Who Are the Sorbs?
The Sorbs (Serbja/Serby) are a West Slavic people native to Lusatia, a region spanning eastern Germany's Brandenburg and Saxony states. Approximately 60,000 Sorbs remain, making them Germany's only indigenous national minority. Two distinct groups exist: Upper Sorbs around Bautzen (Budyšin), speaking a language closer to Czech, and Lower Sorbs around Cottbus (Chóśebuz), linguistically closer to Polish. Sorbian settlement in Lusatia predates German expansion; the Sorbs are descendants of Slavic tribes who remained after medieval Germanic colonization. Constitutional protection in both states supports Sorbian language and culture.
Upper and Lower Sorbian
Upper and Lower Sorbian are distinct languages, not merely dialects—Upper Sorbian speakers and Lower Sorbian speakers cannot easily understand each other. Upper Sorbian has approximately 20,000 speakers, primarily Catholic, with a stronger literary tradition. Lower Sorbian, with perhaps 7,000 speakers, primarily Protestant, is critically endangered—most fluent speakers are elderly. Both languages have official status in their regions, with bilingual signage, schools, and media. The German government supports both languages, but Lower Sorbian faces likely extinction without dramatic intervention.
Easter Traditions
Sorbian Easter traditions are famous throughout Germany. Elaborate wax-resist decorated Easter eggs (serbske jutrowne jejka) using intricate geometric patterns are Sorbian cultural icons, sold in markets across Germany. Easter riding processions (jutrowne jěchanje) involve men in formal attire riding decorated horses between parishes, singing hymns—a centuries-old Catholic tradition. Easter bonfires, Easter water ceremonies, and special foods mark the season. These distinctive traditions have become tourist attractions while remaining meaningful religious and cultural practices.
Survival Against Odds
Sorbian survival is remarkable given centuries of pressure. Medieval German colonization reduced Slavic populations and territory. Nineteenth-century German nationalism viewed Sorbs as obstacles to unity. The Nazi regime banned Sorbian organizations, closed schools, and planned deportation (prevented only by war's end). East Germany initially promoted Sorbian culture as a socialist nationality policy, establishing institutions still functioning today, though later GDR coal mining destroyed numerous Sorbian villages. Reunified Germany provides constitutional protection, but assimilation continues.
Coal Mining Threat
Open-pit lignite (brown coal) mining has devastated Lusatia's landscape and Sorbian communities. Over 130 villages were demolished for mines during the GDR era, displacing populations and destroying Sorbian cultural geography. Mining continues post-reunification, with villages still threatened. The conflict between coal industry jobs and environmental/cultural destruction divides communities. Germany's planned coal phase-out by 2038 raises questions about economic transition in a region dependent on mining, while potentially ending the existential threat to remaining Sorbian villages.
References
- Stone, G. (2015). Slav Outposts in Central European History: The Wends, Sorbs and Kashubs
- Elle, L. (2000). Sprachenpolitik in der Lausitz: Eine Dokumentation 1949-1989
- Schurr, G. (1985). Die Sorben in der Lausitz