Easter traditions in Slovakia

Slovakia being a Christian country is one of the best places to come to for your Easter. The country celebrates the festival with its various traditions that goes on for a period of five days. What is known as the Easter Week is actually a blend of some of the best traditions in Slovakia.

Prominent Easter Traditions in Slovakia

Knowing about the Easter traditions in Slovakia is fun, especially because one gets to know about the religious and cultural background of the country. The Easter traditions in the country happen over the week, which is also known as the Holy Week. Some of the significant days with their festive traditions are:

Maundy Thursday in Slovakia:

The Easter celebration in Slovakia begins with the Green Thursday or as it is also called, Maundy Thursday. On this day, people c lean their houses and surroundings. Using the running water for cleansing oneself is a myth as running water is said to be alive and pure. Another belief that goes with this custom is the washing oneself in running water or spring, before the sunrise. This was especially applicable to ladies who expect to have a spotless complexion.

Good Friday in Slovakia:

Another interesting custom followed during the Holy Week preceding the Easter is, using garlic to ward off evil. As per the belief, witches, evil souls, and warlocks would come to the place and cause harm to the human, cattle, food and farms. To keep these evil souls away on Good Friday, people eat garlic and feed the same to the cattle.

Easter Saturday

Saturday in Slovakia is celebrated with special traditions like, burning of old gods and grand feasts. Easter Saturday is also known as White Saturday. On this day, harmful and old things are burnt. This burning is also considered as the “burning of Judas”. This custom is believed to have magical powers for protection. The custom is followed by a grand feast. Pork is used in the recipes as main ingredient, as these represent wealth, power and prosperity.

Easter Sunday in Slovakia

Its celebration continues to the next main custom, held on Sunday. On Sunday, people take their food to the churches to be blessed before they are consumed. Later the food is mixed with the new grains and fed to the hens, so that they can lay more eggs.

Easter Monday in Slovakia

Easter Monday in Slovakia is celebrated with one of the most unique traditions to be found anywhere else. On this day, girls are whipped with willow branches. Boys also pour water on girls, which is also a part of the Easter tradition in Slovakia. The main reason behind this festive custom is ladies maintaining their beauty throughout the year, by being a part of this custom. The tradition is one of the most renowned and is still followed with great enthusiasm in the country.

This Christian country of Slovakia is deep rooted in its religious customs. The series of Easter traditions in Slovakia are followed by the people withy great zeal even in the modern world of today.

Last Updated on 25/02/2011