The procession begins at the parish church, where the priest blesses the riders and hands over the church flags, a crucifix, and a statue of the risen Christ .
After centuries of continuity—surviving wars, political shifts, and the GDR era—the 2020 pandemic forced the first total halt of the official processions. By 2021, the Sorbian community in (between Bautzen, Kamenz, and Hoyerswerda) was determined to restore the ritual, albeit under strict health protocols. Sorbisches Osterreiten 2021 7z 011
On Easter Sunday morning, the men don traditional black frock coats and top hats . Young men participating for the first time wear a small green myrtle wreath; those celebrating 25 or 50 years wear silver or gold wreaths. The procession begins at the parish church, where