Today is White Saturday (Bílá sobota), a day when boys walk through the village with rattles on until residents at each house give them money (hmmm, if only it were so easy!)
There's so much more to White Saturday though. It is regarded, along with Zelený čtvrtek (Green Thursday), as a lucky day for sowing. The farmers place ashes on their fields to ensure a good crop, and shake the trees, so that they'll yield a lot of fruit.
White Saturday used to be a day of peace and quiet. Daytime church services were not held at all, and services were held instead either in the evening hours after the sun went down, or after midnight. Only blessed candles and lights were used in the church during these nighttime services. Because of the Virgin Mary's faith in His promise to rise again from the dead, the day is consecrated to her.
Easter picture by Josef Lada
They say that if it rains on Bílá sobota, it will rain often during the coming year. Well, it's sunny and warm where I am... yay!!!
If you're in the Czech Republic on Bílá sobota, take time to stand a while in front of the church in Domaľlice, Kyjov, Blatnice, Břeclav or Vlčnov and enjoy the ceremonial costumes of the women and girls.
