A Polish Easter

Easter is a time of many interesting Polish traditions and is an important religious holiday that is taken very seriously by a predominantly Catholic country. During Easter most Poles stay with their families, it is not usually an excuse for a few days break as it is in some countries, but a time of deep reflection and also of celebration.

Similar to the English pancake day we have “Paczki day�?(doughnut day) or “Tlusty czwartek�?(greasy Thursday) as it is also known. On this day the Poles eat deep fried pastries and doughnuts. The week after on Shrove Tuesday the Poles celebrate a day called “Ostatki�? It is difficult to translate this word, but this day is the last day of carnival (carnival is the period from New Years Eve till Ash Wednesday), that means the last day of parties, alcohol and indulging before Lent and the great fast “Wielki Post�?begins.

On Ash Wednesday “Sroda Popielcowa�?the Poles like all Catholics go to church and have a cross made of ash placed onto their foreheads, to symbolise and remind us that we came from dust and to dust we will return.

Ash Wednesday is the official day of the start of the great fast and Poles like other Catholics will refrain from indulgences and usually sacrifice something that they enjoy for the period of 40 days, in remembrance of the 40 days that Jesus fasted in the desert. Also from this point on until Easter Sunday there will be no bell ringing in the churches in Poland only “Kolatki�?(a type of wooden clapper) will be used (which make a similar sound to the Spanish castanets).

The Sunday before Easter week begins is Palm Sunday and in Poland as it was hard to get palm leaves the Poles bring to church colourful arrangements of pussy willows and painted ears of wheat. The pussy willows have been prepared beforehand by putting them in water so that the little buds flower.

On Wielki Czwartek (great Thursday) priests and bishops wash the feet of 12 parishioners to remind them of when Jesus washed the feet of the 12 disciples before the Last supper. Also on this day the Blessed Sacrament is taken from the Tabernacle and hidden in what is called a “Ciemnica�?(in a dark place) which is done to symbolise the journey Jesus made from the last supper to the Garden of Olives and the beginning of His Passion.

On Wielki Piatek (Good Friday) traditionally Poles only eat one meal and it is a meagre meal with no meat . This is to respect the day that Jesus died on the cross. Poles also go to see graves that will be put in churches all over the country .This custom is called “groby�?and some very creative, allegorical and thought- provoking designs can be seen at this time.

On Easter Saturday small baskets are prepared containing meat, bread, salt, pepper, horseradish, a sugared lamb, a piece of cake and beautiful painted eggs. The eggs are called “pisanki�?and are painted in a variety of designs and colours, or can be covered in designs that have been scratched into the surface with a needle. Red eggs represent the spilt blood of Christ. Blue and violet eggs are for grief and the great fast, and brown, yellow or green eggs express the joy of the Resurrection. The ingredients in the basket also have meanings. The salt is for preservation so that nothing in your life will spoil. The sugared lamb represents the Lamb of God. Meat signifies fertility and abundance. The bread symbolised the Body of Christ. Pepper is in place of the bitter herbs that were used in the Passover feast, and last but not least, horseradish represents the suffering of Christ and is for strength. The baskets also can contain evergreens and ribbons to make them more decorative. These baskets are then taken to church to be blessed by the priest with Holy water. The baskets will then form the centre piece on all Polish tables for breakfast. Also on this day outside the church a fire is made and blessed and what is burnt in the fire will be used the following year as the ash for Ash Wednesday. Water is also blessed and the parishioners take small bottles of the holy water home with them.


Easter Sunday all Poles will go to mass and many will go to the early morning mass which is called “Rezurekcja�?which begins at dawn. Before the mass begins the Blessed Sacrament is carried in a procession around the church and sometimes throughout the streets whilst the alter boys shake their hand bells continuously. Once the procession and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament has finished the Blessed Sacrament is put back into the Tabernacle and the mass will start.

Easter Monday is a holiday in Poland and it is called “Smingus Dingus�? On this day boys will splash or pour water over girls (which they usually enjoy very much) but luckily, girls can get their revenge the next day and for the whole week. That’s a lot of water!!

Enjoy
Bella Online~