Easter - Sunday or Monday?

Wesołych Świąt Wielkanocnych!

Lets talk about Easter differences.

Everyone celebrates the Sunday, I know I know, and you go to church and spend time with family and that's all very nice but let me tell you how much more exciting Easter can be 😉

As you may know Czech republic is one of the least religious countries in the world so Easter Sunday and the resurrection is not so important for us (except the more less 10 procent Christians) and all the fun happens on Monday which everywhere else is just a day of rest after Sunday.

So what happens?

Men and boys go around the village, from one house to another and whip the women with a special whip called "pomlázka" made from young willow pouts, they recite Easter carols and in exchange they get painted eggs, some sweets and for the grown-ups usually a shot (or several shots) of ideally some home-made strong alcohol. So you can imagine how it gets even after the visit of just a few houses...

Pomlázky

A girl who gets whipped will stay young and fresh for the next year

And all the drunk man going around was actually the reason why my aunt started a tradition with her friends of a small Easter hike finishing with a lunch. So that's what we do in our family. There are also shots before the walk, but in moderation.

We also have the tradition of pouring water as in Poland but only the girls do it as a kind of revenge on the boys for the whipping. But it is not so common. And every leap year the roles change and girls go around and whip boys and boys can pour water on them.

Other traditions contain coloring the eggs and baking a lamb cake which has to be already ready on Monday so you usually do it during the weekend.

Kraslice

Beránek

Hmmm, doesn't it sound great? 

Promoters Wanted!

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Would you like to share your experience with others and motivate them to volunteer as well?

Do you want to improve your presentation and promotion skills?

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What we expect from you: 

• previous voluntary experience (can be also campleading, mentoring)
• motivation and will to share your experience

Examples of tasks:

• participating in fairs where we are invited to have our stand
• presentations at schools 
• help with organization of events

What we can offer you:

• a half day seminar/workshop about our activities and presentating in general
• certificate of cooperation and gained skills (to make your CV more impressive!)
• priority to apply for youth exchanges or international trainings
• practical workshops on various topics

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The first introduction seminar/workshop will take place on the 7th April in our office in Pułtusk (in case you don't know, it is HERE, above Magdalenka). 

If you are interested, please fill in your contact information in this short form.

But that is not all yet...

A change is gonna come...

Yes, it is here! 🌞🌞🌞🌞
Temperatures rising, days getting longer, the sun honors us with its presence. The spring is just behind the door. You can feel it in the air. Nature is waking up. Birds are singing again 🎵🐦

Sunday was amazing! We went for a nice walk with Liza and Gizem. And we were all so happy about the weather 😊😍 For me it was the first day since I arrived in Poland that I could put away the winter coat and go outside just with a light jacket. The first I day I actually felt warm outside and had to take off a layer.

Chilling by the river, sun in our faces 💛

Winter in Poland is hard. Yeah, of course, no new information. But it shouldn't be such a difference from Czech republic, right? Well somehow it felt so much longer and more depressive or tiring..
Is it colder? Possibly a little. Are the days shorter? Probably yes, but can't be that big a difference.. Was this winter especially cold and long? I wouldn't say so..
What can it be then? I think a have a hunch!

Winter in a small town is hard! I come from Prague, ok? Even after we moved to a village near by, my social life has always been happening in Prague. And in big cities the temperature, the season do not matter so much, there always something going on. But in small town it matters. I would say small towns and villages are closer to the natural cycles, energy rises in spring, peaks in summer and then fades.. In winter they are like bears, they sleep... 😴

I know, I chose to come to a small town because I was fed up up with the stress and hostility and I stand by my decisions, I actually believe this life suits me better. Still, it is a change, it is something different and it can be quite challenging. Sometimes you just can't prevent the winter depression.
But now it is over, we made it through!💪

Ice slowly melting 😉

No offense, but Pułtusk during winter is kind of a dead hole.. But from what I've heard in summer it should be lively 😊 So now I am super excited and imagine all the picnics, grilling on the balcony or in the park and just hanging outside in general 💚

Good times are coming! Mam nadzieję!

Christina