Over 1,000 Easter riders in Upper Lusatia celebrate Christ’s resurrection on horseback, preserving a centuries-old Sorbian Catholic tradition.
Newsroom (07/04/2026 Gaudium Press ) Hundreds of horses, the sound of hymns, and the echo of church bells filled the air on Easter Sunday in Upper Lusatia, where more than 1,000 Easter riders took to the countryside to proclaim the message of Christ’s resurrection. The deeply rooted Catholic custom, celebrated for over five centuries by the Sorbian community, unfolded in nine solemn processions across the heart of Saxony’s border region.
The riders, dressed in black frock coats and top hats, guided festively adorned horses through the spring fields that stretch between Kamenz, Bautzen, and Hoyerswerda. Singing and praying, the men wound their way along long-established routes that connect the villages of the historically Catholic region. Crosses, banners, and statues of the Risen Christ led each column as congregants gathered to watch or join in prayer.
In Wittichenau, the procession to Ralbitz — one of the most enduring since its inception in 1541 — drew more than 400 riders. Because horse ownership in Lusatia remains limited, many participants borrowed mounts from nearby areas to take part in the annual act of faith and fellowship.
Another storied ride began in the town of Ostritz, where riders departed from the Church of the Assumption of Mary, bound for the Cistercian Abbey of St. Marienthal. There, they delivered the traditional Easter blessing, marking the 397th edition of the procession, according to the Diocese of Dresden-Meissen.
Only men are permitted to ride, a rule that reflects centuries-old religious and cultural practice. As the riders move between towns, the sound of the Rosary recitations drifts over the fields, mingling with the clip of hooves and the tolling of bells.
The diocese notes that the custom predates Christianity. In its earliest form, villagers rode around their fields to drive away evil and protect young crops. With time and religious influence, the ritual evolved into a public declaration of Christian faith — one that continues to endure long after its medieval origins.
As the riders disappear down the horizon each Easter, their black coats and solemn chants serve as a moving testament to a community’s unwavering bond between history, faith, and the land.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from https://katholisch.de/
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