Easter Rides
Easter riding is a very special custom that is practiced in the catholic part of Upper Lusatia
This Sorbian tradition is a procession in which the men of each parish ride through the neighbouring villages to announce the message that Jesus has returned from the dead. Both horses and riders are decorated for this special occasion. While the riders usually wear a top hat and a tailcoat, the horses are hung with colourful bows and flowers.
On the morning of Easter Sunday, the men of a parish will make their way to the neighbouring parish on horseback. All the while, they sing church songs in Latin and Sorbian to announce Jesus’ resurrection. The way to the neighbouring parish is supposed to lead them through as many villages as possible to ensure that everyone will hear the Easter message.
The men of the neighbouring parish will pay a return visit in the meantime. The special thing about Easter riding in Upper Lusatia is the so-called cross riding. That means that the two processions are not allowed to cross paths.
The roots of this tradition are unclear to this day, but it is speculated that it comes from the pagan ritual of the riding along the borders of the fields during springtime, which was meant to protect the seeds and the harvest. The oldest route that we know of today led between Hoyerswerda and Wittichenau, where the first Easter riding was recorded during the 15th century.
However, this route has not been ridden along since the reformation. It now leads from Wittichenau to Rabitz instead. This is the biggest Easter ride today and attracts thousands of spectators every year.
