Susanne Hose in Cottbus: Sorbian Legends Full of Terror and Cultural Memory
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When the Noon Woman Steps Out of the Shadows: Sorbian Legends Full of Terror
On October 14, 2026, Dr. Susanne Hose will introduce the dark narrative world of Sorbian and Wendish legends and fairy tales at the Wendish Museum Cottbus. The lecture is part of the Sorabistics on Location series and focuses on those figures that embody fear, moral order, and cultural memory.
The Noon Woman: A Figure of Horror
Hardly any figure in Sorbian tradition appears as eerie as the připołdnica, the Noon Woman. As a thin, white-cloaked woman with a sickle, she encounters people in the fields or at the forest's edge in broad daylight. Those who meet her are interrogated until death in the stories; only a few escape, often marked by serious illness.
This figure compellingly connects the everyday world and the supernatural. From the familiar landscape of Lusatia, a narrative counter-world emerges in which time, work, and rule violations acquire an existential dimension.
The Fur Man Kosmatej and the Morality of Tradition
The lecture presents another striking figure from Sorbian legends: the fur man Kosmatej. Hardworking and modest people need not fear him: he rewards those who behave in accordance with the rules. However, he meets the lazy and insatiable with the same uncompromising harshness as the Noon Woman.
In these tales, the literary quality of popular tradition is revealed. Terror serves not only for entertainment but also articulates social norms, shapes collective concepts, and preserves cultural knowledge.
Lusatian Narrative Culture Between Languages and Traditions
Susanne Hose conducts research at the Sorbian Institute on cultural narrative research, phraseology, tradition studies, and gender studies. As the deputy director of the institute, she deals with the language, history, and culture of the Sorbs and Wends. Her publications on Sorbian narrative culture, proverbs, and the Krabat material combine scientific precision with a profound understanding of the power of oral tradition.
The lecture places the figures of horror within the cultural context of Lusatia, a region where Slavic and German language and narrative spaces intersect. The audience can expect an insightful author encounter featuring legend motifs, character analysis, and insights into the forms of Sorbian memory culture.
A Literary Experience at the Wendish Museum
The reading atmosphere of the Wendish Museum provides a fitting resonance space for the dark materials. The voice, language, and concentrated proximity of the lecture allow the figures from the fields, forests, and noon hour to emerge as vibrant cultural figures. In this way, literary experience merges with cultural scientific knowledge.
Those wishing to discover Sorbian fairy tales, regional mythologies, and the narrative shaping of fear will experience an evening traversing folklore, literary history, and cultural discourse. The lecture begins at 5:00 PM and lasts until 6:30 PM. Admission for adults is 2 euros.
Conclusion: Experience Sorbian Legends Live
Wild Man and Noon Woman opens access to a narrative tradition where the uncanny makes societal rules visible and landscapes become stages of cultural memory. Literature enthusiasts, friends of Lusatia, and all those fascinated by fairy tales, myth, and Sorbian culture will experience an impressive lecture with Dr. Susanne Hose. Reserve your place and meet the figures of horror where research and lively storytelling converge.
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- Website: https://www.serbski-institut.de/mitarbeiter/dr-susanne-hose/
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