A dreamy vacation near Berlin: Lagoon scenery and lots of cucumbers
60 miles south of Berlin, in the southeastern state of Brandenburg, the Spreewald region (the Spree Forest, in German; Pronounced: sh-p-ray-vaald) is located, a unique place in terms of cultural values, landscape and nature, Spreewald. The Spreewald region is actually a 480 square mile nature reserve in a maze of 300 canals branching from the river Spree.
2.5 million tourists visit the Spreewald each year. They rent rowboats and rafts, enjoy the lagoon-like scenery, eat cucumbers (the local star vegetable), and admire the traditions and habits of the Sorbs (also called Wends), a tiny ethnic group of Slavic origin, that reached the area during the 6th century and speaks its own language until today (sounds like Polish).
The town of Schlepzig contains an extension of the UN human biosphere program, specializing in unique flora and fauna conservation. The Spreewald reserve has about 18,000 species of plants and animals and since 1991 is an official Biospheric reserve by UNESCO.
Among the animals that characterize the Spreewald are the white stork, otter, water rattlesnake, endemic fish.
Visiting the Sorbians
The Cultural Association of Sorbs (also called Wends), preserves the traditions and way of life of this ethnic group. The organization initiates, among other things, traditional weddings, shows of national dresses and even the baptizing rituals. By the way, all the signs bearing the names of towns, streets and waterways are bi-lingual, German-Sorbian. The name of the region in Sorbian is Blóta, which means marsh in Sorbian.
Each year, the Sorbs celebrate the Zampern Festival. This holiday's customs and beliefs were prevalent among the tribes of Slavs even before their conversion in the Middle Ages in Christianity, including witchcraft and incantations for healing and fertility. Nowadays, mask wearing residents, accompanied by an Orchestra, roam the villages, knock on doors and ask for food components of holiday dishes: bacon, eggs, onions and schnapps (liquor). Except the costumes, masks, noise and music, the holiday is characterized reeds beating to expel ghosts and demons. Many tourists come to the area to purchase folk medicines prepared according to secret Sorbian recipes.
The Spreewald area is also famous for its wood carving art, especially for the crossed snakes, amulets carved on the house gables. An additional traditional Industry which enjoys preservation is the export of Spreewald's special wooden logs.
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