
''Hüttenbrennen'' (lit. "hut burning"), sometimes also referred to as ''Burgbrennen'' (lit. "castle burning"), is an old-fashioned bonfire custom in many part of the Eifel mountains in Germany. It is celebrated every year on "Straw Sunday" (Germ ...
(similar custom in the Eifel)
*
Osterfeuer (similar German custom at Easter)
*
Sechseläuten (similar Swiss custom in Zürich)
References
{{commons category, Biikebrennen
February observances
Festivals in Denmark
Festivals in Germany
Frisian culture
Traditions involving fire
Winter traditions
Winter events in Denmark