What is Buergbrennen?
Normally at this time of year, bonfires would be lit throughout Luxembourg to banish pesky winter spirits and welcome in spring.
Although some Buergbrennen celebrations are allowed to go ahead in 2021, numbers are limited to less than 100 people (including children) and masks must be worn at all times. Whilst some communes have cancelled the bonfires this year, others have taken them online. However you can still read about how this bonfire became a custom below.
The tradition started in Ancient Rome, which is probably what led Nero to take up the fiddle perhaps? For Romans it meant cleansing and renewal and their Celt counterparts lit big fires at this time of year to ask the sun to make the coming harvest bountiful.
Like wildfire, the tradition spread throughout Europe and became part of the Carnival to Easter calendar with the proliferation of Christianity (although it existed in Pagan times too). Today the official date for Buergbrennen in Luxembourg is the first Sunday of Lent, but many communes hold the event on Saturday evening.
Wooden crosses (and sometimes castles) are erected on pyres made from straw, wood, and old Christmas trees (so you can say a last goodbye to yours if the commune collected it).
Where does the word Buergen come from?
These pyres are known as “buergen”. The word is thought to come either from the Latin verb “burere” which means to burn, or the Germanic word “bûr” which describes a house of straw or a hut that was burned if the inhabitants died to purge any bad spirits.
The fire should be lit by the most recently married couple according to a government brochure on traditions, but more often than not, it is lit by children who carry flaming batons in a procession before throwing them onto or at the pyre.
You can watch the preparation for and the lighting ceremony of the Walferdange Buergbrennen in this short video below:
An opportunity to meet your neighbours
It’s a time to gather as a community over a glass of mulled wine, a far cry from bygone times when you might be doused in the ashes of the fire to absolve your sins (presumably the ones you committed during Carnival).
Traditional Luxembourgish food served at Buergbrennen includes Ierzebulli (pea soup) and Bouneschlupp (green bean soup).
You can find out more about Buergbrennen on the government website. Your local commune will have details of any bonfire plans. VDL has information on Buergbrennen celebrations in the city.
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