What are the holidays in Slovakia?

The culture of Slovakia, like the language, religion, customs, traditions, cuisine, is a kind of mixture of the enlightenment of Central Europe and peasant life. For a long time, without having their own statehood, the Slovak people, on the one hand, developed national traditions, on the other hand, absorbed the cultural values ​​of neighboring states. Under the influence of these trends, holidays, state and national, were formed.

Public and unofficial holidays in Slovakia

Part of the public holidays coincides with those traditionally celebrated all over the world, these are New Year and Christmas. The series of celebrations begins with Christmas markets. They open on the eve of St. Mikulash and last for a month.

Instead of a Christmas tree in the villages, they decorate a sheaf, in gratitude for the harvest. On New Year's Eve, it is customary to gather the whole family at the table. Immediately after the chiming clock, people take to the streets and participate in the carnival. They put on costumes, masks, arm with rattles, dance, shout and make noise, which symbolizes the expulsion of evil spirits. An ancient dance of swords is also performed - a symbol of the eternal cycle of life.

On the first of January, immediately after the New Year, the Day of the Foundation of the Republic is celebrated. Other events on the holiday calendar are Epiphany or the Feast of the Three Kings, Good Friday, Easter, Labor Day, Liberation Day, All Saints Day, Day of Struggle for Freedom and Democracy. All of these days are weekends. Slovaks use them, among other things, for tourist trips, visiting concerts, theaters, museums. Residents are great patriots of their country, so they celebrate and honor all public holidays.

More colorful are the celebrations associated with ancient Christian customs.

The Ghost Festival is held annually in late April-early May at the Bojnice Castle. The main characters are ghosts, witches, ghouls who are going to the procession. More than 50 thousand tourists from all over the world come to the event every year. The culmination of the carnival is a photo session with its participants.

In different versions, Epiphany is celebrated on January 6. The ritual of the holiday is the walking of boys in long white shirts with crowns on their heads, performing a play about three kings. Priests caroling takes place in the countryside.

At the end of winter in Slovakia, the ancient holiday of the Carrying out of the Morena is celebrated. Its meaning is the expulsion of cold weather and the invitation of sunny days. Morena symbolizes winter. It must be drowned or burned for spring to come. The holiday is an analogue of the Slavic Maslenitsa.

Maypole installation. Young people decorate spruces, as a sign of love and devotion, install them at the houses of their beloved girls. The tree must be tall, up to 20-30 meters, so several dozen strong men are involved in its installation, they carefully prepare the pit and strengthen the spruce. The fall of the maypole is a disgrace to the entire village. The custom of planting a maypole has survived only in some Slovak villages.

The most significant Christian holiday in the country is Easter. It is celebrated for 5 days, each has its own name. Preparations begin on Green Thursday, with women baking Easter cakes and preparing Easter dishes. On White Saturday, food and kraslitsa (decorated eggshells) shine in the church.

Easter girls should show their backs. According to the custom, on Easter days, young men go into the houses where unmarried girls live, sprinkle their backs with water and whip them with willow whips. It is believed that such a ritual gives youth and health.

Traditions of the peoples of Slovakia

The national character of the Slovaks can be described as calm and reserved. Priority is given to family values ​​and close friends. Divorce and remarriage are rare and only became common towards the end of the last century. In rural areas, it is customary for several generations of a family to live together in one house. The head of the family is the husband and eldest sons. Women should strictly obey them.

The most interesting customs and traditions of the Slovaks:

• when dressing the bride in an undershirt, she lays a bag of parsley and garlic, bread, and smears her underskirt with honey. These odorous items are designed to ward off evil spirits. Modern Slovak brides do not adhere to this custom, but the theme is necessarily played up somehow at the wedding. A wedding is a grand celebration. All fellow villagers, relatives and friends are invited. In cities it is customary to celebrate marriage more modestly;
• express emotions violently, talk about religion, politics is accepted only in the family circle or in the company of close friends;
• it is customary to bring flowers to guests (an odd number, but not 13, many Slovaks are superstitious), wine, chocolate. It is important to be punctual and not be late for the appointed hour;
• family members wear mourning for the dead for a year. Cremation is prohibited for religious reasons.

Slovaks are reserved, do not like to brag, avoid arrogant judgments.