Celebrating Czech Easter












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            * Celebrating Czech Easter
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            There are many religious traditions connected to Easter: remembering the final days, the d

            resurrection of Jesus. For many Czech people, however, their popular customs – which origi
            Pagan time of the pre-Christian period – are the core of the Easter holidays. These tradit
            the beginning of spring and the renewal of life that are associated with this time of year

            In some villages, people continue the tradition of making a straw figure to represent Mora
            goddess of death – to symbolise the end of the harsh winter season. It is tradition to dre
            skirts, shirts and head scarves and whilst everybody sings, they take Morana to a nearby r

            be drowned. This ritual is practiced with the belief it brings a new summer into the villa
            It is more common, however, to practice the art of painting Easter eggs and to take part i

            Monday carolling – especially for the women – whilst the men spend their time braiding Eas
            young willow branches called ‘pomlázka’, or in some regions ‘tatar’. The Easter egg itself
            renewal of life and the return of spring. For centuries, it has been brightly coloured and

            red in colour, which also gives its name to the Easter eggs: ‘kraslice’. The colour ‘red’ 
            ‘červená’ in old Slavic as it is today in Czech, but rather ‘krásná’, which means ‘beautif
            Czech. Interestingly, krásná still stands for ‘red’ today in other Slavic languages, such 

            In the past, the Easter eggs were decorated when boiled. Nowadays, if the egg should serve
            rather than Easter carolling, people only decorate the empty, blown-out egg shells which c
            – these are often on sale at Easter markets around the town. On Easter Monday, the carolle

            the boiled eggs, however, whilst the children receive chocolate ones. When visiting househ
            often gifted with a shot of alcohol instead of an egg and it is common courtesy to present
            in return for visiting their household.

            In more traditional regions, like Southern Moravia, for example, groups of young men gathe
            in the morning of Easter Monday. They then proceed to wander around the whole village, vis
            girls and women to give them a ritual ‘beating’ with the Easter whips that they have made.

            backside of the girl with the ‘pomlázka’ aims to bring her health, youth and also fertilit
            As well as giving the young men a painted egg or shot of alcohol, the women also tie a col
            the top of their Easter whips – and the man with the largest collection of ribbons marks t

            at the end of the day. Additionally, when it is a leap year – such as in 2016 – women and 
            the traditional Easter roles, thus allowing the women to use the Easter whip. However, thi
            some regions and is not typical for the whole country.

            At Charles University’s Faculty of Arts, it has been a long-standing tradition of the Eras
            invite Erasmus students to get together shortly before Easter, in order to learn more abou
            way of celebrating Easter in the Czech Republic. This event is called ‘Czech Easter Aftern

            proves to be popular. This year, the event was held last Friday afternoon (March 18) and w
            by over 30 students who spent nearly three hours painting eggs to celebrate the Easter sea
            from Croatia, Hungary and Germany had all previously decorated eggs, however, for students

            France, this was a brand new experience. A novel experience for all was the process of pai
            wax – a process which was tried by half of the students. They all agreed the experience wa
            one and that they were happy to have tried it. The Easter eggs which the Erasmus students 

            occasion were all brightly coloured and often decorated with spring motives such as flower
            which has helped to bring the spirit of spring into Charles University.

                                                                                                      
            Anna Kindness is a 3rd year English and Film student from Edinburgh, Scotland, who is stud
            culture, adventure, travel, the great outdoors and writing. The decision to write for iFor
            a work environment, whilst simultaneously getting to meet like-minded people.