Biikebrennen

The Biikebrennen (in German), Biikebrånen (in North Frisian) or Pers Awten (in Danish) is an annual celebration held on 21 February in North Frisia, in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein and in South Jutland.

At Biikebrennen, nearly all North Frisian towns, and many isolated farmhouses as well, light their own bonfires, the "biike", at or shortly after sunset. In many places, additional traditions have developed over time. On the islands Feer/Föhr, Oomram/Amrum and Söl/Sylt, it is a sport for the island youth to try to take down the biikes of neighbouring villages before it is lit. In some mainland villages, theatre, cabaret and dance have come into tradition.

The origin of Biikebrennen is unclear. The observation that in some places a strawman symbolising the winter is burnt, is likely to lead one to the conclusion that the celebration dates back to a pre-Christian midwinterfeast or lightfest. A connection with the medieval habit of 'waking up the earth' with torches lies at hand.

An often-heard alternative account for the origin of Biikebrennen is related to the festivity's name. As the Frisian word "biike" means "beacon", the bonfires can well have derived from light beacons set out for North Frisian whale catchers during the 17th and 18th century.

On the North Frisian isles Biikebrennen has a century-long tradition. On the mainland the tradition faded away in the early 20th century, but was restored after the Second World War.