Easter Traditions in the Czech Republic
Easter It is the largest Christian holiday. It should remind us of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Believers celebrate Easter as a holiday of redemption, hope, rebirth of Christ's. The concept of Easter changes according to the place. The time of Easter varies. This year: Monday, the 21st April. One Easter theme is common: "Vajíčko ti dávám, věrná ti ostávám".
Holy Week Holy Week is a week before Easter Every day of Holy Week has a special name : Ugly Wednesday Green Thursday The Good Friday Holy Saturday Shrove – Easter Sunday Easter Monday
Ugly Wednesday According to the tradition, chimneys should be swept If you frown on the Ugly Wednesday, you will frown every Wednesday during the year
Green Thursday On the Green Thursday was the Last Supper, the last dinner of Jesus Christ with the apostles On the Green Thursday you should get up early and wash your face with dew. That will protect you against diseases. You also should eat something green to be healthy during the year
Good Friday On this day, Jesus Christ died. It‘s the only day in the year when Mass is not held anywhere in the world. Good Friday is a day of fasting for Roman Catholics who will not eat meat until Saturday evening after the church bells start ringing on their legendary return from Rome.
White Saturday On the White Saturday people bake ‘mazanec’ and Easter lamb, both of them are cakes. They also decorate eggs and weave Easter whips.
Easter Sunday Easter Sunday is the most important day for Christians. In churches food is being blessed. According to the Bible, Jesus Christ was resurrected on this day Girls paint, color and decorate eggs if they haven't done so already, and boys prepare their whipping rods
Easter Monday On Easter Monday morning men and and young guys go from house to house, whip girls and women which makes them younger and healthier and get some decorated or chocolate Easter eggs or alcohol.
Weaving whips and Caroling Boys and men weave whips from willow canes and decorate them with ribbons They beat women while saying some special rhymes.
If women are whipped, then they are healthy and they‘ll have a lot of childern Men can douse women with water
Painting eggs In the Czech Republic we have an old tradition of painting eggs. Eggs with complicated ornaments and decorations are called ‘kraslice’.
Easter lamb Baking Easter lamb is also an old tradition which comes from pagan times. Nevertheless it has its meaning for Jews and Christians as well.