Sorbian (Wendish) Culture, Traditions and Customs

The Sorbian (Wendish) influence is an enrichment for Cottbus/Chóśebuz and it strengthens the city in the competition between regions and cities. The Sorbian (Wendish) heritage provides Cottbus/Chóśebuz with a head start in gaining sympathies in our Slavic neighbouring countries and, with Cottbus/Chóśebuz being the largest bilingual city in the whole of the Federal Republic of Germany, creates interest also in the Western European countries.

Traditions and customs constitute moments of culmination and consciousness within the Sorbian (Wendish) culture, yet there is much more to it. The most widely celebrated customs in Lower Lusatia include Shrovetide with its accompanying activity of "Zampern" - groups in fancy dress and more or less traditional masks going from door to door, making music and noise and asking for donations of food and drink -, the Easter fire, the setting up of the Maypole and the harvest custom of cock plucking. These customs closely follow the natural cycle and, true to their pagan origins, are intended to, for example, drive the winter out or promote fertility.

In Cottbus, these traditions are observed in particular in those parts of town that are characterised by a village structure, such as Ströbitz, Saspow, Skadow, Merzdorf, Dissenchen, Döbbrick, Wilmersdorf and Sielow. One distinctive event is the Zapust parade through the city centre, organised by the Niedersorbisches Gymnasium (Lower Sorbian Grammar School).