Twinspace

8.9 Slavic customs connected with water

Slavic customs
Morana's taking out
It is a spring custom in Slavic countries. The Slavic goddes Morana, symbolized by a figure, is taken our of the village and thrown in the water. Then the youth brings "líto" to the village (a young tree decorated by spring decorations and colours).
Oblievačka
It is an Easter custom in Slavic countries (Czech: Oblévačka, Slovak: Oblievačka, Polish: Śmigus-dyngus). It is held on Easter Monday. boys throw water over girls who they like and whip them with pussy willows. Girls give them dyed eggs for it.
Midsummer Night
It is an old custom in Slavic countries. Girls throw small wreaths made from flowers into water (river, lake) and they hope that boys (their future husbands) catch their wreaths.
Ships from nutshells
It is a Christmas custom. People make small ships from nutshells and let them flow to predict the future.