Easter means that spring has arrived. Many traditions are still observed and practiced, especially in villages, and different regions may have their own Easter traditions and customs. The week preceding Easter is called Holy Week. And Monday? Monday is all about folk traditions! And what are they?
The most famous symbol of Easter, not only in the Czech Republic, is the painted egg, which used to represent fertility and new life. Today, they are only used for decoration. Empty eggshells are decorated in a typical way, some eggs look like work of art.
The custom of whipping girls and women with a handmade whip which called pomlázka in czech language, has been a Czech Easter tradition for several centuries. Men and boys cut willow branches and braid them into whips and whipping girls to help them stay healthy and young and ask for a reward. They receive a painted egg, a coloured ribbon for their whip, something sweet or something strong like a shot of czech plum brandy. In the Czech Republic boys and men still go whipping, but this tradition is slowly disappearing from the cities. 
Our typical food for Easter is lamb in czech called beránek - it is a sweet dought or cake shaped like a lamb is perhaps the most recognized part of the Czech Easter feast. Also we have mazanec, sweet yeasted bread made with rum-soaked raisins and topped with almonds.
