Serbs (Serbya) of Saxony/Brandeburg

[Vasiliye]

On a modest stretch of land in Germany's East Saxony and South Brandenburg regions, a tiny Slavonic nation continues to fight its corner for cultural recognition and "Sorb" survival.

The Sorbs have been living around the banks of the rivers Elbe and Spree for about 1,500 years, and although they are divided into two major groups which differ decidedly in both language and customs, they have survived together as Germany’s only ethnic minority.

Throughout the centuries, the Sorbs with their heart-felt love for the country they live in have become rapidly germanised, and yet their resistance to full assimilation has ensured their continued survival as an ethnic minority.

In the city of Bautzen, 4,000 of the 43,000 inhabitants belong to Germany’s only national minority. Jurij Wuschansky from the Association of Sorbs and Sorbian Association Domowina says that people from other European minorities are particularly appreciative of the fact that Germans and Sorbs live together on equal terms.

On special occasions, young girls also wear their traditional dressBildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: On special occasions, young girls also wear their traditional dress"They say, it’s great what you have achieved and how tolerant the Germans are to you. They envy and admire us," Wuschansky said. "We’re an exception in Europe apart from minorities in two areas in France. In our town hall, for example, all signs at public offices are in German and Sorbian."

The Sorb culture is also evident in the traditional costumes which are still a part of daily life for many elderly women in the region.

Constitutional rights

In the constitutions of the Free State of Saxony and the State of Brandenburg passed in 1992, the Sorbs’ right to the protection, preservation and promotion of their national identity and their language is guaranteed. On the initiative of Saxony’s former prime minister Kurt Biedenkopf, a `Foundation for the Sorbian Nation´ was set up in October 1991.

"The Sorbs were the original inhabitants of this territory. The protection of this minority is very important," Biedenkopf said. "First of all, because we believe in minority rights. Secondly, because they have played a very influential and important role in the development of this area in Germany. And thirdly, because we cherish the culture and traditions of this small minority as an important aspect of Saxon culture," Biedenkopf added.

But despite efforts to keep such things as costume and language alive, Leos Shatava from the Sorbian Institute in Bautzen says a good proportion of young Sorbs find it hard to relate to their own traditions amidst all the German influences.

"Today, in these times of big changes and market economy, many Sorbs have no time. They have trouble with such things as unemployment etc," Leos Shatava said.

The language factor

Although a large part of the cultural identity is rooted in the language, Sorbian teacher Alfons Frenzel from Upper Lusatia believes that pure language skills alone won’t work any miracles.

"We have to make Sorbian lessons more attractive. We have to develop new school programmes and motivate the pupils to view Sorbian as an important subject. Because we are like a bridge between German culture and Slav culture and traditions," Alfons Frenzel said.

A spring processionBildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: A spring processionIn a bid to keep the assimilation process alive, the Sorbian language is also featured on special radio and television stations. "The temptation to assimilate has greatly increased with electronic media, with television and the so-called virtual world. It’s therefore more difficult than it used to be to maintain a minority identity," Biedenkopf said.

Cultural riches

Typical Sorb Easter eggs, intricately hand-paintedBildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Typical Sorb Easter eggs, intricately hand-paintedAll the more so against the background of efforts to create a common home in Europe, where, as Leos Shatava from the Sorbic Institute believes, the emphasis is very much on shared values rather than on differences.

"On the one hand you can speak about unification, centralisation and globalisation, but on the other hand, today’s world is still thinking about cultural differences. And people say we are richer if we have more languages, more cultures, more diversity in one world," Leos Shatava said

Shatava knows that the future of the Sorbs’ identity will stand or fall with today’s young generation, and it is for that reason that the region's elders will keep goading them into action.

Section 4: Rights of the Sorbs (Wends)
Article 25 (Rights of the Sorbs/Wends)
(1) The right of the Sorbian people to protect, preserve and maintain their national identity and their traditional area of settlement is guaranteed. The State, the local government authorities and municipal bodies shall promote the implementation of this nght, in particular supporting cultural independence and contributing towards effective political organisation of the Sorbian people.
(2) The State shall work towards securing cultural autonomy for the Sorbs beyond the State boundaries.
(3) The Sorbs possess the right to preserve and promote the Sorbian language and culture in public life and to teach the language at schools and nurseries.
(4) In the area of Sorbian settlement the Sorbian language is to be incorporated into official headings. The Sorbian flag has the colours blue, red and white.
(5) The organisation of the Sorbs' rights is regulated by a law. This law is to ensure that Sorbian representatives are involved in matters concerning the Sorbs, in particular legislation.

[Tsontos]

Are Sorbs related to Serbs?

[Vasiliye]

They are leftover from Serbian presence between Saxony and Laba (White Serbia) before the migration to the Balkans.The language spoken by Balkan Serbs and Lausitz Serbs diverged into South Slavic and West Slavic, without any particular affinity for each other (although the subject hasn't been a theme of a comparative study).While present day Serby/Sorbs are part of the West Slavic cultural continium, as a stock of people they share common kinship with the Slavic ancestors of Balkan Serbs/Srbi, which came here from Prague area via Slovenia to Dalmatia, Bosna and Raška.

[Vasiliye]

Lusatian Serbs: a Video Album

(I am yet to find video material about the Serbja for my subsequent productions)

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6AUtsRxdiU[/YOUTUBE]

[masolord]

Originally Posted by Voulgaroktonos

Are Sorbs related to Serbs?

no chance what ever

[masolord]

Originally Posted by Vasiliye

They are leftover from Serbian presence between Saxony and Laba (White Serbia) before the migration to the Balkans.The language spoken by Balkan Serbs and Lausitz Serbs diverged into South Slavic and West Slavic, without any particular affinity for each other (although the subject hasn't been a theme of a comparative study).While present day Serby/Sorbs are part of the West Slavic cultural continium, as a stock of people they share common kinship with the Slavic ancestors of Balkan Serbs/Srbi, which came here from Prague area via Slovenia to Dalmatia, Bosna and Raška.

vasiliye stop spreading propaganda