From "The Rough Guide to The Czech and Slovak Republics"2006.Section....
"Basics"
"Festivals and Annual Events"
At Easter(Velikonoce),the age-old sexist ritual persists of whipping girls' behinds
AND calves with braided birch twigs tied with ribbons (pomlazky)-objects you'll see
being furiously bought and sold from markets in the run-up to Easter Sunday.To prevent such a fate,the girls are supposed to offer the boys a coloured Easter egg and pour a bucket of cold water over them."
Hmmm.Wouldnt mind being there myself birch in hand but maybe no longer "a boy".
Welcome to the EEC our new neighbours!
Has anyone first hand knowledge of these events or ever been to one??

Bozo

The big question did I spot the customary whippings, visiting, Prague, Easter

Don’t get too excited, visions of young girls being chased by lads wielding willow twigs

a few light taps, bit of water throwing, boys/girls taking a drenching, light fun, carnival fashion,

However, Easter egg giving,taken over by tots of alcohol for the adults, moving onto the evening most of the local men semi intoxicated, children assumed tucked up in bed, more robust activities with willows, presented in the local bars, whether it carried on back to the bedroom is anyone guess.

The spring festival in Chine at the Taoist Dong Lung Gong temple.

Men receive spankings and women whipped in the century-old ritual to get rid of bad luck, bet a few thought their luck changed.

K

Intriguing K yes suspected it might be the case but I can tell you in nearby Munich at feburary Fasching Carnival time they really let their hair(and pants down!).For instance after travelling there on a ski charter with Monarch I saw a huge all night totally nude and bare bottom all adult party held in a massive beer cellar!People were dancing on the tables dressed in fancy dress.The theme of the party was "Bare buttocks"aka the Firemans Ball and it was I think held at the Lowenbraukellar.Most of the guests attended with bare buttocks including some very attractive women.There was actually a fist fight in the entrance lobby for tickets amongst guys!Up until then I thought Munich and Bohemia generally to be a rather dour boring prudish place.!The sight of glamourous blond aristocratic German ladies dressed only in basques,fur coats, black stockings and suspenders alighting from huge white limousins in the dazzling white snow to the event was very impressive!