Cultural Activities
Witaj – Welcome
The Cultural Activities page provides information and activities for young and old to learn more about the cultural heritage of the Sorbian and Wendish people in Lusatia (Lausitz) located in the German states of Brandenburg and Saxony in Germany. (see map on the right)
To recap, the Sorbs/Wends (Serbja/Serby in Sorbian, and Sorben/Wenden in German) are a recognised – and largely unknown – minority group in Germany with their own languages and cultures. There are two regions of Lusatia in Germany:
- Lower Lusatia (Niederlausitz) with their main town of Cottbus and the Spreewald, and who are more likely to use Wends to describe themselves; and
- Upper Lusatia (Oberlausitz) with their main town of Bautzen
The Domowina
The Domowina (word meaning home) is a federation of Lusatian Sorbs/Wends and a point of reference for descendants of emigrants living abroad. Among their roles are to represent the interests of Sorbian people and to support the preservation, recognition and development of Sorbian languages and cultures of this region.
Sorbian National Anthem and Flag
The national anthem of Lusatian Sorbs can be sung in either language. The national flag is red, blue and white.
Download an information sheet with the lyrics and link to listen to the anthem.
Sorbian and Wendish Languages and Cultures
There are three recognised official languages in Lusatia: Lower Sorbian, Upper Sorbian and German. They are similar but different.
‘Good day’ in Upper Sorbian: Dobry dźeń; and in Lower Sorbian: Dobry źeń.
The Sorbian/Wendish languages are endangered but great efforts are being made by the Domowinato revive and teach the languages in a program called Witaj.
- Witaj Sprachzentrum – German and Upper or Lower Sorbian
witaj-sprachzentrum.de
- About the Upper Sorbian Language Centre – in English
Download information sheet - About the Lower Sorbian Language Centre – in English
Download information sheet - Learn Upper or Lower Sorbian online – free Witaj program (PC, tablet , smartphone)
sprachkurs.sorbischlernen.de - Learn Sorbian with the App LING – subscription
ling-app.com/learn-sorbian
Street signs in Lusatia are mostly bilingual in German and Sorbian
Similar cultural traditions are shared across Lower and Upper Lusatia or they may relate to a local area and sometimes just a specific town.
In 2014, the social customs and festivals of the Lusatian Sorbs were included in the German inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage, a process steered by the Domowina.
Sorbian/Wendish Easter Eggs
Sorbian/Wendish decorated Easter eggs with their unique designs are perhaps the cultural tradition for which the Sorbs are most famous in Germany and beyond.
Download the materials to learn more about this cultural tradition and design your own egg.