Customs and traditions – Sorbian festivals throughout the year
Sorbian traditions and customs for a wide variety of occasions have remained alive to this day.
Regional specialities – experience Sorbian culture and history
The region around Wojerecy | Hoyerswerda is characterised by a unique Sorbian culture and lively traditions. Here, centuries-old traditions, the Sorbian language and modern cultural initiatives come together. Whether festive traditional costumes, special customs or cultural sights – experience how the Sorbian identity can be felt in this region.
Ptači kwas | Bird wedding – 25 January
The Bird Wedding (25 January) is particularly popular among children. It is a gift-giving custom in which the birds “thank” the children for feeding them during the winter.
On the evening before, children place plates on the windowsill. The next day they find pastries shaped like birds and nests or other sweets.
Originally, the custom was celebrated in Upper Lusatia and was later introduced to Lower Lusatia by nursery and primary school teachers. Since the 1960s, it has been a fixed part of programmes in many nurseries and primary schools. Children dress up as birds, parade through villages or towns, and present short cultural performances. In Sorbian nurseries, they wear regional wedding costumes and re-enact a traditional wedding party.
Since the late 19th century, evening events for adults have also been held, usually hosted by a wedding announcer. From the mid-20th century onwards, the Sorbian National Ensemble has shaped these programmes, often combining revue formats with folkloric elements. Performances take place across Lusatia, in Lower Lusatia often in connection with “Zapust” (carnival). Special professional performances are also developed for children.
Camprowanje | Zampern – January / February
Disguised participants move from house to house in various groups (youths, married couples, children, and now also mixed groups), accompanied by musicians. Traditionally, there were specific costumes such as the straw bear, the stork, the rider on a white horse, and in the Schleife region also the “double person” and the egg woman. Today, clown, animal and other costumes are also common.
After dancing with the lady of the house and sharing a drink, participants receive eggs and sausage, and nowadays also money for the so-called “egg feast”, the dance evening of the respective group. In many villages, the men’s carnival with a dance evening for married couples marks the end of Zampern. In some places, young women attend the dance wearing traditional Sorbian costume.
Debjenje jutrownych jejkow | Easter egg decorating – March/April
For generations, it has been customary among the Sorbs to decorate Easter eggs together as a family.
Three techniques are mainly used: wax, etching and scratching. Event tips: Every year on the weekend before Easter, the traditional Mittellausitzer Easter egg market takes place at the Landhotel Neuwiese in Halštrowska Hola | Elsterheide. Visitors can watch the decorating or purchase the small works of art directly from the artists at.
Walkowanje | Waleien
A popular game in Sorbian folk culture, which is mainly played by children today. In gardens or open spaces, boiled, often coloured eggs are rolled down an artificially created track. An egg is considered "beaten" when it is hit by another egg. This custom later developed into more advanced forms of egg rolling, in which boiled eggs, fruit or pastries were rolled down a slope towards children. The custom was temporarily banned, but experienced a revival at the beginning of the 21st century and is now once again practised as part of public festivals with a varied cultural programme.
Jutrowne spěwanje | Easter singing – March/April
As late as the 1950s, Easter singing was still common among Protestant Sorbs in many places. The girls' singing group, which originated in the Spinte, walked through the village in rows, singing spiritual songs. It began four weeks before Easter, reached its climax on Good Friday and Easter Eve, and ended on Easter Sunday afternoon.
Jutrowna woda | Easter water – March/April
On Easter night, before sunrise, some girls and young women still go to a stream or well to fetch Easter water, which is said to have special powers. It heals humans and animals, promotes health, beauty and fertility, and does not spoil. However, the Easter water must be drawn and carried home in silence, otherwise it loses its power and becomes "chatter water".
