Statutory paid public holiday

Easter Monday

Monday, 6 April 2026

Historical Context

Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday and is a paid day off in Slovakia. It is best known for the regional Easter water-and-willow customs.

Easter Monday has been a day of rest in Slovak lands for centuries. The accompanying water and willow rituals predate Christianity and were absorbed into the Easter celebration as the church gradually reframed pagan spring customs.

Two regional traditions are practised on Easter Monday morning. The šibačka has boys visiting girls' homes and lightly switching them with korbáče (braided willow whips) for youth and vitality. The oblievačka has boys dousing girls with water from buckets, perfume, or even a bucket emptied from a well. Both customs are practised across Slovakia, with western regions leaning toward šibačka and eastern regions toward oblievačka. Girls reward the visitors with painted eggs (kraslice), chocolate, sweets, or a shot of homemade liquor for adults.

Regional Traditions

Orava, Spiš, Liptov, Šariš a Zemplín

Across northern and eastern Slovakia, oblievačka (water-pouring) dominates over light symbolic whipping, with young men dousing girls with cold water from buckets at the door early on Easter Monday. In these regions the custom continues into Tuesday, when women reverse the roles and douse the men back through the village.

Záhorie a západné Slovensko

Western Slovakia keeps šibačka with the woven willow korbáč as the central rite. Boys cut willow rods on Palm Sunday, weave the whip from one to eight or more twigs on Holy Saturday, then symbolically tap girls on Easter Monday in exchange for painted eggs, ribbons tied to the whip, and pálenka.

Frequently asked questions

Is Easter Monday a public holiday in Slovakia?

Yes, Easter Monday is a paid day off. It is not on the §94 mandatory retail-closure list (unlike Good Friday and Easter Sunday), so trading is not legally restricted, though most shops stay shut by convention.

What is the difference between šibačka and oblievačka?

Šibačka is the willow-switching tradition; oblievačka is the water-dousing tradition. Both are performed by boys visiting girls on Easter Monday morning. Both customs are practised nationwide, with regional emphasis: western Slovakia leans toward šibačka, eastern Slovakia toward oblievačka.