Woklapnica | „Tapping“

Around Epiphany (6 January), public village meetings are held to review the past year. Following a report by the mayor or village head, community matters are discussed. New residents traditionally contribute by offering a round of drinks. The custom declined in the mid-20th century but has seen renewed interest since the 1990s.

Camprowanje | Zampern

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.

Jatšowne jaja | Easter eggs

Traditionally, richly decorated eggs (in addition to gingerbread or Easter pastries) were given as Easter gifts to children, especially godchildren, and formerly also to servants, the priest, the sexton or the teacher, as well as a sign of affection among young people.

In some regions of Lusatia, it is still customary for children to collect their godparent gifts, usually on Maundy Thursday. Four different techniques are used for decorating: wax batik, scratching, etching, and, since the 1980s, embossing.

Jatšowne spiwanje | Easter singing

Singing Passion songs during Lent and resurrection songs/Easter chorales on Easter Eve; widespread among Protestant Sorbs until the 1950s/60s. The original tradition was carried on by a singing group of girls that emerged from the spinning rooms, who went through the village and around the fields four weeks before Easter singing Passion songs. Easter singing reached its peak on Good Friday and ended at sunrise on Easter Sunday with resurrection songs. In the parish of Schleife, a group of women in traditional dress, the "Kantorki", have been singing on Easter Eve since 1993; in the church in Dissen in Lower Lusatia, the "Łužyca" choir has been singing on Good Friday since 2001, and in Jänschwalde, young women have been singing on Easter Eve since 2011. From 2017, other villages west of Cottbus/Chóśebuz joined in. Currently, there are more than 10 villages throughout Lusatia where this custom is practised.

Jatšowna wóda | Easter water

Easter water, regarded as newly renewed spring water, is believed to possess special powers. Girls and young women collect fresh spring water in silence before sunrise on Easter Sunday. If the silence is broken, the water is said to lose its effect and become “chatter water”.

In the past, people washed themselves with it and sprinkled livestock with it.

Majski bom | Maypole

Spring custom; on the eve of 1 May, young people erect the maypole – a long, debarked tree trunk with a birch tree decorated with colourful ribbons, sometimes also a Sorbian flag, attached to its highest point, entwined with garlands and decorated with a fir wreath with ribbons below the top. In some villages in the Catholic region, Marian songs are sung after the tree has been erected. In the weeks leading up to the throwing, the maypole is guarded by the young people to prevent it from being sawn down prematurely by the youth of neighbouring villages.

In Upper Lusatia, the traditional day for throwing the maypole is a Sunday. The focus is on the competition to determine the May King. Beforehand, the young people dance under the maypole. In many places, the girls wear traditional costumes. As soon as the tree is dug up and falls, the boys run for the top. The first one is crowned May King and chooses his May Queen from among the girls. The couple leads the procession of young people through the village to the fairground or inn, where they open the dance. In Lower Lusatia, the maypole often stands until St John's Day, when it is felled and auctioned off. The Domowina Regional Association of Lower Lusatia and the Lower Sorbian weekly newspaper NOWY CASNIK organise an annual competition for the "most beautiful maypole".

Jańske rejtowanje | St John's Ride – around 24 June

This equestrian custom symbolises the blessing of the fields and is now only practised by young people in Kózle/Casel, a district of the town of Drjowk/Drebkau. A summer custom involving a horsemanship game on St. John's Day (24 June), which was celebrated in several villages in Lower Lusatia in the mid-19th century and is now only practised in Casel near Drebkau. Today, it is no longer the village youth who carry on the tradition, but a traditional association founded specifically for this purpose. The focus is on the figure of "Johann", known as "Jan", a masked character who is said to embody the spirit of growth. A young man is sewn up with cornflower vines by a group of girls, and his arms and legs are wrapped in vetch. A crown-like mask is made for the head. It is a frame made of reeds and is entwined with garden flowers and water lilies. Once Johann is fully decorated, he rides from the inn to the festival grounds together with the young men of the village, accompanied by a brass band. The girls walk in front of the riders in white dresses trimmed with blue and red stripes. They wear a second crown, which Johann receives in the evening during the dance of honour . Once at the festival grounds, Johann first rides through the crowd of spectators several times with his entire entourage. After a few rides, the companions leave. Now the spectators try to stop Johann and catch his flowers, as they are considered lucky charms.

Johannisreiten – website of the Traditionsverein Casel e.V.

Kokot - Łapanje kokota | Rooster plucking

The most widespread harvest game involves a dead cockerel suspended upside down from a decorated wooden frame. Young men ride beneath it at speed and attempt to tear off its head. The successful rider becomes first king; those who seize the wings are second and third kings.
They receive oak-leaf wreaths and select partners from among the young women for the ceremonial dance. A harvest queen is also chosen through games among the women. The event concludes with a festive procession to a dance in the village inn.

Kjarmuša | Kirmes Fair

Kirmes is celebrated annually in remembrance of the consecration of the church. In the past, it was the most important festival in rural society, usually lasting three days and offering opportunities for feasting, visiting relatives and dancing.
Today, it is still celebrated on Sundays between St Bartholomew’s Day (24 August) and St Catherine’s Day (25 November). Family visits and festive meals remain central, and many villages also host fairground rides and stalls.

Janšojski Bog | Christ Child

In the Schleife region, the Christ Child visits families during Advent, accompanied by two assistants. It also visits schools and care homes.
Wearing festive attire inspired by bridal costume and a veil, it carries a bell and a decorated rod symbolising blessing. Without speaking, it gently touches the faces of those receiving gifts.