An Ethnologist from Comenius University Discovers Why Slavs Used to Visit Graves at Easter
Bratislava, 26 March 2018: The Christian Easter ceremonies of our forebears were connected to diverse local traditions which had their roots in ancient history and were connected to their way of life. An analysis of customs and traditions has been done by the ethnologist Associate Professor Tatiana Bužeková from Comenius University.
The forebears of modern Slovaks believed that at key points in the calendar year, such as the summer and winter solstice, the border between the world of the living and dead was accessible. Before Easter, heaven and hell would open and the souls of the dead could exist side by side with their relatives until the Pentecost. “During Easter, Slavs had the habit of going to graves and eating in the company of the dead, leaving them painted Easter eggs and food,” says Associate Professor Tatiana Bužeková from the Faculty of Arts. Another belief was that anyone who died at Easter would be able to directly make their way to paradise, which was open at that particular time. One Slovak custom was to carry small children to church on Palm Sunday so that they would learn to speak soon after.
According to the Slovaks’ forebears, during Easter there were supernatural forces present which had immense power, and it was necessary to have protection against them. In Slovakia, there was a common belief that witches would meet in certain parts of villages from Maundy Thursday to Good Friday and dance, cast spells, take milk from cows, and damage fruit trees. For protection from this threat, the doorways of stables were smeared with garlic, livestock was struck with willow reeds, and cows had red ribbons tied to their horns. It was believed that bad spirits and witches were afraid of noise, so they were also repelled with rattlers.
The most significant aspects of Easter customs included greenery and water, which symbolized fertility and health. All over Slovakia, willow reeds, which were sanctified on Palm Sunday, were considered to be magical objects. They were used as a form of protection against evil forces and storms, and in healing practices. Easter customs varied in different parts of Slovakia. “In western Slovakia, it was widespread tradition to use a ‘korbáč’ whip made of plaited willow reeds, which was supposed to ensure a renewal of growth, health, and strength. In central and eastern Slovakia, girls and young women were bathed or doused with water by boys and young men. Southwestern Slovakia had both practices and in some settlements the girls and young women would use the whip and water on the boys and young men the next day,” said Bužeková. One fertility ritual was the shaking of fruit trees to ensure a good birth. Ploughs were greased in another ritual to ensure that weeds would not grow in the fields.
Not all of these ancient customs have been preserved; however, the habit of carrying baskets of food to church for sanctification on Easter Sunday is still practised. In was believed that this food had magical and healing properties. Some of it was given to livestock, crumbs were placed with seeds and were ploughed into the first furrow in the fields. “These traditions reflect the importance of the agrarian way of life of our forebears as it determined their very livelihoods,” the Comenius University ethnologist said.