Emaischen

The bird whistles

The defining symbol of Emaischen is the peckvillchen, with the plural form peckvillercher, a small baked-clay whistle in the shape of a bird. In earlier generations, Nospelt was home to many potters who gathered the day's leftover red clay to fashion these charming pieces. In the past, sweethearts frequently exchanged the birds as romantic presents. Today, collectors, visitors and children of all ages seek them out. The makers produce a fresh whistle model every year, and these sought-after creations are sold exclusively during the Easter Monday festivities.

History and revival

The deeper origins of Emaischen remain uncertain, though some link the tradition to a passage about a potter in the biblical Book of Jeremiah. Over time, the custom experienced several interruptions. Its modern chapter started in the capital in 1937, when ceramicist Jean Peters of Reckental revived whistle-making using red earth from Nospelt. Two decades later, in 1957, Nospelt artisans officially restarted their own festival. The tradition has continued in this contemporary form ever since, preserving the region's pottery history.

Fairday events

Beyond collecting whistles, the festival turns public squares into bustling communal fairs. In the City of Luxembourg, stalls fill the historic Fish Market, while in Nospelt, the village roads host craft stalls and food vendors. The day features traditional folk dancing and an array of open-air games, drawing large numbers of families and young children who come to blow their newly acquired bird calls and enjoy the seasonal atmosphere.

How Emaischen is kept

On Easter Monday, crowds gather at the Fish Market in Luxembourg City and throughout the southern village of Nospelt. Visitors line up at potter stands to purchase the newly designed peckvillercher whistles before supplies run out. Throughout the day, people wander past craft booths, sample street foods from market stalls, watch local folk-dancing troupes and participate in traditional games alongside children.

When and where

Emaischen takes place every year on Easter Monday. Because its date depends on the Christian calendar of Easter, the exact day shifts each year between late March and late April.

The festival is celebrated in two main locations in Luxembourg: the southern pottery village of Nospelt and the old Fish Market square in the City of Luxembourg.

What Emaischen means

The little bird whistles connect modern participants with Nospelt's historic potting past, when artisans salvaged surplus clay at the end of each working day. Once shared between romantic partners as tokens of affection, the whistles have evolved into a collective symbol of community celebration, welcoming all ages to herald Easter Monday together.

Questions people ask about Emaischen

See also

CandlemasA Christian feast of candle blessings marking the end of the Christmas seasonBuergbrennenA bonfire festival marking the end of winter on the first Sunday of Lent in LuxembourgChristmasA festival of Jesus's birth, kept on 25 December with gifts, lights and shared mealsHalloweenAn annual observance on 31 October marking the eve of All Saints' Day, rooted in Christian tradition and Celtic heritage

Good reading and sources

• Emaischen on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.