Easter in Prague was in full bloom in the Old Town Square. Easter (Velikonoce, in Czech) was stripped of its religious connotations under Communism, becoming simply a celebration of spring. We experienced this celebration as the Old Town Square full of red pavilions selling decorated Easter eggs (kraslice), willow whips (pornlazka), amber necklaces, and Russian nesting dolls. The eggs and whips hold particular meaning as the tradition is said that on Easter Monday, in a none-too-subtle fertility rite, men traditionally whip women they find attractive with their pomlazkas; in return, the woman offers the man a decorated egg. There was a stage set up with local children singing traditional Czech Easter songs gathering quite a crowd as they continued to dance and sing.
Jennie West
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