Arts and Crafts

Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in the Slovak Republic

White and blue pottery is traditional in some parts of Slovakia. Paint your own on Chinet plates.

Blue and White Plate

Materials needed:

Plain Chinet plates or platters
Blue tempera paint
Spray shellac or other finish
Paintbrushes
Newspapers

Spread newspaper on your work area. Give each crafter a plate and let them paint a blue pattern on it. Birds, simple patterns, and flowers are common themes. After the paint has dried, spray shellac on the plate, and when dry it can be used for decoration or for serving snacks.

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On Easter Monday, children have a tradition of using willow switches to tag one another in exchange for chocolate candy and painted eggs. You can make your own switches, or Sibacky.

Sibacky

Materials needed:

Willow branches
Ribbon (paper ribbon, used on presents)
Tape
Chocolate candies

Give each crafter a piece of willow branch about six inches long. Since this will be used for the handle of the switch, it should not be too thin.

Cut 3 or 4 pieces of ribbon (depending on the width of the ribbon being used) into one foot lengths. Place the ribbons around the willow branch, about 2" from the end, so that the ribbons extend 10" beyond the branch. Wrap tape around the ribbon to secure to the branch.

Now you have relatively safe switches to play with. When a person tags another on the legs with the switch, the person tagged needs to give them some chocolate.