All posts by Author Emma Palova

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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.

Copyright (c) 2025. Emma Palova. All rights reserved.

Pomlazka

Good Friday

The Passion of the Lord at St. Pat’s Church in Parnell started at 3 p.m. to the beautiful music of the choir.

The Passion according to John
Fr. Tom Cavera prostrates himself in front of the altar.

A solemn celebration included the veneration of the cross.

Copyright (c) 2025. Emma Palova, LLC. All rights reserved.

Easter Triduum

The Easter Triduum starts this evening on Holy Thursday with the Lord’s Supper, continues with Good Friday into Easter Vigil on Saturday. This week is known as the Holy Week in the catholic religion.

The washing of the feet signifies humbleness and humility.

Washing of the feet at St. Pat’s Catholic Church in Parnell.

Before washing the feet, Fr. Cavera presented the oils.

Featured photo: Czech egg batik art. Watch for a post about Czech Easter starting this Sunday and running through Easter Monday.

Copyright (c) 2025.Emma Palova. All rights reserved.

Vote for Czech-born author Emma Palova in International Impact Book Awards by April 30

I entered this award contest by public vote with my Greenwich Meridian Memoir about our immigration saga from former Czechoslovakia on the backdrop of two major historic events: Prague Spring 1968 and Velvet Revolution in 1989.. Vote for my book today. Author Emma Palova. Voting information is not public.

Thank you for your vote. I appreciate it.

Emma Palova

Public Voting Form

Copyright (c) 2025. Emma Palova. All rights reserved.

Czech Easter exhibits

Easter egg display in Vizovice, Moravia in the Czech Republic. Stay tuned for full story.

Czech Easter

moraviansonsdistillery.com/2024/04/01/czech-easter/

Happy birthday Jake Pala


Stay happy and young forever.

I am grateful we could get together also with my parents Eliska Konecny and Vaclav Konecny who came from Big Rapids to the Grattan Irish Pub.

What a treat.

Copyright (c)2025. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.

Goodbye January

Even the Iguana got some sun on the last day of the month.

More tropical news coming.

Copyright (c) 2025. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.

Iguana getting some sun.

Happy New Year 2025

May you embrace joy and love in every moment to come.

With love, from the Pala family.

Congratulations to Person of the Year 2024 Dominik Pala.

Below is pictured Person of the Year 2024 Dominik Pala as nominated by his peers Ella Chavent, Josephine Palova and Samuel Chavent.

Copyright (c) 2024. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.

2nd Advent Candle

I lit the second Advent candle this morning after logging in 503 words in my personal @NaNoWriMo December challenge reimagined. The balmy morning on the driveway uncovered beautiful winter sunrise as I rejoiced in the joy of the Advent season.

Advent is inspiring me to create in the peace of the days. Everything is silent. No disturbances in the air or heart.

The second Advent candle is burning strong in the stillness of my beloved sunroom. I