Zapust - Lower Sorbian Shrovetide

There is no doubt that "Zapust" is the most popular celebration in Lower Lusatia. Year by year thousands of people in the villages around Cottbus and their guests celebrate this custom between the end of January and the beginning of March that has developed out of the rural working life. The youth planned this event that marked the end of winter time and was the high point of the gatherings in the spinning rooms. Every evening young and old women met in one room in the village. Besides spinning the women exchanged the latest news, told each other stories and tales. The "kantorka" - a female singer with a leading voice - taught all folksongs and hymns known in that particular village. Before the time of the gatherings was over and the work in the fields resumed the men were allowed to come to the room. They invited the women to go with them to the "Zapust" which lasted one week. The otherwise strict village community tolerated this boisterous atmosphere. The form of the "Zapust" as we know it today developed at the end of the 19th century.

Camprowanje - Zampern

The historically oldest part of the Sorbian Shrovetide is "Zampern." Roots go back to the pre-Christian forms of believing, fertility rites or protection rites. Elements of magic and cult such as masquerade, dressing up, making loud noises, dancing and caning lead to the assumption that demons and all kinds of danger would keep away. People going from house to house would carry birch rods and touch adults and children with these "rods of life" that symbolized the newly awakening vitality in spring. One of the oldest disguises is the double person who is "the dead person (who) carries the living one." Other disguises included the ghost rider and the stork symbolizing the beginning of spring and fertility, or the "peastrawbear" symbolizing the farewell of the cold winter. These figures were said to have influence on the vital power of nature. Today the different symbols have lost their original meaning and are hard to find in the joyous processions. Instead, you will encounter modern costumes or fantasy outfits. On a particular Saturday young people dress up and make awful noises and play music to scare the winter away. The villagers greet the procession in front of their houses and give them eggs, bacon and money. In return the young people thank them by dancing with the housewife and offering the men "paleńc," a small glass of vodka. One week later all collected items will be used for a big egg meal in the village's pub.

Zapustowy pśeśěg - Festive procession

The high point is the festive procession on Sunday. At noon all unmarried girls and boys in the village meet in the pub where the couples assemble for the festive procession. The young women put on their festive dancing costumes with the embroidered silk scarves and the white lace aprons. The "lapa" - an artistically bound bonnet - completes the costume. Unfortunately, in some villages the women do not wear these bonnets anymore. Every man gets a bouquet of paper flowers from his dancing partner and puts them on his hat or his revere. All couples dance in the hall of the pub before they start the procession through the village. The procession stops at houses of commendable villagers such as the mayor, the parish priest, the school headmaster, the heads of local associations and clubs or the fire chief. These people get a bouquet of paper flowers as well. The accompanying band plays a tune for an honorary dance and small glasses of vodka are toasted to a good future. The honored villagers show their appreciation with some snacks or a donation to the collection bag. In the evening all villagers meet in the pub for the Shrovetide dance. The slogan for the night is announced: "Dance as much as you can and your flax harvest will be rich. Jump a lot so the plants will grow high or choose a tall guy." The so called Men's Shrovetide ends the happy season. Since it is the last night for dancing, married couples gather in the hall of the village pub and young people meet for the big egg meal.