On Friday, March 27th, the CZU Library set aside its "strictly quiet" rule to make way for the Welcome Centre’s Easter Party. Around 60 international researchers, PhD students, and their families joined us to swap their research papers for willow branches and paintbrushes, turning the study space into a vibrant workshop celebrating Czech spring traditions.
The afternoon served as a crash course in Czech folk traditions, where attendees tried their hand at weaving pomlázka (willow whips) and decorating kraslice (Easter eggs). Despite the high-stakes nature of sixty people handling delicate shells, a minor miracle occurred – not a single egg was broken. While the adults focused on perfecting their weaving techniques, children stayed busy at their own activity stations. They even took part in a special game organized by our colleague Agnes and together with the adults they successfully mastered reciting a traditional Czech Easter carol.
To keep the competitive spirit alive, we hosted an Easter Quiz. It turns out our PhD students and researchers are surprisingly driven when it comes to folklore – winners walked away with prizes and bragging rights after proving they could easily tell their mazanec from their beránek.
Of course, no cultural exchange is complete without a taste test. A wide selection of traditional Czech Easter specialties – both sweet and salty – was prepared at home by members of the Welcome Centre team and offered for "research" purposes. These homemade treats were a huge hit—by the time the event wrapped up, almost every crumb had been enjoyed.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us to welcome spring in style! Special thanks go to our volunteers, Dani and Katy, for their invaluable help. Judging by the enthusiastic feedback, everyone is already looking forward to the next event!
