Easter in Czechia: the willow whip, painted eggs and a day of rattles

On Easter Monday, Czech boys and men go door to door carrying a long braided willow switch and "whip" the women of the house. It sounds alarming. It is a gentle, symbolic, slightly cheeky ritual with centuries behind it, and it ends with the whippers being fed and watered.

If you grew up with a chocolate bunny and a morning egg hunt, the Czech version will feel like a different holiday. It is less about children and more about neighbours, spring and a slightly mischievous exchange between the sexes. It is also still very much alive, in villages and increasingly in Prague.

Why willow, and why Monday

The word pomlázka is tied to the idea of making someone young again, and the willow was picked because it is one of the first trees to come into leaf. The whole ritual is a fertility and renewal rite, widely seen as a spring rite older than Christianity, that later became part of Easter week. That is why it sits oddly with a solemn holiday: it was never meant to be solemn.

Today the form varies. In many Prague families it is reduced to a ribbon, a joke and a glass. In villages, groups of boys still go from house to house, and the women prepare food and drink in advance. If you live in a Czech neighbourhood, do not be surprised to find a small whip hanging on a friend's door or an Easter egg in your hand.

What the pomlázka is

The pomlázka is made of fresh willow twigs, braided into a whip up to a metre long and often dressed with ribbons. The idea is that the young branch passes on the energy of spring. A light tap, usually on the legs, is supposed to bring health and beauty. It is not meant to hurt, and these days it is mostly a symbolic touch.

In return the woman gives the visitor a painted egg (kraslice), sweets or a small glass of something strong, and she may tie a ribbon on the whip. By the end of the day a boy or man can be carrying a pomlázka covered in ribbons, with pockets full of eggs.

Holy Week, day by day

Zelený čtvrtek (Green Thursday) is traditionally for eating greens. In the old custom the church bells stay silent from Thursday until Saturday night, and children walk the village with wooden rattles (řehtačky) to mark the hours. You can still see it in some places. Velký pátek (Good Friday) is a public holiday, and so is Easter Monday (as of 2026; check the official source). Sunday is the family meal. Monday is when the visits start and the willow comes out. Shops and restaurants may run shorter hours around the holiday days, so do not leave errands for Friday or Monday.

Easter moves every year, so check a calendar. In the city the long weekend has a second effect: many Prague residents leave for a country cottage (chata) or their home village, so the centre is calmer than usual and trams and metro may run on a holiday timetable. Check the PID timetable for the day.

Painted eggs

Eggs are the Czech Easter art form, and the techniques are worth knowing when you stand at a market stall.

• Wax resist: the design is drawn in wax before the egg is dyed.
• Scratching: the pattern is cut into a dyed shell with a sharp tool.
• Straw: patterns are made from straw.
• Onion skins: a plain dye that gives a warm brown.

Blown eggs, emptied of their contents, hang from branches in a vase or on a tree. You will find them at the Easter markets in the centre, including Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square. Look for hand-painted ones, and ask the seller how they were made. A hand-decorated egg is a slow piece of craft, so expect to pay more than for a printed one.

Easter food

Mazanec is a sweet yeasted bread with raisins and almonds. The beránek (lamb) is a lamb-shaped cake or sweet bread. Savoury dishes depend on the family, but eggs, ham and spring herbs show up often. Many households bake on Holy Saturday and bring the baskets to church on Sunday for a blessing.

Cold water, and a day of revenge

In some regions, mostly in the countryside, women get splashed with cold water as well as tapped. You may also hear that on Easter Tuesday women get to take their revenge. In Prague the whole thing is largely symbolic, so do not panic if someone offers you a ribbon.

If you are invited

Take the egg and say thank you. If you are the host, have a small glass ready. If you would rather not take part, say ne, děkuji with a smile and nobody will push.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Czech Easter whip called?

A pomlázka, with the Moravian name karabáč used for the leather-style version. It is braided from willow twigs.

Is Easter Monday a public holiday in Czechia?

Yes, and so is Good Friday (as of 2026; check the official source).

Do women whip the men back?

Traditionally not on Monday. Some regions have a Tuesday of 'revenge' with water.

Where can I buy painted eggs in Prague?

At the Easter markets on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, which open in the weeks before Easter.

When is Easter this year?

Easter moves each year between 22 March and 25 April. Check a calendar.

In the weeks before Easter, go to a central market and watch the egg painters at work. Buy one hand-painted egg, and try mazanec from a bakery. If you are in town on Easter Monday, listen for the giggling. You can spot the whippers by their ribbons.