Sorbs can be titled Wends. Wends can be titled German, Polish, Slavic and other titles. Who and where are they? What makes them different? I wanted to know.
In the 1840s Europeans began to migrate to our country. In 1853, a group of thirty-five Sorbs made its way to the Giddings, Texas area, one-hundred-fifty-seven miles from Galveston, after they arrived. In 1854, about six hundred Sorbs from the congregations of pastor John (Johann)Kilian‘s congregations in Prussia and Saxony called on him to lead them to Texas – most in wooden boats – expecting better lives in America. Many of them settled in what is now Lee County, Texas and they called the area Serbin. They migrated from a slice of Germany and Poland called Sorbia at that time.
Imagine trying to move your family with several children to a new land. Many people died on the trip.
The Wends or Wendish are the American version of the Sorbs, who came for freedom of religion and better conditions for their families, whether German or Slavic. They traveled from an area in Germany, now called Lusatia.
Freedom of religion and better conditions for their families encouraged the travelers, whether German or Slavic. They quickly formed groups for survival and for educating their families.
The railroad played an important role for people arriving to establish farms, churches, and schools in that area, but it was the Lutheran Wendish who established their beautiful church near Giddings under the pastorage of Killian. Their church is a work of love. Don’t miss it.
With its fascinating history, visit the engaging Texas Wendish Heritage Museum, loaded with marvelous displays. Enjoy yourself in each room. Did the bride in the wedding display bring her black wedding dress from Germany? Did her husband bring tools for the mid-1880s? Spend time enjoying the preservation which allows you to see antiques your grandmother or great-grandmother would remember. The museum houses highly decorated rooms of antiques, including their useful tools, clothing, even musical instruments, including at least one accordion. The museum also offers many classes, from cooking to language classes. Their festivals are great fun and educational. You may enjoy their upcoming festival scheduled for Sunday, September 28, 2025.
The image below shows an exhibit in the museum to honor John (Johann) A. Proske, who founded the Giddings Deutsches Volksblatt, a German newspaper that also offered several columns in Wendish. At first, the newspaper was printed in a shed on his farm, but he later purchased land in Giddngs that became the home of the printing operation. The exhibit includes examples of Wendish language printing.
Spend time in the museum’s gift shop, as it offers exquisite items for you, plus a few more displays. I could not depart for home without a small, hand-carved, wooden manger scene. They sell bonnets made by the nearby residents throughout the year with a good supply on September 28, during their renown annual festival. The painted eggs are decorated, not only for Easter, but gifts for appreciative friends, especially for collectors. The locals take great pride in their history, their crafts, and their cooking expertise.
I learned Sorbs exist in Germany to this day, as a minority on the east side of Germany, speaking their own dialects and German. Their population is difficult to judge, but 60,000 people are listed as still there.
The Wends don’t live IN Giddings, but nearby. Serbin, TX, is the actual name of the settlement, and it was founded by Wendish immigrants. Don’t wait to visit Serbin. Their annual Festival is September 28, 2025. Serbin’s address on Road 2239 is about seven miles southwest of Giddings in Lee County. Go slow or miss it, especially on Festival Day. Wonderful smells and fabulous food await you. It is well worth the drive. Have a wonderful time!