Happy late Easter to everyone! As with every other holiday this year, the combination of being in another country and experiencing different traditions made this Easter very different and memorable. I spent the holiday in a village of about 600 people with my two roommates (Laura and Amy) and Laura's boyfriend Miro (who's family we were visiting). It is officially spring here, so we soaked up a lot of sun, dyed Easter eggs, and relaxed. In Slovakia, people typically go to church on Easter Sunday, spend some time with family, and eat cold ham, potato salad, and horseradish. But, the big day is Monday.
The Monday after Easter is a national holiday in Slovakia, and is a day rich with traditions. In the morning, groups of boys gather, each bringind various sizes of empty bottles or pails. They fill everything with water, grab their little whips called a korbáč (which are long and made out of small sticks that are twisted together), and go in search of girls: you can imagine what happens next.
I thought that I was going to leave the day without experiencing this tradition, when our flat buzzer rang around 9:30 pm. It was Foxer and he wanted Amy and I to come downstairs. We were tired from driving home from Priblece and picking people up at the airport, so we buzzed him upstairs instead. While Foxer came up the stairs, joined by other male voices, we filled little plastic squirtguns with water, and stood poised with the guns sticking out of the mail hole in our front door. We shot the guys as the stood by the door, but they ended up being a lot better at the water game then we were. Not only did they have a key to get into our flat, but the minute they got inside - and without any notice, asking, or words - I was promptly swept off the ground, slung over Andre's shoulder for a ride down five flights of stairs! He opened the front door to the building, set me down, and two other boys threw a HUGE pail of water all over me! Amy was right behind me, being prodded by Foxer. She saw the water, but when she tried to go back inside the door, she was pushed out as well...and promptly soaked. Then, the little whips came out, making contact with the backs of our legs. Amy and I dripped in surprise while the boys proudly grinned; I have to admit, it was a good plan.
(And, if you want to hear more about this tradition, here is an article from a Slovak newspaper - in English of course: http://www.spectator.sk/articles/view/5179 :)
As always, thanks for reading, share stories back, and enjoy the pics!
:0) Maika
The Water Party
Easter Eggs!
Flatties: aka me and my roommates right before Easter dinner
