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Everything posted by Bee1
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I was born and grew up in Czech Republic and we have some interesting Easter Traditions. When I was growing up behind "Iron Curtain" religion was not allowed so Easter of my youth was not tied to church or religious celebrations. Easter Eggs (kraslice) The hand-painted or otherwise decorated egg (kraslice) is the most recognizable symbol of Czech Easter. Girls decorate Easter eggs to give them to boys on Easter Monday. There are many Easter egg decorating techniques and the more elaborate ones require a certain level of skill. Different materials can be used, such as bee's wax, straw, watercolors, onion peels, picture stickers. There are no limitations to creating pretty, colorful eggs. Whip (pomlazka) Young, live willow twigs are thought to bring health and youth to anyone who is whipped with them. An Easter pomlázka (from pomladit or "make younger") is a braided whip made from willow twigs. It has been used for centuries by boys who go caroling on Easter Monday and symbolically whip girls on the legs. In the past, pomlázka was also used by the farmer's wife to whip the livestock and everyone in the household, including men and children. There would be no Czech Easter without the pomlázka. Boys used to make their own pomlázkas in the past (the more twigs, the more difficult it was to braid one), but this tradition and skill is long gone and pomlázkas can be bought in stores and street stands. The origin of the pomlázka tradition (pomlázka meaning both the whip and the tradition itself) dates back to pagan times. Its original purpose and symbolic meaning is to chase away illness and bad spirits and to bring health and youth for the rest of the year to everyone who is whipped with the young willow twigs. Boys would whip girls lightly on the legs and bottom. An Easter carol, usually asking for an egg or two, would be recited by the boy while whipping. The girl would then reward the boy with a painted egg or candy and tie a ribbon around his pomlázka. As the boys progressed through the village, their bags filled up with eggs and their pomlázkas were adorned with more and more colorful ribbons. This tradition is still largely upheld, especially in villages and small towns, although it may have lost its symbolism and romance and is now performed mainly for fun. Some boys and men seem to have forgotten that the whipping is supposed to be only symbolic and girls don't always like that. The reward has also changed - money and shots of plum brandy (slivovice) are often given instead of or in addition to painted eggs and candy. So by early afternoon, groups of happy men can be seen staggering along the roads... All that aside, Easter remains one of the most joyful holidays on the Czech calendar. Easter food: Easter Stuffing (exact recipe varies around country) - you must put some green spring herbs in it (many people would use young nettles) that was traditionally served on White Sunday - hot with potatoes or cold with salad. Beranek - sponge cake in shape of a lamb which would have a red ribbon (and sometimes little bell) tied around it's neck and Easter Bread (Mazanec) an egg-glazed loaf of bread, is a version of a typical Czech bread, but at Easter it has sliced almonds and raisins in the dough. Its shape is rounded to signify the stone that was rolled away from Christ’s tomb and have a cross cut in top just before it goes in the oven.
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My Name is Gaia, and Im a Twilight Addict lol
Bee1 replied to Gaiamaiden's topic in Twilight Addicts
check the twilight fan fiction reviews in Book Club that Smorkle was taking about - you will find lots of stories to read - some are written to be before SM books and some are written to take place after Breaking Dawn, some are cannon and some are alternate endings - hundreds and hundreds of stories to choose from - DEFINITELY WORTH A LOOK -
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for zoonie: The revised timetable will be in operation between 07:00 and 19:00 with no service running outside of these times. Currently the provisional services we will be able to offer are as follows: Charing Cross Service Ashford International – Charing Cross – two trains per hour - calling at all stations to Tonbridge, Sevenoaks, then fast to London Bridge. Tunbridge Wells - Charing Cross – two trains per hour - calling at all stations to Sevenoaks, Orpington, then fast to London Bridge. (10 Carriages) Sevenoaks – Charing Cross – two trains per hour - calling at all stations to Hither Green, then fast to London Bridge. Gillingham – Charing Cross – two trains per hour - calling at all stations to Slade Green, then Abbey Wood, Woolwich Arsenal, Charlton, Greenwich, then fast to London Bridge.
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really? fan attacked by a mouse? do tell I'm doing OK - work is soon finishing and only 2 more days till long weekend. Just shame about the weather. I was acutually thinking about you this lunch time (well more Mr Zoonie) as Mr B send me an e-mail with details if train strike starting on 6 April and I was thinkging how is he going to get to work? It says trains are going to be running only between 7am and 7pm and all lines have only 2 trains an hour
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yeah but it's not the cigarettes (or lack of it) that makes you gain pounds - you are substituting it with food (keeping you hands busy I would imagine) but if you don't want to quit that it ain't gonna happen. After all it's your health but people who care for you (I'm sure)would prefer you not smoking so you can be around for longer
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