The Czech Republic has some interesting Easter traditions.
The official holiday is Easter Monday. Traditionally, Sunday the girls spend painting eggs (much more ornate than the American version!) and the boys braid a whip (pomlázka) from willow branches. On Monday, the boys (and men) go around town and symbolically whip girls on the legs in order to transfer the youth and health of the branches to the girls for the coming year. Unfortunately, some forget the "symbolic" part of the whipping and women don't like it so much. In return, the girls give the boys their painted eggs or candy (or more so money or shots of plum brandy these days) and tie a ribbon on the end of the pomlázka. Though the pomlázka and eggs can be bought all over Prague prior to Easter, the traditions themselves are practiced more in small towns and villages, so I got away with not experiencing them this year. :)
No comments:
Post a Comment