The word 'pomlázka' comes from the Czech word for 'to make young again'. The willow twigs used are cut fresh in spring when they are green, bendy and full of sap. They are braided by hand into a plaited wand, usually with between four and twelve strands, and decorated with colourful ribbons tied at the end.
Making a pomlázka requires skill - the strands must be braided tightly and evenly so the wand holds its shape. Older brothers, fathers and grandfathers often teach younger children how to do it. Some families keep particularly beautiful pomlázky as decorations from year to year.
On Easter Monday morning, boys visit the houses of female relatives and friends. The tap from the pomlázka is gentle and playful - it is not meant to hurt at all, only to pass on good energy for the year ahead. Girls receive decorated Easter eggs (called kraslice), which are among the most beautiful folk crafts in Czechia.
Kraslice eggs are decorated with intricate patterns using wax, dyes, scratching tools and careful brushwork. Each region of Czechia has its own traditional patterns: geometric shapes, flowers, birds and geometric lines in vivid colours. The craft of decorating Easter eggs has been passed down for hundreds of years and is considered a serious folk art.