Czech Easter
Young, live pussywillow twigs are thought to bring health and youth to anyone who is whipped with them. A pomlázka (from pomladit or "make younger") - a braided whip made from pussywillow twigs - has therefore been used for centuries by boys who go caroling on Easter Monday and symbolically whip girls on the legs. Boys used to make their own pomlázkas in the past (the more twigs, the more difficult it was to braid one), but this tradition and skill is long gone and pomlázkas can be bought in stores and on the streets. Some men don't even bother and use a single twig or even a wooden spoon!
Other than the fact that the whipping is often less than symbolic, this is a fairly accurate description of the different traditions associated with Easter in the Czech Republic.
Here's some associate vocabulary:
- Velikonoce - Easter
- kraslice - Easter eggs
- koleda - Easter trick-or-treating
- pomlázka - pussywillow whip (see above)
- mazanec - Easter sweet bun
- beránek - lit. little lamb - Easter sweet bun in the shape of a lamb
Here's two more links with more info:
