Young men have been asked to leave their whips at home this Easter as the Czech Republic's COVID-19 lockdown leads to the suspension of a controversial Easter tradition.
Predominantly observed in rural communities on Easter Monday, young men go door-to-door and lightly whip women's legs and buttocks with a switch, or pomlázka, made of willow rods and decorated with colourful ribbons. The pagan ritual, accompanied by a song relating to women's eggs, is seen in folklore as a practice to ensure young women's fertility and health.
Although the custom is not intended to cause harm, it can be painful.
"It hurt like hell," Ladka Bauerova, who grew up in Prague, told the BBC.
"Even as a child I felt acute embarrassment at the heavy-handed symbolism... you're giving men your eggs to stop them from being violent? It just wasn't right."
But the Czech government has pressed pause on whipping this Easter, with Interior Minister Jan Hamacek urging men not to partake in the tradition.
In a video posted to the ANO political party's official YouTube, Czech Prime Minister and party founder Andrej Babiš urged citizens to celebrate Easter responsibly. The caption roughly translates to: "Hey guys, it's Easter Sunday, a beautiful day, and here's your report with a two-metre whip. Yeah, and stay home!"
The video, titled 'Veselé Velikonoce' (Happy Easter), features the Prime Minister playfully chasing his wife Monika with a whip.
Armed with his two-metre switch, Babiš then sits down and addresses the nation on the importance of complying with lockdown protocol during the holiday period.
According to the local website Expats CZ, the Prime Minister acknowledged that the country's State of Emergency has been extended and asked for citizens' continued adherence to the rules.
"If we mess it up now, it will have very negative consequences. We don’t know what will happen in seven to ten days," he said.
As of Monday (local time), there have been 6059 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Czech Republic and 143 deaths. The country, which made wearing masks a compulsory practice in the fight against the virus, is preparing to ease its lockdown restrictions over the coming month.
