Czech Easter Monday

Easter Monday spread

The Czech Republic celebrates Easter Monday with traditions such as “pomlazka” or the whipping of women and girls, mainly in villages.

Men and boys braid whips from willow branches during the Holy Week before Easter Monday. They gather in groups and go from household to household to get ribbons, shots, colored eggs, and desserts in exchange for whipping.

This elaborate holiday starts early in the morning and runs into late afternoon until there are no shots or colored eggs left. The results vary from village to village.

Plum brandy or slivovitz flows freely because many households make their own brandy. Our @Moravian Sons Distillery https://moraviansonsdistillery.com honors this tradition with our own brand made in Michigan from Michigan Castleton and Stanley plums.

This Easter, we combined the old and the new. We served shots of slivovitz and blue jello shots in cups. Mom Ella made a delicious walnut cake, and we had Louisiana-style ribs.

There is a Monday Easter mass in the Czech Republic. And that brings to mind the sad news of the day. The Pope has died today on Easter Monday. I pray for him and our Catholic church to elect a new leader.