Ostereierbaum (Easter egg tree) in Saalfeld, Germany

If you find yourself in Germany or Austria around Easter, you’ll see trees, branches and bushes decorated in colourful eggs such as these. The Ostereierbaum (or Easter egg tree) is a German tradition dating back centuries. Nobody is quite sure of the exact origin, but eggs have long been a symbol of rebirth and spring.
© Rudi Sebastian/Alamy