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Easter in the Czech Republic

The Easter holidays "Velikonoce" is a welcome to spring, opportunity for a family to meet at dinner or to visit one of many cultural events. Easter Sunday is the Sunday following the Paschal Full Moon (PFM) date for the year.

Traditions
Many traditions are still observed and practiced, especially in villages, and different regions may have their own Easter traditions and customs. Even today most of the households are cleaned more scrupulously than in other times of the year, women buy for themselves as well as for their closest relations a new piece of clothing "not to get soiled by a lamb".

Czech easter symbols

• Easter Eggs – Kraslice

The hand-painted, colored or decorated eggs (kraslice), whether they're boiled or only shells, are the most recognizable symbol of Czech Easter. An egg is a symbol of fertility and is very likely connected with the fact that hens lay most eggs in spring. In villages eggs are decorated by girls and women, they give them to Easter carolers on Easter Monday when they come.

Around Easter time a nationwide Easter egg contests are held all over the Czech Republic.
 

• The Easter whip - Pomlázka

Easter carolers on Easter Monday come to lash girls and women with "pomlazka". Whipping brings good luck, wealth and rich harvest for the whole year. The strength from the rods is passed onto the person whipped. The whip or "pomlazka" is made from willow rods. The easiest variety is made from three rods, but it can be braided from 8, 12 or even 24 rods.
 

• The Easter table

There is food, particulaily baked goods, prepared especially for this holiday as well. Just as fish, particularily carp, is associated with the Christmas feast, lamb and goat's meat, baked or fried, is associated with Easter. It was normally prepared with potatoes. Women bake various sweet pastries such as sweet bread - mazanec , doughnuts, a cake in a shape of a lamb for children.
 

• Dousing

Dousing a girl with water has a similar symbolic meaning as the pomlázka.

All over the country and especially in the capital city, there are many beautifully decorated churches. Religious sermons relating to the days of the Passion are held in churches during the Holy Week (the week before Easter): "Flower" Sunday (Christ enters Jerusalem), "Green" Thursday (Jesus is praying on a green meadow), Good Friday (Jesus is sentenced to death and crucified), "White" Saturday (Jesus' body is removed from the cross and laid into a tomb), Easter Sunday (celebration of Jesus Christ's Resurrection).

During Easter there are many concerts of classical music especially in Prague.

Shops are open as usualy, easter eggs and gifts can be bought at the fairs that take place in the town's squares. The Staromestske namesti (Old Town Square) and Vaclavske namesti in Prague.