In countries such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland, there is a tradition of spanking or whipping on Easter Monday. The event is known as the Easter Whip.
During the morning, men spank women with a special handmade whip called a pomlázka or korbáč. In Moravia and Slovakia men also throw cold water on their women. The whip consists of around 3 to 24 willow rods ranging in length from half a metre to two metres. Of course, it is decorated with coloured ribbons (well, it is Easter!).
The spanking may be painful, but it is not intended to cause the ladies to suffer. Tradition says that women should be spanked with a whip in this manner to keep their health, beauty, and fertility throughout the following year.
When going from house-to-house, the whip holder first sings a verse relating to eggs and spring themes like bountifulness and fertility. The woman is obliged to hand over an egg and to bend over the egg. The man then takes a few whacks at the lady’s backside with the whip.
This is a fun and meaningful Easter tradition to those who engage in it.
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