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Kraslice - Painted Easter Eggs

Posted by Margarete on Mar 20

I’ve always loved decorated Easter eggs. Usually at home in California my mom would buy one of those egg coloring kits where you dropped tablets into a glass of vinegar, or something like that, and once we colored the eggs a solid color, we’d put stickers on them or draw a design with crayons. That’s great fun for kids. But later on I learned that painting and decorating eggs could be an art form.

When I was in high school, my best friend at the time, who was of Ukrainian descent, brought traditional Ukrainian Easter eggs to school one day for something like a show and tell. Ukrainian style pysanky – decorated eggs, are absolutely gorgeous.

Watch Out, Girls. Easter Monday is Coming!

Posted by Margarete on Mar 10

I am constantly impressed by Slovakia’s rich folk culture. Over the years that I lived in Slovakia I have enthusiastically participated in all the holiday rituals and cultural events, big and small, that I learn about.

There’s one day in the year, however, that I am not so fond of and have little to do with, if I can—the Easter Monday practices of boys pouring water over girls and lightly whipping them with braided branches.

Zemiakový Šalát

Posted by Margarete on Dec 23

There are many traditional Christmas foods that are prepared in Slovakia. Depending on the region, the traditional Christmas dinner varies slightly, but over all it consists of the following listed below. Interpretations also vary. The interpretations are those from my Slovak family in the Nitra region.

All Saints' Day in Slovakia

Posted by Margarete on Oct 23

While living in Slovakia, I was enthusiastic about taking part in customs and traditions, particularly surrounding the holidays. I expected that Christmas and Easter would be significant occasions of the year, and they were, but I never imagined that the holiday that would touch me the most would be All Saints’ Day.

The first of November is a national holiday in many European countries, including Slovakia. On this day of All Saints it is customary for people to take time during the day or evening, to go to the cemetery where relatives, friends or neighbors have been laid to rest.