Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square host the two largest Easter Markets. Of these, Old Town Square is the more elaborate. Birch trees will be decorated with streamers and eggs. You'll find yummy edibles, daily concerts and performances on stage, and numerous booths selling toys, decorated gingerbread cookies, little braided willow switches, and hand-painted eggs in dozens of styles, A black-smith may be hammering out his products near his fire. Horse-drawn carriages rides through the Old Town are especially festive experience on a mild spring day.

Easter markets usually open two weeks before and one week after Easter Sunday. This year, those dates are April 9 through May 1. They are open daily.

The most typical Czech Easter products are the hand-painted eggs and the willow switches. In the markets you may be able to watch skilled men and women decorating eggs and braiding willows.

There are many special Czech Easter customs. The custom which foreigners most commonly misunderstand is the whipping of women and girls with braided willow branches trimmed with ribbons or streamers. Perhaps there are a few teenage boys who get carried away, but the usual "whipping" is more a flirtatious tickling or a friendly ceremonial tapping on the legs to show you are liked, admired, and considered attractive. This happens not with strangers, but within the village or among family, friends, and classmates. Should you know someone well enough to be shyly tapped with a willow switch, you will probably feel complimented and pleased to be included.

Another explanation of Easter customs
gives additional details and other interpretations.