The Legacy of Lidice in Michelin - April 2025

April is here, bringing spring weather, blooming nature, and longer sunny days, and Easter—a holiday filled with hope, new beginnings, and joyful anticipation. It’s a time when nature awakens from its winter slumber, the air smells fresh, and everything around us seems to come back to life. This spring energy is beautifully reflected in the traditions and customs surrounding Easter.

Connected to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Easter is among the most significant Christian celebrations and a symbol of fresh starts for many people. Although the Czech Republic is one of the world's most atheist countries, nearly everyone celebrates Easter—believers and non-believers alike.

Sometimes it's not about faith itself, but about the strength of family traditions passed from generation to generation. These customs make Easter a wonderful occasion for spending quality time together, sharing good food, and returning to traditions that connect us with childhood and our culture.

I still vividly remember my childhood days, running around with braided willow whips called "pomlázka." No one escaped a few bruises. We visited neighbours, reciting rhymes, eagerly awaiting our treats. Painted boiled eggs usually ended up in egg salads, while we kids eagerly awaited chocolates, sweets, and perhaps even some coins for our piggy banks.

To outsiders, some Czech Easter customs might appear peculiar or even controversial. Foreign visitors often find it puzzling why, on Easter Monday, women are symbolically whipped with willow branches and splashed with water. The idea of being "beaten" for eggs or chocolates can seem quite strange.

In the Czech Republic, however, the pomlázka symbolizes spring renewal, health, and fertility. It also provides a space for creativity, as both children and adults learn to weave and decorate the whips with colorful ribbons or unique designs. Yet, for many foreigners, this practice can feel inappropriate or even sexist, especially in a time increasingly focused on gender equality and respect. This raises the question: How should we view these traditions today?

There's no straightforward answer. Some defend them as harmless folklore, while others advocate reevaluation or modernisation. Opinions within the Czech Republic vary widely - some reject the tradition altogether, while others adapt it to be more sensitive and respectful.

This contrast invites comparison: How are Easter traditions celebrated around the world?

In the UK, Easter involves chocolate eggs, Easter egg hunts in gardens, and traditional hot cross buns.

In Germany, Easter markets, decorating trees with hanging eggs, and traditional Easter bonfires symbolising the triumph of light over darkness are popular. In France, children believe that flying bells bring them eggs, having travelled to Rome on Good Friday and returning on Easter Sunday.

Portugal offers the traditional folar da Páscoa—a sweet bread often baked with whole eggs in their shells, symbolising life and fresh starts.

In the United States, Easter emphasises family gatherings. The famous Easter Egg Roll on the White House lawn is popular, along with egg decorating, chocolate bunnies, pastel decorations, and dishes like roasted ham.

Easter holds deep spiritual meaning in traditionally Catholic countries like Spain, Greece, the Philippines, or Italy. Seville hosts grand processions with statues of Christ and the Virgin Mary; Greece celebrates midnight with fireworks and roast lamb; the Philippines stages dramatically realistic plays depicting Christ’s passion, often involving intense reenactments and vivid portrayals of the Crucifixion. Italy features important processions and papal blessings, culminating in celebrations at the Vatican.

There are also curiosities: the world's largest decorated egg, measuring over nine meters, is in Vegreville, Alberta, Canada. Australia promotes the bilby—a native, endangered marsupial—as an Easter symbol to replace rabbits that have caused ecological damage.

Greece has "egg duels," where people compete by knocking hard-boiled eggs together, the winner being the one whose egg doesn't crack. In Norway, Easter is traditionally associated with detective novels—called Påskekrim—filling bookstores and TV schedules.

Easter tables around the world reflect cultural diversity. Italy bakes Colomba di Pasqua, a sweet dove-shaped cake; Mexico serves Capirotada, a sweet bread with cinnamon, raisins, and cheese; Argentina enjoys an Easter wreath filled with pudding and fruit. Each culture adds its unique flavour, colour, and story.

Whether we celebrate Easter as believers or simply because we love spring, colours, and delicious food, it has something for everyone: a quiet moment, the aroma of fresh pastries, the sweetness of chocolate bunnies, or the thrill of hunting for decorated eggs. And that is where lies the beauty.

What does Easter mean to you? Which traditions do you uphold—and which have you created yourself? Share your customs, stories, or favourite Easter flavours. Perhaps a new tradition will start this year, one worth passing on.