Easter pics

[vera_j]

Well, I was lucky today because I managed to get out in the morning and make some nice pictures in an Easter market for you.
I looked for those willow pleated rods called "pomlázka" and found lots of them and in all possible sizes.
Our Easter is, of course, based on the same biblical event , however there are certain traditions that are specifically Czech/Moravian. On Saturday, we usually decorate the eggs (hard boiled) - they are for playing and eating. Somewhere, they throw them in the air and then collect them and check on them and who has them intacts, wins. Or, as in our village, they roll the eggs from a wooden narrow though, which is fastened in a sharp angle on the grass. Again, whos eggs survive, he/she wins and gets also the other eggs. But this tradition is dying now.
On Easter Sunday, we have a big meal at noon, goose or duck or pork and dumplings and cabbage (breaking the fast - which is actually non-existent). People visit each other, some go to the church, some to the pub. In the afternoo, the children go and say the chants and get some treat, They have  "pomlázka" and they beat a lady of a house to keep her healthy and fertile. The second is forgotten now. Some Pomlázka are works of art, fine examples of traditional craft. Men/boys pleat them from four - 12 long willow twigs and decorate them with ribbons they receive from the girls as a token/reward/ransom. Oh, and it hurts, some men can flog you quite unmercifully!
However at present, there are almost only children, who visit the houses.Adults no more go and sing!
the pics here:

Comments

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

Very nice pictures, appart from Hot Cross Buns on Good friday and Chocolate Easter Eggs for children we have no traditions about Easter, I'm glad some of yours are still active.

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

*Laughs*Oh yes, this custom is very TANGIBLE! Aw aw aw!!! The words "tangible" and "untangible" I learned when I worked as am ASP UNESCO coordinator in my school. We dealt with the WOrld Heritage and these were two cathegories of items...
Ah, we bake big buns with a cross too but this is a different recipy, we use yeast dough, add almonds and raisins, The bun has usually 30sm in diameter.

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

Now that sounds like my kind of bun, it probably has the same origin, the first sweet food after fasting for Lent. IIRC our recipe is yeast dough with cinnamon and raisins and the cross is short crust pastry so they aren't too different.

[entropy-house.livejournal.com]

Lovely pictures! The extent of my Easter planning this year is very limited. I have a chocolate bunny, and some eggs to hardboil and dye.

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

My nearest plan is cleaning the windows - now. And the eggs - will you show us your decorated ones?

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

Nice that some traditions are still kept.

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

Yes, I agree!:-)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

We just have hot cross buns today (or all weekend in my case because I love them) and chocolate eggs on Sunday. I did once go to a Greek Easter party where we all had dyed hard-boiled eggs (usually bright red) and challenged others to hit our own; the survivor won. That sounds a lit like your custom, and also the English conkers. :-)

What do you do with the pomlázka?

The buildings behind the market are so beautiful in their style and different colours. I sometimes wonder if any of our will be thought attractive by mater generations, but I can't imagine so. I've grown fond of the Sky Tower though, and I used to regard it as a monstrosity, like the Parisians did when the Eiffel Tower first went up.

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

This is really very similar and why not, out ancient teachers of education came with their mission here from Greece, Thessalonike, St.Constantin/Cyril and St. Method, they created our first Old Slavonic Alphabet and they spread Christianity in a language that people here could understand - however there had already been Roman Catholics with their Latin education - and guess what happened. This has been a fate of our nation and country since the beginning, we live on a crossroads of two cultures...
With pomlázka you are beatem (it should be only a symbolic, hahaha) by men/children to be healthy and fertile - and to give men and children treats.
The Square in České Budějovice is very beautiful indeed, all Gothic and Renaissance. I am glad they take care of them. You know, the architecture is a mirror of history and life...

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Ah, so it's really another spring fertility rite, like the eggs and rabbits. I wondered it it was to do with Jesus being whipped. Me, I'd refuse to let them touch me with pomlázka; I'm not cut out for motherhood. ;-) I also don't like the idea of men beating woman, even in fun.

architecture is a mirror of history and life

That's a sad indictment on us, then!

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

Oh but EVERY history is rich and unique - only different, and this difference makes it more interesting and beautiful!

Ah, within family, it is real fun, just my boys have "heavy hands"...:-)
And other men wouldn´t dare to touch ME - they know me too well:-)
Children are no problem, of course:-)

[ultrapsychobrat.livejournal.com]

Pretty pics. Thanks for the traditions explanation--very interesting.

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

Thank you too! :-)

[luinielle.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful photos!! I especially love the middle one with all the colorful baskets and eggs. The Pomlázka are beautiful!

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

I am really glad you like it!