La Slovaquie, ses traditions

SLOVAKIA

When you enter a house, locals offer slippers in the vestibule: it is indeed frowned upon to circulate in the private area with outdoor shoes.

Offering guests a glass of slivovica (a strong, colorless drink of water and fermented plum juice) is considered a show of hospitality and respect and it is rude to refuse this offer, especially if the liquor is made House.

Religion

The religious practice remained very strong in a country attached to its traditions: just see the crowds at Sunday Mass! Catholics are in the majority, but there are important Protestant communities. In the east of the country there are Greek Catholics (Uniates) and Orthodox. After 1945, most of the Holocaust survivors settled in Israel: there are only 2,300 Jews in the Slovak territory and the many surviving synagogues are now empty.

Slovak folklore is still alive. Slovakia has its own songs, stories, costumes and proverbs. The products of craft workshops are made of freely accessible materials such as wicker, wood, wool, clay, straw, leather, etc.

La Morena

Among the major festivals, the Morena is a tradition marking the end of Carnival, the day before Palm Sunday, and the end of winter. La Morena is a character represented by a straw mannequin with a black face, symbol of the coldness of winter. The girls carry him in procession out of the village, then burn him and throw him in the nearest river.

Among the other traditions, slivovica, a colorless alcohol composed of water and plum juice still sometimes homemade, is very often offered to guests, as a sign of hospitality. Refusing this liquor is not well seen, even if you do not like strong alcohols.

Easter is a big party in Slovakia, as much awaited and celebrated as Christmas. Normal after all: Easter glorifies the resurrection of Christ, an event even less innocuous than his birth.

Mondays are free as in France, but family and religious festivities continue with more assiduity. In particular, there is a tradition that boys and girls (despite their scared mines) would not miss out on anything in the world: watering Easter Monday!

The young men, dressed in traditional costumes for the occasion, go from home to home to water and whip (sweetly huh) the girls with a Korbač, a kind of little whip braided two weeks ago with wicker branches, and decorated ribbons of all colors. In some areas, the girls themselves tie a ribbon on the Korbač as a sign of thanks for being whipped. Because this ritual object of the Slovak tradition symbolizes the Renaissance Festival of Nature and the Easter Festival. He is supposed to transmit Strength, Health, Freshness and Beauty to young girls.

On this day, men also sprinkle women with water and perfume, wishing them Love, Health and Beauty for the year. To thank them, the women offer them a small glass of alcohol, usually Vajčový koňak (egg liqueur), chocolate eggs or decorated (Kraslice), to represent the Renewal, the Life after death, and a little pocket money for the youngest.

And when I talk about sprinkling girls ... in fact it is often put in the bath, under a stream of cold water (it's better for the blood it seems!) Or the water copiously with a bucket of water. In the countryside and the mountains, the girls are just rushed into the river or the stream that runs through the village!

Slovakia is proud of its rich folklore and customs. Each region, city or village has its own character and folklore - costumes, music, songs, architecture, customs, traditions, dances and dialects. The folk customs of the individual regions are presented at folklore festivals in several places in Slovakia.

On January 6th, the boys disguise themselves as Three Wise Men and go around the houses, sing Christmas carols and play a representation of the visit of the three kings to Bethlehem after the birth of Jesus. The Epiphany marks the end of the Christmas holidays (Christmas holidays for schoolchildren)

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