Changing tides. Biike bonfire in North Frisia
On February 21, 2026, North Frisia will once again be illuminated by flames. The Biikebrennen, one of the oldest North Frisian festivals, traditionally marks the end of winter and the beginning of the new season – once for whalers, to drive away evil winter spirits, or to protect the coming harvest. Today, it is a ritual that fosters a sense of identity and, since 2014, has even been recognized as an intangible cultural heritage of Germany.
For my report "Changing Tides" I photographed two Biike fires: the “official” Biike burning in Bordelum, high up on the Stollberg near the telecommunications tower, and the Biike burning of the Frisian ethnic group in Risum-Lindholm, musically accompanied by the association “Frisia Historica”.
Biikebrennen in Bordelum
Stollberg, the highest elevation in North Frisia, was my first stop on the evening of February 21st. People from the region, families, children on shoulders – a sea of silhouettes against the blazing fire. The Biike bonfire in Bordelum is a dignified, almost official event – with a greeting from the district administrator, a parade of the fire brigade, a torchlight procession, and hunting horn players.
And yet: when the flames rise, when sparks shoot into the sky, when smoke and light pierce the night, the ritual becomes archaic.
Risum-Lindholm setting
The Biike bonfire is quite different. Frisian ethnic group in Risum-Lindholm, a few kilometers north of Bordelum. Here, fire is not just a symbol, but a lived identity.
The Club “Frisia Historica” The ritual was framed with music, flags and historical costumes.
The Frisian minority in North Frisia is one of the four recognized autochthonous minorities in Germany – alongside the Sorbs, the Danes, and the Sinti and Roma. They have their own language, their own cultural expressions, and a strong regional identity.
The Biikebrennen bonfire in Risum-Lindholm is an expression of this independence: not a tourist event, but a self-organized ritual that connects tradition, language, and community. Especially in times when cultural diversity is often under pressure, such visibility is important.
