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Creepy joy in Hegensberg: Lüneberg's Halloween house delights children!
Find out how the Lüneberg family in Esslingen makes their Halloween house festive for children and has been bringing joy for over 10 years.
Creepy joy in Hegensberg: Lüneberg's Halloween house delights children!
Today, October 31, 2025, many people in Germany are celebrating Halloween, a custom that is becoming increasingly popular and is particularly popular with children. An exciting example can be found in the Hegensberg district of Esslingen, where Birgit and Wolfgang Lüneberg have lovingly decorated their Halloween house for over ten years. With a large black spider, a skeleton on a gallows and cobwebs, they attract the little ghosts in town every year. The two have prepared a lot of sweets for this evening, which they distribute to children in costumes, but not without prior request: each child has to say a saying to receive the treats. [Esslinger Zeitung]. especially at preschool and primary school age, visit the Lünebergs' house every year.
The idea for this celebratory tradition originally came about when the couple ran a stationery store called “Birgits Lädle”. The initial decorations, made from old linen cloths and black cardboard, have expanded over the years into an impressive collection that includes, among other things, a talking pumpkin ghost. Halloween activities typically begin around 5 p.m. and end at 9 p.m. to accommodate local residents. The next day the decoration is dismantled and stowed away.
The roots of Halloween
But what makes Halloween such a fascinating event? The origins of the festival are not exactly clear, but a popular theory traces it back to the Celtic festival of Samhain. This was celebrated on October 31st and marked the end of summer. The Celts believed that on this night the spirits of their ancestors could return, which explains the spooky atmosphere of today's Halloween. According to Deutschlandfunk, the custom was transported to the USA by Irish migrants in the 19th century and has since developed into a mass-celebrated tradition that has dimensions comparable to the carnival in the Rhineland.
In the United States, Halloween is a celebration for young and old, where children dress up and trick-or-treat while adults host spooky parties. One might think that the festival would simply be a commercial success - sales of 520 million euros for Halloween products in Germany are expected for 2025. Last year this turnover was even 540 million euros, which shows how enthusiastic people in Germany are about Halloween. Deutschlandfunk reports that around 15 percent of Germans plan to spend money on Halloween this year. A trend that does not go unnoticed: Many churches react more calmly to the Halloween festival and offer alternative offers that refer to Christian festivals.
This exciting cultural exchange shows that Halloween and its traditions are no longer only anchored in the USA, but are also gaining more and more roots in Germany. Whether with the Lünebergs or in the streets of the city - the spooky fun connects generations and brings the ghosts of the past to life in the modern age.