Easter in Slovakia is represented by 3 species of bushes. The bushes are called “zlatý dážd” (golden rain) and “bahniatka.” People collect the branches and put them in the water. Then they hang their kraslice and other decorations on them. The third one is willow. Willow branches are used to make "korbáč" by men. They use it to whip single girls on Easter Monday.

Splashing and whipping on Easter Monday

Slovak women and girls are splashed with cold water – known as "Oblievacka" – and whipped with "korbáč" – known as "šibačka" – on Monday mornings in order to remain fit and attractive for the entire year. Villages have a more vibrant version of this tradition than towns. A group of young men dressed in traditional folk costumes drags girls out of their homes and splashes them. There are rattles and braided whips with colorful ribbons included.Women reward men with candy, fruit, money, painted Easter eggs, or ribbon for their korbac after the oblievačka and šibačka.
TB

First of all, guys are coming to our place all day long just and only to splash cold water on us (girls). And wanna know why? Just so that we'll stay healthy and pretty throughout the next year. Ironic, isn't it? There are also some 'empathetic' guys who bring perfume to spray on us which is very kind if we're used to ending up soggy from all the water spilled at us with the necessity of changing our clothes. 

Second of all, while we are soaking wet, here comes another tradition. Guys bring a wicker rod tangled into a knout (in my village it's usually self-made) with which they whip us and it's again supposed to make us stay healthy and pretty. The outcome of this tradition is usually pretty painful. Just imagine being in damp clothes while guys are whipping you with knouts ... Painful, right?

As a 'thanks' for doing so, guys will receive money, Easter eggs, colorful ribbons for their knouts, and get a little catering on the spot which usually consists of homemade sundry pastries and cakes, little sandwiches, many various kinds of cheese, and ham, and salami and many other delicious things.

Easter holiday in Slovakia is not really fair towards girls and women. While we have to be changing our clothes so often that we seriously have nothing to throw on ourselves anymore with to-be bruises on our hips, guys are just walking house to house, making girls uncomfortable and receiving money and other things for doing so. 

You would think that many people (especially females) don't really like Easter Holiday - mostly because of already mentioned traditions with the whole holiday sounding terrifying, but it also can turn out to be a lot of fun. So despite all of the things that are traditionally going on, we always find a way to make the most out of it and enjoy the Easter Holiday.


(in the photo, my friend was thrown into a freezing stream and still smiling)

Firstly we paint eggs which we then give to the boys as a “reward” for splashing us with cold water and whipping us with whips made of branches. To make matters worse, we give them money, chocolate and sometimes alcohol. You may ask what we girls have out of this. I would say nothing but they say we will be “healthy and beautiful” for whole year. Let’s believe it. 

And in the photo you can see our decoration, painted eggs and traditional Easter animal rabbit.

AZ

However, not in my household. Our dad does this on Mondays and me, my sister and my mom on Tuesdays :).

Here is a photo of me and my sister splashing a water on my dad a few years ago 😁.

AK

In my family, we start our Easter by collecting fresh lamb's-tails.  We put some of them behind our family picture because it's believed to protect a house from thunderstorms and sickness. Then next week, we follow other traditions such as: 

On Holy Thursday, we cook green meals.

On Good Friday, we can eat only three meatless meals per day (except fish meat).

On Easter Sunday, we eat scrambled eggs cropped by holy water for breakfast and go to church.

Finally. on Easter Monday, girls are splashed with water and whipped with a whip called korbáč. This ritual is supposed to help girls stay pretty and healthy. After that girls put colorful ribbons on the whips and give boys money, sweets or sometimes even alcohol.

In the end, Easter is a very peaceful holiday that brings traditions and families together.

AD

 This year´s Easter was wholly different from the others because of a pandemic. I surmise the only advantage of the epidemic situation is that boys didn’t come with a bucket full of cold water, which they want to splash on me!!  But my brothers took care of this “rule” anyway :(( Because of this habit, I always ended up in a freezing stream. Guys say that we should stay hEaLtHy and pReTtY thought the following year. Trust me, you don’t want to have experiences with it. As a “thanks” guys receive money, chocolate, and also colourful ribbons for their knouts.

But on the other side, there are delicious food from cakes, potatoes salads, cutlets to any other delicates.  So, I can tell that there is balance hah.  Easter is a pretty event, but I appreciate less water.

I like Easter, but not as much as Christmas.

You can see some photos of our decorations below.

SS

 Easter is also celebration of spring and fertility, of nature coming back to life after the long cold winter. 

Easter Monday in Slovakia is full of fun (for boys). The boys have a plaited willow cane and a small bottle of perfume and they visit the girls. They hide somewhere in the house and when boys find them, they start whipping them on the legs and bottom. They say traditional rhymes while doing this. Then they pour the perfume on the girls’ hair. The girls give the boys some cakes, chocolate Easter eggs, painted eggs or some money.

PO