Overview

• The Easter horseback processions, rooted in pre-Christian agrarian customs, date back to the 15th century and are now a Catholic tradition in Sorbian Lusatia.
• This year, nine processions involving approximately 1,500 male riders will conclude by Sunday evening, as confirmed by the Diocese of Dresden-Meissen.
• The riders, dressed in formal attire, carry crosses, church banners, and a statue of Christ while reciting prayers and singing hymns from village to village.
• Thousands of domestic and international tourists gather annually to witness these processions, which symbolize shared faith between Sorbs and ethnic Germans.
• In Ostritz, the 396th ecumenical sowing procession also took place, emphasizing agricultural blessings and interfaith collaboration.