HOLIDAY IDEAS folklore & traditions Traditions

This day is dedicated to traditional visiting of cemeteries, decorating tombs, burning candles and to memories of the dead relatives and friends.

One of the most ancient customs preserved until these days is held late in the winter and it expresses the peoples desire to do away with the cold weather and to call the warm rays of the sun.

The Carnival is the merriest time of the year. Its origins go back to the pre-Christian era and it belongs among the customs connected with the break of the winter and the spring.

This custom, spread all over the territory of Slovakia, is known in villages as well as in towns and is performed on the last day of Easter - Easter Monday.

Marching of the Magi (or marching with a star) is known in many regions of Slovakia and can therefore be found in various variants and modifications.

The time between Christmas and New Year is one of the richest and the most interesting as far as customs are concerned. Many of them go back to the pre-Christian era and are connected with celebrations of the winter solstice. The tradition of Christmas, in an altered form, has been preserved as Christmas markets or performing of the Christmas customs in open-air museums.

Lucia´s Day is one the most magic customs and it ranks among the “witches´ days” preceding Christmas.

In summer many customs concentrated on protection against evil forces that might have harmed vegetation and livestock. The culmination point of this magic time was the Midsummer Night (23rd - 24th June night) which involved customs whose origins go back to the pre-Christian era. Some forms of this custom, especially making bonfires above villages, have been preserved till nowadays.

In general, the month of May is considered to be the time of love and new life. The May verdure used to be the symbol of energy and good growth. The most important place among plants belonged to the tree which in these circumstances was called the maypole.

Maypoles as a cultural phenomenon were already known in the ancient times as symbols of protection against evil spirits and disease. Later, young lads used to put up maypoles for girls – as a symbol of the green and life so that the girls would be pretty, slender and healthy...