Křižerjo | Easter rider processions – Easter Sunday
A special feature of Upper Lusatia is the Easter riding. Every year on Easter Sunday, this custom captivates thousands of spectators, including those in Kulow | Wittichenau. Since 1541, the Easter riders of the parish of Kulow | Wittichenau have been saddling their decorated horses year after year for the procession to Ralbicy | Ralbitz. The Wittichenau procession is notable for being the largest in the region and the only one to include both German and Sorbian singing. With their singing, the Catholic riders proclaim the message of the Resurrection. Around midday, the procession from Ralbicy | Ralbitz is welcomed in Kulow | Wittichenau. After prayers and a break, it returns to its home parish. The two processions of horsemen are not allowed to meet and therefore take different routes.
Kmótřiske dary | Godparent gifts on Easter Sunday – March/April
At Easter, Christians give each other traditional godparent gifts. In Upper Lusatia, these are known as Maundy Thursday gifts, as the godchildren receive them on this day. They usually consist of two or three coloured or decorated Easter eggs, some money or an item of clothing and sweets. In the past, gingerbread and godparent rolls were given instead of sweets.
Palenje chodojty & stajenje meje | Witch burning and Maypole – 30 April
The witch burning takes place on the evening of 30 April in almost all districts of the town of Wojerecy | Hoyerswerda. At nightfall, large piles of brushwood are burned, with a handmade witch on top. The custom is part of the tradition of driving out winter and serves to ward off harm to humans and animals.
Maypole raising and Maypole throwing – 30 April / 1 May
On the eve of May Day, the maypole is erected. A tree trunk about thirty metres long is wrapped with ribbons. The top is decorated with a small birch tree adorned with colourful ribbons – usually in the colours of the Sorbian flag: blue, red and white. In the villages around Wojerecy | Hoyerswerda, the young people maintain a special tradition that originated in the girls' spinning club. A wreath is placed below the top, for which the four oldest girls – formerly the lead singers – each donate a colourful cloth.
The maypole is erected by the young people in the village square.
The highlight of the May customs is the maypole throwing. After it has been erected and until it is thrown, the maypole is guarded by the young people to prevent the boys from neighbouring villages from sawing it down prematurely. On one of the following May Sundays, the inhabitants of the village gather at the maypole. First, the young people dance Sorbian folk dances, with the young women and girls usually wearing the traditional costumes of their region.
Finally, the tree is dug up. As soon as it falls, the young men run to grab the top. The first to catch it becomes the May King and chooses his May Queen from among the women.
Sorbian Autumn Concerts – September / October / November
The series of autumn concerts has been an important part of Sorbian cultural life for decades. The concerts are organised by Sorbian amateur choirs and take place every year at numerous locations in the region, including our regional association. This promotes exchange between the regions and regional associations.
Swjaty Měrćin | St. Martin's Day – 11 November
In the Hoyerswerda district of Němcy | Dörgenhausen, which is still predominantly Catholic, it is customary to go begging on St. Martin's Day. Children go from house to house in small groups, singing and asking for gifts. They usually receive sweets. At each house, they sing a verse with the following lyrics: "Wjele zboža přejemy a so pěknje prašamy: Njej' tu swjaty Měrćin był, njej' tu ničo wostajił?" The answer to this is: "Ju wšak ju, połnu šklu, hišće wulku hromadu." Translated, this means: "We wish you good luck and ask nicely: Was St. Martin here, did he leave anything for us?" The answer is: "Yes, indeed, a full bowl and a large amount to boot."
Dźěćatko | Gift-bearing child - December
The custom of the gift-bearing child dates back to pre-Christian times, when people touched their neighbours with birch twigs to transfer the power of the freshly cut branches to them. The traditional custom is still practised today by the Protestant Sorbs in villages in the region around Wojerecy | Hoyerswerda. The Sorbian gift-bearing child can be found during Advent. It walks silently through the village, usually accompanied by two helpers dressed in simple winter costumes. It distributes nuts, apples and gingerbread and blesses people by stroking their cheeks and lightly tapping them on the shoulder with a rod of life. This is associated with the wish for happiness, health and well-being.
