Luxembourg's Ministry of Health has announced that organising and celebrating the traditional festival of “Buergbrennen” is allowed bit only when in strict compliance with the health / sanitary measures currently in force.

This year, "Buergbrennen", takes place the week-end after Carnival, i.e. 20-21 February 2021; in order to limit the risks associated with the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the ministry has advised that it is essential for those involved to continue to respect the health / sanitary measures currently in force.

The "Buergbrennen" celebrations are based on tradition saying goodbye to winter and welcoming spring, and were normally observed around the time of the spring equinox. They normally take the form of bonfires - made of discarded Christmas trees, etc., gathered by youth clubs, often with straw crosses or figures on top - in most municipalities and villages, around which people drink gluwein, etc., and eat pea/bean soup and meat from barbeques. Many villages also organise a torch-lit procession from the village to the bonfire. The lighting of the fire normally takes place as darkness falls; in some villages, the honour of doing so is given to the most recent married couple living there.

In Remich, a straw figure is set ablaze and is floated down the river.

Many municipalities and villages have already cancelled their planned festivities.

The main regulations concerned include:
- any gathering exceeding 100 people is prohibited.
- children are counted regardless of their age.
- any gathering of more than 4 and up to 10 people included is subject to the condition that people wear a mask and observe a minimum distance of 2 metres.
- any gathering that brings together between 11 and 100 people included is subject to the condition that people wear a mask and be allocated seats while observing a minimum distance of 2 metres.
- all activities and accessories for catering and drinking establishments are prohibited.

In general, it is still recommended to limit your interpersonal contacts and travel.

For further information, see www.covid19.lu.