(source: SITA)
THE FIRST Easter Market to open in the country was in Hlavné Námestie in Bratislava.]
Twenty stands, including three reserved for the charities House of Social Services MOST, Andreas Autistic Centre and the Working-socialisation Centre Impulz, opened on March 22nd in this main square of the capital city.
Eva Chudinová, spokesperson for the City Council, told the TASR newswire that along with the traditional goods such as eggs, pottery, decorations made of wicker, maize straw, mead, textiles, wood products, tablecloths, majolica, gingerbread and Easter candles for sale, the market features a show teaching visitors how to decorate Easter Eggs in the traditional way.
In addition, wicker Easter whips and rattles, symbolising the arrival of spring and scaring evil spirits, are a favourite buy at the markets.
Easter markets are a tradition in Slovakia and occur in towns and cities such as Banská Bystrica, Zvolen, Košice, Prešov, Čadca, Žilina, Dolný Kubín, Rožňava, Prievidza, and others. They mostly close during the Easter weekend, the Bratislava market closes on April 6.
