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Spring Fling

Spring is springing and after all the snow and cold of this past winter; we could use a little sunshine. Easter isn’t so much a Christian holiday here; as a welcome to spring one. Easter Monday, 9 April, is a public holiday. To get in the spirit, visit one of the Easter markets, on either Old Town Square or Wenceslas Square. They are open from 24 March – 15 April. Both decorations and items to buy will be concentrated on tokens of spring. An excellent souvenir this time of year would be some of the beautifully hand painted eggs. There will be many to choose from at the Easter markets. A massive decorated birch tree will be monitoring the events on Old Town Square. Children’s events there include a puppet theatre and workshops where kids can make ornaments and design pomlázkas. These traditional braided birch rods are used as whipping toys on Easter Monday. Men and boys would traditionally walk through town “whipping” women and girls who then rewarded this behaviour with coloured eggs or other small treat. Men usually want a shot. It’s thought that the whipping will ensure fertility, beauty and good health in the coming year.

Some special Easter treats to watch out for include lamb-shaped sponge cake, often covered in chocolate; sweet buns; gingerbread cookies and jidáše or Judas rolls, which are sweet rolls glazed with honey. The Easter meal usually includes a special spring vegetable soup and an Easter dressing made with nettles.

There are some other interesting spring traditions in the Czech Republic. The night of April 30-May 1 is the evening of the witches. It’s said evil spirits are extra active this night so folks used to burn fires around their villages to keep away the wickedness. Recent custom has people setting alight homemade witches in a symbolic “burning” away of winter and welcome to spring. You don’t see it too often in Prague, but make a trip to a smaller village outside the city on April 30-May 1, and it’s quite likely you’ll find a bonfire.

If you are in Prague on 1 May, be sure to kiss your significant other underneath a blooming cherry tree to ensure good health and a long-lasting love. A trip up to Petřín Hill is a good place – you likely can join in a mass kiss-off of other lovers hoping to guarantee affections. 

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