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Strikingly unique customs also surfaced in the Czech Republic and Slovakia during Easter Monday, where boys would gently whip girls with willow branches as a form of blessing. This peculiar ritual was not intended to harm but rather to bless the girls with youth and fertility. The willow, sacred to springtime rites, was a nod towards ancient fertility customs and the rejuvenation of life after winter.
This blending of playful interaction with divine intention reveals a deeper connection to the rhythms of nature, reiterating that spring demands life and vitality across species.