This is the so called "Easter-riding". It's a custom maintained by the catholic sorbians. The sorbians are a slavic minority in east Germany, in the region Lusatia. Every year on Easter Sunday the "križerje" ('riders with the cross') ride from their home village to their respective partner-village to bring the easterly message of the ressurection of Jesus with songs and prayer. The shown procession in particular is the procession by the village of Chrósćicy (germ.: Crostwitz), but this is already at the end of their march, because when the křižerje return to their home-village they ride 3 times around the cemetery to bring the deceased the Easter message. You probably noticed these little wreathes on the chests of some of these men (by the way, only men are allowed to be křižerje): a green wreath means this young man rides for the first time, a silver one means for the 25th time and a golden wreath means this man rides for the 50th time.
can anyone explain what this is? I can't find an English-language explanation anywhere
This is the so called "Easter-riding". It's a custom maintained by the catholic sorbians. The sorbians are a slavic minority in east Germany, in the region Lusatia. Every year on Easter Sunday the "križerje" ('riders with the cross') ride from their home village to their respective partner-village to bring the easterly message of the ressurection of Jesus with songs and prayer.
The shown procession in particular is the procession by the village of Chrósćicy (germ.: Crostwitz), but this is already at the end of their march, because when the křižerje return to their home-village they ride 3 times around the cemetery to bring the deceased the Easter message.
You probably noticed these little wreathes on the chests of some of these men (by the way, only men are allowed to be křižerje): a green wreath means this young man rides for the first time, a silver one means for the 25th time and a golden wreath means this man rides for the 50th time.
HaaraaldEriksson
Thank you, H.E.
Chróścin procesjo jak unos ugorali na podchalu na koniach