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Traditions

There are many Easter traditions that those of Czech ancestry or affiliation choose to celebrate. Here we will highlight some of the most important and fun ones people like to celebrate. In Czechia, many people love to decorate Easter Eggs, known as Kraslice. There are many different traditional ways to decorate Kraslice eggs, like acrylic paint, or melting wax. In the gallery section of this website will be a display of different Kraslice eggs decorated by professionals and amateurs, I hope you enjoy them!

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The other traditions highlighted on this page is the "whipping" of young girls by young boys with the decorated willow sticks seen to the side. It is noted in a journal for the European Journal of Science and Theology written by Jarmila Honzikova, that, "Our ancestors believed that a rejeuvination power was hidden in the twigs. The girl who wanted to be "rejeuvinated must have let herself whipped on Easter Monday by boys and paid for it with painted eggs. The eggs were also used to express mutual fondness" This act, including the use of stylized Easter eggs and Willow Whips, is a ritualistic part of the tradition of celebrating Easter. Chapter four of the Living Folklore textbook states that, "generally, rituals are performed that are repeated and patterned and frequently include ceremonial symbols and actions(pg, 99)". Children participate in these rituals, many of the young girls will make Kraslice eggs, and then give them to the boys they care for during the "whipping", as stated above. The timeframe for this ritual is Easter Monday, so the children know when this ritual is meant to be performed. It is an interesting combination of symbols and actions that come from two Easter traditions. These concepts will be explored further in the next page. 

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Here is both of the material symbols for the "whipping" ritual, Kraslice eggs and decorated Willow sticks.

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Here is the ritual in action, a young woman being "whipped" by young men through town on Easter Morning.

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Here is a close up of other decorated Willow sticks.

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