Easter Riders

The tradition of the Easter Riders is very old. In its Christian form, it dates back to the fifteenth century, but the underlying principle—riding through the fields in spring to protect the coming harvest—is much older, of pagan origin, and its origins are virtually impossible to trace.

The most spectacular rides can be seen (and that’s where many people head) in Lusatia, particularly the equestrian procession from Ostritz to Marienthal—a cavalry of hundreds of horses and riders.

The ecumenical nature of this event is underscored by the fact that riders are gathering here not only from Lusatia itself, but from all over Germany, as well as from Poland and the Czech Republic.

Black tailcoats and black top hats lend the entire procession a solemn air and a certain elegance.

By the way: The Upper Lusatian Horse Processions are an important part of the culture of the Lusatian Sorbs and are included on the list of European intangible cultural heritage.

From the Bohemian Switzerland region, it’s only a few kilometers to Upper Lusatia, so it makes perfect sense to include a stop here on your Easter itinerary for one of your first spring outings. But if a smaller, somewhat more modest display of the Easter Riders is enough for you, we can stay home—specifically in Mikulášovice.

In 2011, Roman Klinger revived this tradition, and it is no coincidence that it was him.

His great-grandfather had already been in charge of this event, organizing it even before World War II until 1940, when the international situation put an end to the tradition.

The Easter Riders set out to spread the news of Christ’s resurrection every Easter Sunday (Easter Day) after Mass from St. Nicholas Church. Although they do not ride through all of Mikulášovice’s fields, you can see them up close in the wider center of the village without the crowds.

Unlike the hundreds of riders in Lusatia, you’ll see more like a dozen riders at the Mikulášovice Easter festival (though in 2025 there were a full twenty-five—and that’s quite a sight!). And unlike in Lusatia, where they’re quite strict about insisting that the riders be actual men, here you’ll mostly see girls in the saddle.

Which is actually pretty good news.

If you want to get a better idea of what to expect from this event, check out this link. Ivo Šafus has been documenting the event consistently, with very few exceptions, ever since this tradition was revived in Mikulášovice.