Easter in Slovakia is marked by a plethora of cherished traditions, with some of the most notable occurring on Easter Monday.

According to the Bible, Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day. As the news of the empty tomb spread, Roman soldiers guarding it began to approach the women who had shared this news, tapping them with willow sticks.

From this biblical narrative stems one of Slovakia‘s most “mighty” Easter traditions, which, although not entirely aligned with modern gender equality and feminism, remains popular among Slovaks, including women.

On Easter Monday, Slovakian men pour cold water over the women and gently tap them with korbac (made from willow sticks), reciting traditional Slovakian Easter poems.

In return, the women are wished beauty and health throughout the year and often give the men chocolate eggs, bunnies, or the ever-popular painted eggs.

Discover more Slovakian Easter traditions in one of our tours.