Monday used to be celebrated by guys chasing girls around with a whip (a switch) made from willow branches (korbáče) and pouring buckets of cold water on them. And as a sign of gratitude, girls rewarded the boys by giving them beautiful hand-decorated Easter eggs, chocolates, liquor, or even money. What an awesome traditions!

Ok, perhaps some girls will disagree with me. But this tradition of šibačky (switching) and polievačky (watering) is all in good sport. The point was not to cause harm, instead, this tradition kept the girls beautiful and “springy” (like the twigs) for the whole year. And of course, it gave the boys a chance to visit their favorite girls.

It wasn't different at our Eggcelent Easter day in Nitra which was organized at area of main aula of Slovak University of Agriculture on the 11th of April. It all started around 10 a.m. by decorating eggs and taking some lessons how to actually make a good whip. International students couldn't believe we will eventually by the end of afternoon use those whips on girls BUT we did it! Pearl of the day was pouring the water on our girls in front of our lovely university which we are thankful for letting us stay there :)

Erasmus students learnt not only how to make whips or decorate eggs but they also had fun at egg hunt which took a part after hard work of showing and teaching international students our culture and Easter traditions. Thanks a project KomPrax from Iuventa we got some money for this beautiful project. Big thanks to them :)

We can’t forget to mention our lovely mascot of the faculty of Economics and Management- the lion who also participated on this event and it added some sprinkle to such an occasion.

These days, the Easter traditions are still widely followed but in a somewhat modernized manner. Many girls still wake up Easter Monday by having a bucket of water poured on them while still in bed. But the general polievačka now consists of merely a cup of water splashed in the girl’s face. And for good measures, the guy the sprays some perfume on the girl. And while in the past it was customary to only switch the younger generation, now the tradition has extended to the whole family. And we are truly happy we could share this tradition with our Erasmus family :)