EASTEREASTER In the Czech republic
Easter is a movable feast, it is after the first full moon after vernal eguinox. This year Easter is on 25th April.
Origin of Easter Roots of Easter go further before the beginning of our era. They are based on Jewish Festival called Passover-saving it, save, crossing. Christians consider Easter as ressurrection of Jesus Christ.
Easter traditions
Easter Fi r Going with Easter Fi r is one of the Czech Easter traditions. Girls go caro l ling around the village one weekend before Easter. What does Fi r look like ? It‘s trimmed crown of tree and it is decorated with colo u red ribbons and colo u red flowers, and on the top of the Fi r can be a head of a doll. Girls get sweets and boiled and decorated eggs when they say a rhyme.
Clattering Boys go clatter at 5 am, because it is said that the bells have flown to Rome. They go round the village on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. On Saturday b oys go from ho us e to ho use and collect money for the clattering. At the end of Easter holidays boys divide their money.
Eggs Girls dye and decorate boiled eggs which are given to boys on Easter Monday. Easter egg is a symbol of new life. Decorated eggs are typical in the Czech Republic. Blown eggs are used as a decoration.
Easter Monday On Easter Monday bo ys go with plaited willow canes and whip girls to be healthy. Boys go carolling : „Hody, hody, doprovody, dejte vejce malovaný. Nedáte-li, malovaný, dejte aspoň bílý, slepička vám snese jiný.“ This is an e xample in the Czech language. (Boys ask for the eggs.)