Lusatian Easter Eggs

Coloring Easter eggs is an integral part of the Lusatian tradition, and the beautiful patterns and elements on the eggs are supposed to scare away evil spirits. The Lusatians are a Slavic ethnic minority in East Germany, many of them still speak the Lusatian language, which is very similar to Polish and Czech.

1. Silvia Panosha in a traditional puddle dress carries a box of eggs with patterns at the market in Schleife, Germany. (Photo by Carsten Koall)

2. The master of egg painting engraves an Easter egg in a train. Easter is a particularly important time for Luzhichans. (Photo by Adam Berry)

3. Kerstin Hanush decorates eggs at the annual Easter market in Schlaife. (Photo by Adam Berry)

4. Sigrid Bolduan paints eggs for Easter. (Photo by Adam Berry)

5. Decorating Easter eggs is a complex and painstaking process. There is dyed wax in these bent spoons. (Photo by Adam Berry)

6. Beautiful Easter eggs are for sale. (Photo by Adam Berry)

7. Dexterous fingers are needed to create such patterns. (Photo by Adam Berry)

8. A customer chooses Easter eggs at the market in the Train. (Photo by Adam Berry)

9. Animals and birds are a popular pattern on eggs. (Photo by Adam Berry)

10. The master decorates the Easter egg. (Photo by Adam Berry)

11. Luzhichans love bright and original patterns. (Photo by Adam Berry)

12. Painted molten wax is used as paints. (Photo by Adam Berry)

13. Prayers and quotations from the Bible are also very popular. (Photo by Adam Berry)

14. Kerstin Hanush paints Easter eggs. (Photo by Adam Berry)

15. Kerstin Hanush decorates eggs for the holiday. (Photo by Adam Berry)