Easter at Romodrom

"Easter is a holiday when a person has time to reflect on their life. Even more than at Christmas. It's a holiday about family, friendship, and togetherness," Mrs. Gailová began her story. Her family always celebrated Easter in a big way. "We had to have new clothes, every parent insisted on that," she continued.

But the most important thing about Easter for her has always been that togetherness. The whole family gathered, sang, feasted, and enjoyed each other's company. What her parents taught her as a child, she later passed on to her children, and they in turn to theirs: "I am happy that the tradition still holds in our family. It's a shame that in some families it no longer does."

Maundy Thursday

For her, Easter usually began on Thursday, with shopping, cleaning, and cooking. That day also marked the beginning of fasting - so meat was only seen on Monday during the festive breakfast.

"Thursday was marked by a big cleaning. We swept all the corners with a broom to drive away bad luck and evil spirits," Mrs. Gailová described. She remembered that they would then leave the broom outside the house and decorate it with a ribbon. By Friday, everything had to be prepared, and there was to be no fighting or hanging laundry anywhere. It was a day of mourning when Christ was crucified.

On Sunday, they regularly went to church. "People brought food, mazanci, and some money to the priests," the Romodrom director recounted.

Easter Monday

But the most important day of Easter for her was Monday. The whole family gathered where the oldest mother or grandmother was. The day began with a festive breakfast preceded by a prayer. It was always recited by the eldest at the table. "The table had to have everything: smoked meat, stuffing, lots of sweets, and roasted meat," Mrs. Gailová added.

"I really like the tradition we have on Easter after breakfast. We tap eggs together (instead of shots), and whoever cracks the egg during tapping will have luck all year round. It always worked for at least one of us."

As for caroling itself, it was (and is) quite similar in Mrs. Gailová's family to what we are used to in the Czech Republic. After breakfast, children and men went caroling. Children received sweets for the whip, while adults received alcohol. In addition, women sprayed them with scents. But men also didn't shy away from pouring water. After the whip, women continued to pour water on them, as a celebration of the beginning of spring.

Message to the Public

Celebrating Easter within the family circle is very important to Mrs. Gail, which is why her final words in the interview revolved precisely around this tradition.

"The most beautiful thing about these holidays is that people come together. No one should be alone. I would be very pleased if you also stopped by and realized how fortunate you are to have a family you can invite for Easter. Look around at everything that is happening now. If you can, invite your families, put away your phones, and be together."