District Day Bautzen: flags for schools - symbolism or identity?
District Day Bautzen: flags for schools - symbolism or identity?
In a pioneering decision, the Bautzen district council decided on June 23, 2025 the permanent flagform to district -owned schools. This step comes in an area in which the Sorbs, the smallest West Slavic people, have been based for centuries. Around 60,000 Sorben live in the region, which are committed to their roots and culture, as the district of Bautzen reports.The decision provides for the Sorbian flag as well as the Germany and Sachsen flag in the Sorbian settlement area. In the areas outside the Sorbian settlement area, the federal flag will be displayed in the future and the state flag will also be displayed if possible. This measure is realized at locations with existing flag masts, so that there are no large additional expenses for the municipalities. At the district office locations in Bautzen and Kamenz, the variety of flags with the European, federal, state and sorb flag will come into its own.
a passionate plea for identity
The decision was made after intensive discussion in the district council, with CDU district council Dawid Statnik emphasized that the flags should not only act as a symbol policy. He appealed to the relevance of the representation of Sorbian culture. On the other hand, SPD representative Gerhart Lemm expressed concerns about possible thefts or damage to the flags. He suggested that the flags to be caught in the evening and raised again in the morning, which would bring an additional burden.
The discussion was shaped by different political camps. While the AfD supported the district administrator's application and also demanded the called Saxon flag in non-Borbian areas, the Bündnis Left-Green Group was concerned about a possibly negative effect of a permanent flag. They feared that special memorial days could be back in the background.
a question of production and cost
The Mayor of the Kamenzer Roland Dantz hopes that the flag mandate will be awarded to a regional producer and does not migrate to China. The estimate of the costs for the entire flag package amounts to around 2,500 euros. This shows that economic aspects also play a role in such cultural decisions.
The Sorbian language and culture are very important in the Bautzen district. The bilingualism is omnipresent in many communities, be it with signposts or in public institutions. The Sorbs, also known as turns, are one of the four recognized ethnic minorities in Germany. Their history goes back to the 6th century when they colonized the upper and Lower Lusatia. However, they are currently facing challenges, such as emigration and loss of culture and language, in particular through the coal phase -out, the [University Tübingen] (https://uni-tuebingen.de/fakultaeten/mathematic-naturikikenschaftlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichlichliche-fakultaet/GeOsschaftschaften/Arbeitsgruppen/geography/forschung s area/economic geography/working group/teaching/excursions/Grosse-Excursion-Middle Germany-2021/Topic areas/Die-Sieder-Ethnische-Mildheit /).
Overall, the decision of the Bautzen district council represents an important gesture: it is not only the expression of respect for the cultural identity of the sorbs, but also a step to create visibility for this ethical minority that must be preserved.
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| Ort | Bautzen, Deutschland |
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