The Espelo Easter fire is built by local youngsters. The social aspect is very important, just like the competition element. In the Holten Easter fire competition four hamlets compete for the highest Easter bulge. Agreements are made with the Forestry Commission and Nature Conservation, so that the young people can go to the heath to remove the young growth of coniferous wood. Thus the Espelo Easter fire has an ecological, next to a social-cultural function. Two weeks before Easter the construction of the bonfire pile is started. This construction is done according to a certain system, which is only mastered by the experienced builders. They pass on their knowledge to the younger builders. When the pile is finished, letters are hung in it, forming the word Espelo. These letters are made by women, who fold paper roses, which are made into letters. On the Saturday before Easter, the four Easter bulges are measured and inspected. The outcome is announced in the evening, at the local pub. On Easter Sunday the Foundation organises a games afternoon, in cooperation with the Espelo Youth Association, and in the evening there is a lantern procession to the location of the Easter fire, under the direction of the fanfare. At 8 PM the fire is lit with a lantern from the procession. Then the stack is burning; it is time for relaxation and social contacts. The fire attracts many visitors, from all over the country. The tradition is, that the visitors blacken each other’s faces with charcoal from the fire. On Easter Monday the site is cleared.
