Easter rider procession Bautzen - Radibor

The riders (in Sorbian "křižerjo"= cross riders) circle the local church, the cemetery, and especially the surrounding fields with their festively decorated horses. They sing in Sorbian and pray for a good year and blessings for the young crops. This living tradition has been maintained in Bautzen and the surrounding area for many centuries and, after interruptions, is now once again a fixed part of the life of the Sorbian Catholic community in Bautzen.

The traditional highlight of the Easter festival in Bautzen begins on Sunday promptly at 10:30 am with the ride out of the Easter riders at the Frauenkirche. Surrounded by tens of thousands of people along the streets, the Bautzen Easter riders carry, with their festively decorated steeds, the message of the resurrection of Christ from Bautzen Cathedral over the Peace Bridge and Schmoler Weg into the neighboring church communities of Temritz, Kleinseidau, Kleinwelka, Cölln to Radibor, where they are expected at 12:15 pm. At 2:45 pm, the Easter riders begin their return journey via Bornitz, Lubachau, Teichnitz, and around 4:30 pm they return after their strenuous ride via Seidau, along Gerberstraße, Vor dem Schülertor, Am Zwinger, then past the Nicolaifriedhof back to Bautzen Cathedral St. Petri. This is circled three times by them while singing, before they dismount, helpers take care of the horses, and the Easter riders prepare for the subsequent church service.