BellaOnline Forums Travel and Culture German Culture Vogelhochzeit, 'Bird's Wedding' a Sorb Tradition

January and time for "Vogelhochzeit", Bird's Wedding, a centuries old Sorbian custom from eastern Germany.

The "Bridal Couple" are children in traditional Sorbian costumes. The bride a Magpie, her groom a Raven, the guests often other birds, and its held on January 25 celebrating the approaching end to winter.

Hola Francine,

Heck of an off-the-bird-track article!

The costumes as you displayed really do those two species of birds justice.

Would you know why the magpie and the raven were chosen for the Vogelhochzeit, as in the eyes of some, those species of birds are perceived as being real pests?

Since both are considered to be in the Crow family, couldn't the marriage of the two be viewed as being incestuous?

In Mexico, there are no magpies per se, but two of my favorite species do appear there, the White-Throated and Black-Throated Magpie Jays.

As for me, I think Magpies and Ravens are wicked intelligent and behaviorally fascinating. The last two times I was in the fields and hills of nearby Zinaparo I was disappointed that I didn't see or even hear any Common Ravens who quite often occur there.

For some reason, these lyrics have been on my mind lately:

"Pack up all my cares and woes,
Here I go, singing low,
Bye, bye, blackbird.
Where somebody waits for me,
Sugar is sweet, so is she,
Bye, bye, blackbird."

"Make my bed and light the light,
I'll arrive late tonight,
Blackbird,
I said blackbird,
I said blackbird,
Oh, blackbird, bye, bye."

Hello Francine,

Can you give more information or write another article about the Sorbs? Learn so much from your site - thanks and cheers

Hello Francine and all,

I really liked reading your article, interesting and interesting to say the least.

You say there...

"The night before dishes filled with breadcrumbs are placed outside, high out of the reach of any dogs or cats who might be around, and overnight the birds fill them with gifts for the following day's wedding, such as baked figures of magpies or bird's nests, different candies, nuts and apples."

I wonder if this is where the tooth fairy (or mouse in my world)got hisher idea to pay for baby teeth left overnight in slippers. Both are an award for something.

Anyway, as usual I find your site v v interesting to read and easy to go lurk about.

Thanks and cheers

Do you see the connetion? Maybe not, still just saying a say.

P S Les - remember that song Blackbird made famous for me by the Beatles? At one stage I was madly in love with a someone who played this for me ad nauseam (by request) on a 12-string guitar. Ah, sweet memories.

Hello there...

Now why, as a species, are crows considered a pest?
Quite frankly if I were a crow I'd do my best
To do what I do well, doves aside, as you know,
The best thing I know is to be me! A Crow.

I remember at junior school the boys called us girls 'crows' as in "So what does your crow say, is she coming to the dance with you?" Either that or we were called bats, but crows was the favoured term. Ah well.

Cheers now