‘German Culture & More’ posts on Religious procession, Ostersonntag

Germany: The Ostersonntag in Upper Lusatia, also called Saxony and Osterreiten, is an Easter Riding Religious procession of Christians in the form of a procession. The Ostersonntag attracts thousands of spectators every year on Easter Sunday.

The German Culture & More posted an update on their social media on Sunday, April 9, 2023, and shared some information about the Ostersonntag or Easter Riding.

The German Culture & More shared that the Ostersonntag, also called Saxony and Osterrieten, The Easter Riding or The Easter Ride, is a Christian Religious ritual in the form of a procession and is practised as a Sorbian custom in Upper Lustatia.

The German Culture & More also shared a picture representing the Christian culture of Ostersonntag or Easter Riding on Easter Sundays by the Sorbian Catholics.

They shared that the Sorbian Catholics were Dressed in the 19th century, wearing frock coats and top hats and riding on festively decorated horses; there were about 1600 riders who travelled down the streets and neighbouring towns and Country roads near the Saxon towns of Bautzen, Kamenz, Hoyerswerda and Ostritz—carrying the message of Jesus’ resurrection.

They also informed that Sorbian Catholics are a West Slavic minority group and have followed the tradition since the Middle Ages, like many processions, which originates in pre-Christian times.

By Driving away the evil spirits of winter and asking the gods to grant a good harvest, The Protestants joined a few groups mounted on horses wearing special harnesses with Christian symbols and colourfully embroidered ribbons.

The Osterreiter carried crosses, church banners and statues of Jesus.
Some Sorbians ride silently, and others sing and pray in German and Sorbish as they travel along their route. Stopping at churches and cemeteries in villages where they beg, are blessed and offered food and drink.