The procession begins at the parish church, where the priest blesses the riders and hands over the church flags, a crucifix, and a statue of the risen Christ .
After centuries of continuity—surviving wars, political shifts, and the GDR era—the 2020 pandemic forced the first total halt of the official processions. By 2021, the Sorbian community in (between Bautzen, Kamenz, and Hoyerswerda) was determined to restore the ritual, albeit under strict health protocols. Sorbisches Osterreiten 2021 7z 011
The riders move in pairs toward a neighboring parish to deliver the news: "Halleluja, Jesus lebt!" (Hallelujah, Jesus lives!). They sing hymns in Sorbian and Latin as they ride. The procession begins at the parish church, where
On Easter Sunday morning, the men don traditional black frock coats and top hats . Young men participating for the first time wear a small green myrtle wreath; those celebrating 25 or 50 years wear silver or gold wreaths. The riders move in pairs toward a neighboring
The story of the 2021 event is one of deep resilience and a quiet, profound return to tradition after the unprecedented cancellation of the processions in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Resilience of Tradition (2021)
The "story" of the ride—likely captured in the specific file you mentioned—follows a centuries-old pattern:
While the typical "thousands of tourists" were discouraged from attending to prevent large crowds, the spiritual essence of the ride remained unchanged for the who participated across the nine traditional routes. A Day in the Life of an Easter Rider