Comments on: Czech Republic, Slovakia: Whipping Girls and Other Easter Traditions

By: Peter

Peter — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 02:42:42 +0000

dear writer
your description of this tradition of easter was very god accept few mistakes.

kraslice did not came from old cech word, because centuries is this word in slovak language to. Original meanings kraslice become from word krasny what on bouth langvages mean pretty or nice. Simply sad, eggs are made more pretty or beautifuland after that become the kraslice. And word cerveny means red. On the picture is all kraslicas paint on red only, i can make you sure, the red is only one from many common colors used in this process of art.

By: nameless person

nameless person — Sat, 23 May 2009 04:24:34 +0000

im sorry if i came on a little too strong. and i was very miss informed a friend of mine miss interpreted the tradition to make it sound much worst than it really was. though i still don’t excactly agree with this tradition. i still do respect it. with apologies, nameless person :)

By: Míra

Míra — Sat, 02 May 2009 11:59:48 +0000

Dear nameless,
I can see that you do not understand what tradition means. Nobody takes right of speech, nobody punish, nobody is higher than other. It is gentle whipping but I admitt that you can find some excesses mainly because of alcohol. If you will have discussion with local woman you will see that 8 of 10 like this tradition. The act of whipping is not pounishment is it act to keep youth and health for the rest of year. It is very easy condemn something without basic knowledge.
And what I mean that sickest is ???

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Hunters-Begin-Killing-338000-Seals-In-Newfoundland-Canada-For-Use-In-Beauty-Products-And-For-Pelts/Article/200904215258928?f=rss

Why have to be people so stupid doing thinks like that ???

People should clean up in front of their own doors before they start criticize others…

Ouughh … aren´t you from the part of world where advert for Coca cola company is the biggest tradition???

With love
Míra

By: nameless person

nameless person — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:44:44 +0000

after reading this article all i have is three words. this. is. sick. in all respect the the slovakian traditions, as a women of canada i have the right to freedom of speech, so this is what i have to say. of all the things in the world that make me want puke, this is one of the sickest. the way some cultures treat women are absolutely sick. first of all beating or whipping ANYONE is wrong, especially when the right to do so is specified by gender. second (this one really makes my skin crawl) that men are rewarded for putting down women. sick. now here is my question… why must we have such traditions? in many other places in the world, women and men are equal. one is not raised higher than the other. so in other countries this holiday would be quite an insult, and considered, horrid, even evil. in those countries, on easter people give out eggs and chocolate and have dinners with family ex., and is a happy holiday to share with friends and even people you may not know. why must a holiday be so unpleasant in other places?

By: Busted Halo » Features » 5 Ways to Celebrate Easter

Busted Halo » Features » 5 Ways to Celebrate Easter — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:05:11 +0000

[...] Go fly a kite. In Bermuda every Easter, “Bermuda Kites” are built and flown to symbolize Christ’s ascension into heaven. In the Netherlands and parts of Germany, “Easter fires” are built at sunset on Easter Sunday to bring community together and celebrate the coming of spring and warm weather. Lots of regions have fun and different ways to celebrate Easter; Brian (age 28) recommends picking one or two interesting traditions from different cultures and trying them out. “Sometimes what is boring about holidays is we are so used to the same old practices. Finding unique traditions can make a holiday special and more meaningful.” If you’re going to try out other Easter customs I do recommend, however, staying away from Slovakian Easter Monday whippings. [...]

By: sixofthebest

sixofthebest — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 17:26:07 +0000

I think the czech custom of whipping naughty women on Easter, is fantastic. I wish this custom would migrate to the rest of the world.

By: Luboš Motl

Luboš Motl — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:47:25 +0000

By the way, the comments about whipping are misleading. Because 2008 is a leap year, the role of boys and girls was actually switched. Girls were beating boys, this year.

By: El Oso » Blog Archive » [Culture] Whatever Floats Your Boat

El Oso » Blog Archive » [Culture] Whatever Floats Your Boat — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 00:07:40 +0000

[...] In the Czech Republic and Slovakia you spank and whip girls the monday after Easter: [...]

By: tanja

tanja — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 15:33:49 +0000

I love your pictures! And thanks for linking to Czechmate diary! It was interesting to read all of the other quoted articles regarding the Czech Easter. I was pleased to see that many of these authors actually had the same opinions when it comes to “pomlazka”! In theory, it is a nice,sentimental tradition but in practice it just doesn’t work because: men + alcohol + Easter = trouble (most of the time).

By: Irene Zemanova

Irene Zemanova — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 10:27:10 +0000

Thank you, Elia, for the writing of this interesting article and adding my photo. You put it very nice. Just some more info. Pomlázka is from the word omladit – to make younger or keep women young throughout the whole year. If he who whips is not cruel the whole thing is very funny and cheerful especially at the villages where you can hear happy laughter and rush of girls and women escaping from hilarious guys. Irene aka Semmi