Jańske rejtowanje - St. John's Day Ride

In the very special way that the close relationship between man and nature unfolds its strongest power during the time of solstice becomes apparent on St. John's Day. According to the beliefs of our ancestors the most marvelous things happen on this day. It is believed that the Midsummer's night produces exceptional healing power. The St. John's Day Ride was an important village festivity in many villages of Lower Lusatia in the 19th century. This custom has survived until the present day only in the village of Casel near Drebkau. Instead of the village youth planning this custom there is an association founded to preserve and organize this unique tradition. In the center of the festivities is "John" or "Jan", a figure in disguise embodying the spirits of growth. He is dressed in green branches and flowers. A crown covers his face completely. The preparations for this festivity are extensive and take up much time. Thousands of cornflowers are necessary to create the unusual costume of John. On the day before each girl picks big bunches of flowers and prepares several meters of twisted garlands and wreaths. The men leave early in the morning to find and bring back water lilies. Roses and carthusian carnations make up John's crown. All the different flowers express joy of life and blessed fields. Cornflowers are used as healing herbs whereas water lilies and reed refer to the vital water. Women begin to decorate John in the morning of the festive day. Starting at the collar they sew garlands of cornflowers on the clothes down to the knee. The crown completes the costume after-which John rides together with other men from the village and a brass band from the pub to the village green. The men from the village protect the rider and do not let anybody come near him. Young women dressed in white dresses decorated with blue and red ribbons walk in front of him. They carry another crown with them that will be given to John in the evening for his honorary dance. Having arrived in the village green John rides through the crowd several times. The accompanying men's task is to protect him since the villagers want to get him off the horse and steal pieces of the decorations from his costume which symbolize the spirits of growth. Step by step the number of men protecting him decreases and at the end John rides by himself. Now people can get to him more easily and pick flowers while he is still riding. The captured flowers are eyed as bearers of glad tidings. Afterwards everyone makes his way back to the pub, where the day ends with music and dance in gaiety.