The Bratislava Easter markets are basically extra booths added onto the open air booths that are in two of the squares all season (Hviezdoslavovo námestie and Františkánske námestie.) The Bratislava market had almost no emphasis on food (except for a few stalls selling wine and olive oil, no tasting). Local Slovak handicrafts dominate, with a lot of decorated eggs and a strange Slovak item called a korbač. It’s a braded whip made of willow and ribbons. At Easter girls are ritually (it says) “spanked” with these whips and doused with cold water in order to promote “beauty and fertility” in the coming year. If a girl is hit with the braded willow it would be painful, if the girl were hit with the dangling ribbons that would a more playful thing.
According to the local papers the water dousing is being replaced with perfume in water pistols. In return for the “spanking” girls give the perps Easter eggs. We did not encounter this custom when we lived here. It’s a good thing. I wouldn’t like to see anyone try to douse, spank, or shoot Suzi with perfume. While the Bratislava markets have, I think, nicer handicrafts, an unfortunate number of manufactured souvenirs, postcards, fridge magnets and other junk are on display in the booths.
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