Veselé Velikonoce

Or Happy Easter... Yesterday i journied to Roznov pod Radhosten, to see one of my students perform with his band, Valassky Vojvoda. These are the real deal, having performed for the Pope, and the Prime Minister in their time. Not to mention Emil Zatopek...the legendary Czech long-distance runner, who's grave is in Roznov, complete with Olympic rings carved into the stone.

Of course, at the time of my finest photographic experience thus far, i had my first taste of what it feels like when your camera battery runs out. Indeed, i wasn't able to take a single photo, so i can only offer the suggestion of sites such as this if you want to take a look at Europe's second olderst outdoor museum. It's an effort to recreate and to preserve the way of life in the Wallachian region from times pre-steam / electricity.

However, i was there really just to see the Easter celebrations, which were a fine example of traditional Czech culture. A combination of violin and viola seem to be the instruments of choice in this region, though they also use a kind of piano where the strings are exposed and drummed on. I asked my student it's name and he replied something like 'shymbol'.... I haven't been able to locate it on the internet with a quick search under 'slavic keyboards...'. He said it's a typical instrument in Hungary, Romania, here, etc.

Easter whipping....
Well, really, i ought now to be out and about in town, 'hunting' women to whip. That's if i really want to immerse myself in Czech culture. The tradition here is for men to make themselves a whip by plaiting together branches from the Willow tree, and go around town, whipping their womenfolk... Apparently, so the men tell me, it is for the good health of their women for the following year. I've asked two or three women what they're doing for Easter. One said 'Nothing. I don't like Easter'. Another has left the country, going on a trip to Switerland, and the third also expressed a dislike of this season.

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