Colorful Easter eggs in Germany

Easter is a particularly important time of year for Sorbs, a Slavic minority in eastern Germany, and the period includes the tradition of painting Easter eggs that decorated with visual elements intended to ward off evil. Many Sorbs still speak Sorbian, a language closely related to Polish and Czech.

In this photograph, Sorb egg painter Kerstin Hanusch decorates eggs at the annual Easter egg market.

All photos taken in Schleife, Germany, March 16, 2013

A Sorb egg painter engraves an Easter egg at the annual Easter egg market.

Painted Easter eggs sit on display for sale at the annual Sorbian Easter market.

Sorb egg painter Melanie Baier poses at the annual Easter egg market.

A Sorb egg painter decorates an Easter egg using bent spoons full of melted wax as coloring.

Sorb egg painter Sigrid Bolduan paints an Easter egg at the annual Easter egg market.

Painted Easter eggs sit on display for sale at the annual Sorbian Easter market.

Sorb egg painter Kerstin Hanusch decorates eggs at the annual Easter egg market.

A Sorb egg painter decorates an Easter egg.

Painted Easter eggs sit on display at the annual Sorbian Easter market.

Painted Easter eggs sit on display for sale at the annual Sorbian Easter market.

A visitor holds a decorated Easter egg with her granddaughter's name that she has just purchased at the annual Easter egg market.

Sorb egg painters sell their wares at the annual Easter egg market.

Painted Easter eggs sit on display for sale at the annual Sorbian Easter market.