Why there are so many rainbows on German windows and footpaths
After lockdown restrictions caused school and playground closures across Germany, children have been using art to spread colour and cheer.
Whether you walk looking down, around or up, it would be hard not to have noticed them. With their images of rainbows, German children are proving that you can never be too young or small to make a difference.
The last few weeks children all over the country have been taking to footpaths, doors, walls, balconies and windows to leave an important message of hope to other young ones and passersby.
The rainbows, which come in the form of chalk drawings on the street, paper artwork hanging in windows and from balconies, intentionally face street side so that they can be spotted.
The movement appears to have started in Italy when, on March 14th, Italians nationwide joined one another in displaying rainbows on posters or bed sheets and hung them on balconies.
It was an activity to encourage hope, and as a creative outlet for children stuck indoors. The rainbows were also accompanied by the message “Andrà tutto bene” - everything will be fine.
The rainbow movement has also taken off in other countries across the globe over the past month including the U.S, the U.K, Canada, Spain and Austria.
It’s been heartwarming to see it take form here in Germany too. The increased participation in the movement is no surprise either as more and more people have been forced to stay at home.
Since March 16th, most schools including daycares closed across Germany, leaving children at home several weeks before the scheduled Easter holidays.
READ ALSO: All German states announce school and kita closures
Since March 22nd businesses and free movement have been, and continue to be, restricted. It is exactly at this time that the “Regenbogen Aktion” - rainbow campaign, as it is referred to on Instagram, seems to have started in Germany.
The hugely popular social media platform has helped fuel the colourful initiative with more and more parents posting rainbow pictures made by their children, as well as people posting rainbows they've spotted from the street.
The rainbows are often accompanied with the hashtags or message “Bleibt Gesund” (stay healthy), “Wir bleiben zu Hause” (we’re staying home), “Ihr seid nicht allein” (you’re not alone), and “Alles wird gut” (Everything will be fine). Sometimes the children also include their names.
In Germany, the movement has been mainly circulated by parents via social media. Apart from being a fun activity for the children who have so much free time, it also serves to raise their spirits.
With playgrounds closed and bans on gatherings with more than two people, children are unable to play with their friends or see family members.
READ ALSO: Germany bans gatherings of more than two to control coronavirus spread
As a result, when children see the rainbows it allows them to identify the homes of other children also staying home, and know that they too are not alone.
Many of the re-grammed Instagram posts that share details about the movement, also encourage the children to go on a rainbow hunt and count how many rainbows they see out and about.
It’s not just children that are taking part in the movement either. The positive messaging has also lead adults to take photos of and with rainbows.
Image of man placing his shoes in between a rainbow chalk drawing on the footpath by @jonaskozi:
Institutions, organisations and businesses across Germany are also adding rainbows to their doors and windows to boost morale.
With warmer days forecasted in the coming week, and the COVID-19 restrictions extended until at least April 19th, the rainbows will continue to provide a symbol of reassurance and hope to children and adults not only in Germany, but everywhere.
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Whether you walk looking down, around or up, it would be hard not to have noticed them. With their images of rainbows, German children are proving that you can never be too young or small to make a difference.
The last few weeks children all over the country have been taking to footpaths, doors, walls, balconies and windows to leave an important message of hope to other young ones and passersby.
The rainbows, which come in the form of chalk drawings on the street, paper artwork hanging in windows and from balconies, intentionally face street side so that they can be spotted.
The movement appears to have started in Italy when, on March 14th, Italians nationwide joined one another in displaying rainbows on posters or bed sheets and hung them on balconies.
It was an activity to encourage hope, and as a creative outlet for children stuck indoors. The rainbows were also accompanied by the message “Andrà tutto bene” - everything will be fine.
The rainbow movement has also taken off in other countries across the globe over the past month including the U.S, the U.K, Canada, Spain and Austria.
It’s been heartwarming to see it take form here in Germany too. The increased participation in the movement is no surprise either as more and more people have been forced to stay at home.
Since March 16th, most schools including daycares closed across Germany, leaving children at home several weeks before the scheduled Easter holidays.
READ ALSO: All German states announce school and kita closures
Since March 22nd businesses and free movement have been, and continue to be, restricted. It is exactly at this time that the “Regenbogen Aktion” - rainbow campaign, as it is referred to on Instagram, seems to have started in Germany.
The hugely popular social media platform has helped fuel the colourful initiative with more and more parents posting rainbow pictures made by their children, as well as people posting rainbows they've spotted from the street.
The rainbows are often accompanied with the hashtags or message “Bleibt Gesund” (stay healthy), “Wir bleiben zu Hause” (we’re staying home), “Ihr seid nicht allein” (you’re not alone), and “Alles wird gut” (Everything will be fine). Sometimes the children also include their names.
In Germany, the movement has been mainly circulated by parents via social media. Apart from being a fun activity for the children who have so much free time, it also serves to raise their spirits.
With playgrounds closed and bans on gatherings with more than two people, children are unable to play with their friends or see family members.
READ ALSO: Germany bans gatherings of more than two to control coronavirus spread
As a result, when children see the rainbows it allows them to identify the homes of other children also staying home, and know that they too are not alone.
Many of the re-grammed Instagram posts that share details about the movement, also encourage the children to go on a rainbow hunt and count how many rainbows they see out and about.
It’s not just children that are taking part in the movement either. The positive messaging has also lead adults to take photos of and with rainbows.
Image of man placing his shoes in between a rainbow chalk drawing on the footpath by @jonaskozi:
Institutions, organisations and businesses across Germany are also adding rainbows to their doors and windows to boost morale.
With warmer days forecasted in the coming week, and the COVID-19 restrictions extended until at least April 19th, the rainbows will continue to provide a symbol of reassurance and hope to children and adults not only in Germany, but everywhere.
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