Biikebrennen Celebrated as a Pillar of Frisian Identity in Schleswig-Holstein

The traditional fire festival, recognized as intangible cultural heritage, marks the end of winter and highlights the region's cultural richness.

Biikebrennen, a centuries-old tradition in Nordfriesland, involves lighting fires on February 21 to signify the end of winter and honor Frisian heritage.
The event, originally used to send off fishermen to sea, has evolved into a cultural celebration and a significant tourist attraction in the region.
Schleswig-Holstein’s Landtagspräsidentin Kristina Herbst praised the festival as a symbol of community, belonging, and cultural diversity within the state.
The tradition was added to Germany's list of intangible cultural heritage in 2014, further cementing its importance within the national cultural landscape.
Dozens of fires are lit across Nordfriesland, including on islands like Sylt, Amrum, and Föhr, as well as on the mainland in towns such as Husum and St. Peter-Ording.