Spring - Old Traditions and New Beginning ****************************************************************************************** * Spring - Old Traditions and New Beginning ****************************************************************************************** Grass growing, flowers blooming, and new life suggest the awaking of nature and the offici spring.  Springtime is the season in which life is at the centre of existence, it allows t rebirth, rejuvenation, and regrowth. Not only is spring a celebration of new life, it is a celebrating festivals and historical traditions. Being an Erasmus student from England (Natasha Gooden studies currently at Faculty of Law University and comes from University of Sheffield) I have experienced many of my home cult traditions surrounding springtime. I recently took part in the Europe Meets School Program I volunteered in a local Czech school, and prepared and delivered a project called British and Traditions. After an informative presentation I had prepared a task which was to produ highlighting British holidays and Czech holidays which included the similarities and diffe counties.  During my visit I hopefully informed the children, however they also shared the I also went away from the experience gaining further knowledge, which I have used to base Veselé Velikonoce; Happy Easter! One of the main spring festivals is Easter, originating from religious roots; Easter in bo encompasses the best of spring along with unique touches of creativity. Throughout the Czech Republic there are many symbols of Easter, one of those is that of Kr are special eggs that are hand painted and decorated, creatively made using different mate watercolours, stickers, and with a wide ranging patterns which are at the heart of Easter One tradition which is unique to Czech Republic and would not make it Easter without it is pomlázka. I had previously not come across this tradition as it is not done in England, it pussywillow twigs are braided together in order to make whips, which has been passed down generations, boys will whip girls in order to bring health and youth. Dousing is symbolica tradition whereas in this instance a girl is doused in water. Whereas in England there is a more reserve approach, a key tradition for children is to ma bonnets, which are often straw hats which are decorated with chicks, and flowers. A furthe tradition is an Easter egg hunt, where adults would hide treats such as chocolate eggs in children to find them. A favourite food traditionally eaten is a hot cross bun, which spic crosses on the top and usually eaten on Good Friday. Additionally on Easter Sunday childre basket of chocolate treats and sweets from the Easter Bunny. Both countries value the connotations of colour, however there is a key difference in colo while in the Czech Republic red if often used, in England greens and yellows are used, alt differences they both symbolise happiness, joy and new life. Underpinning Easter is the religious aspects of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Czechs religious days such as: Ugly Wednesday (Škaredá středa), Green Thursday (Zelený čtvrtek), (Velký pátek), White Saturday (Bílá sobota), which are traditionally based on the creation rattles – řehtačka, which boys would walk through villages and make noise, which symbolica warn off Judas. They also celebrate other days which are better known for me personally, which include Eas (Neděle velikonoční), however unlike English traditions preparations for Easter Monday tak paint eggs and boys prepare their pomlázka. In England this is the most Holy day where peo Sunday Mass, this would then usually follow with a traditional Sunday roast dinner compris lamb. In comparison in Czech Republic Easter Monday (Pondělí velikonoční) is the main day the whipping would take place, and the girls would offer decorated eggs as a reward. Goodbye Winter; Hello Summer Burning of the witches (Pálení čarodějnic) takes place on the 30th April and is the day wh ceremonially brought to an end in Czech Republic, it is celebrate mainly by bonfires where burned, and occurs exactly six months after our Halloween. This holiday is similar to the Guy Fawkes night; however the symbolic message is different. May Day The first of May is celebrated in both countries and depicts spring at its best. In Czech people in villages decorate májka which is a birch tree which is placed on a village green from neighbouring villages may try and steal it. A similar approach is taken in England, a branch the maypole is at the centre of the day. It would usually consist of dancing around ribbons, and celebrating life. Similarly it is a time of love and romance in both countrie Republic also known as the day of love. Traditions – Strange but intriguing Peculiar, unusual, weird are often words used to describe springtime traditions; however t and innovative forms of celebration from both countries highlight the fun and excitement o emphasize the importance of keeping traditions alive. Despite physical differences it is c same beliefs and messages are being portrayed and highlighting that you are never far away already know.  The differences make each place unique and a great place to visit and exper Spring: A celebration of people and life.