The ritual has its roots in the Catholic part of Upper Lusatia and has been practiced for centuries. The equestrian processions begin with a joint Easter service, after which the riders ride around the local church and are blessed. Led by flag bearers and bearers of the statue of Christ, they carry the message in the form of hymns in Sorbian and Latin to the neighboring parishes.
The often richly decorated horses are carefully prepared on Holy Saturday. Young men taking part for the first time wear a green wreath on their chest, while experienced riders wear a silver wreath on their 25th participation and a gold wreath on their 50th.
Easter riding has been a historical tradition since the 15th century, when the first equestrian processions took place between Hoyerswerda and Wittichenau. Despite a low point in the 1970s, when only 487 riders took part, the tradition has recovered and now has over 1500 participants again.
There are currently four procession pairs and one procession without a return visit in Upper Lusatia. The routes lead through numerous villages, whereby the processions are planned in such a way that they do not cross each other. The procession in the town of Wittichenau, in which non-Sorbian riders also take part, is particularly noteworthy.
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The legendary Krabat region -
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Few legendary figures fascinate as many people as the Sorbian magician Krabat, who even gives his name to an entire region – the Krabat region between Hoyerswerda, Kamenz, and Bautzen in eastern Saxony. So it's no surprise that Marco Kreuzpaintner adapted the Krabat legend into a film in 2008, which became a box office hit.
The association "On the trail of Krabat – Association for regional development in bilingual Lusatia" (registered association) Since its founding in 2001, the "KRABAT e. V." (short: KRABAT e. V.) has been committed to regional development in this region in the areas of culture, business, and customs. The promotion of the Sorbian language and culture plays a special role, as it is precisely this uniqueness that is truly lived in the region.
Numerous projects have been conceived, planned, and implemented in the association's more than 25-year history. Among these are the approximately 90 km long KRABAT cycle path, the construction of the "Black Mill" in Schwarzkollm, where, according to legend, KRABAT is said to have learned not only the milling trade but also magic as a boy, and the numerous KRABAT festivals featuring traditional bilingualism and modern culture.
