PolisPolishhEasteEasterr

Easter in PolandEaster in Poland!!

Easter is a Easter is a holidayholiday which begins spring. which begins spring. What does it mean for Polish peopleWhat does it mean for Polish people and and

hhow ow do we do we celebrate this event? celebrate this event?

HereHere is is a a shortshort presentation presentation

Easter is very important for Polish people

from the religious point of view, as Poland is a very

Catholic country. It is preceded, according to the

religious tradition, by the Lent, which lasts for 40 days.

The week preceding Easter is the time of the intensive

preparations, at the religious level and on the practical

side. It all starts with Branch Sunday (Palm Sunday). On

this day people go to churches with colourful palms

in their hands to have them blessed by the priest. This

tradition is very alive in certain parts of Poland. There

are even some contests organised, where the longest

palm wins.

Palm Sunday is the beginning ofPalm Sunday is the beginning of Holy WeekHoly Week. This week is time of deep . This week is time of deep

reflection, therefore some parishesreflection, therefore some parishes organise theorganise the so called „so called „RekolekcjeRekolekcje” ” whenwhen the Catholics can go to the Catholics can go to church church

on specialon special MMassasses to prepare es to prepare spiritually to Easterspiritually to Easter. .

On Holy On Holy FridayFriday an exceptional an exceptional MMass ass takes place takes place - „- „Way of the Cross”Way of the Cross” - -

then the last moments of Jesus then the last moments of Jesus Christ`s life is read out from the Christ`s life is read out from the

BibleBible..

SaturdaySaturday, according to the old Polish , according to the old Polish tradition,tradition, is the day when the is the day when the so called so called „„holy menuholy menu”” is blessed by the priest is blessed by the priest at at church. That church. That isis the final point of the final point of Easter Easter preparation: preparation: houses arehouses are already already cleanclean and and all the dishes forall the dishes for 2 2-day--day-feast feast should be should be readyready, as when , as when the „the „blessed foodblessed food" is " is inin the the house, there is not any more right tohouse, there is not any more right to do do preparationpreparation work. It is the time of work. It is the time of reflectionreflection and vigil in church at the and vigil in church at the symbolicsymbolic tomb tomb of Jesus Christ.of Jesus Christ.

What is it the What is it the „„holy menuholy menu””??

It is called „święconka”, in English „blessed food”. It It is called „święconka”, in English „blessed food”. It a small garnished basketa small garnished basket,, where people put some where people put some hard-boiled eggs, bread, salt, meat, fruithard-boiled eggs, bread, salt, meat, fruit and an and an

Easter bunny, and they take it to churchEaster bunny, and they take it to church to have it to have it blessed.blessed. The „blessed food” will start breakfast on The „blessed food” will start breakfast on

Holy Sunday.Holy Sunday.

Polish people also observe the habit of decorating eggs. These eggs are called in Polish „Pisanki” or „Kraszanki”.

They are usually colourfully painted or dyed. They can be also embellished with wax designs or the patterns can be carved in the shell with the use of a sharp tool. These beautiful eggs will be then a decoration of the

table!

Easter Sunday starts with Easter Sunday starts with RResurrectionesurrection Mass at 6 a.m. Mass at 6 a.m. After that, After that, the whole family gathers at the table full of delicious things and the whole family gathers at the table full of delicious things and

have breakfast, which starts withhave breakfast, which starts with a prayer a prayer. T. Thenhen, the „holy food” is , the „holy food” is divided into chunks anddivided into chunks and every member of the family gets a small every member of the family gets a small

piece of itpiece of it. . Only then people can savour the rest of the dishes. Such Only then people can savour the rest of the dishes. Such breakfast can last long hours, as Polish people like to feastbreakfast can last long hours, as Polish people like to feast..

Easter MondayEaster Monday in Poland is known as Wet in Poland is known as Wet Monday or ŚMonday or Śmigus-Dyngumigus-Dyngus. Ds. During uring thatthat day, it day, it is allowed to is allowed to pourpour water on others, water on others, even soeven some me unknown! unknown! So tSo the best thinghe best thing you can do, if you you can do, if you want to have dry clothes,want to have dry clothes, is to is to staystay at home, at home, otherwise you have to take into account that otherwise you have to take into account that

you may get soaking wetyou may get soaking wet! ! Formerly,Formerly, pouring water on unmarried girls was the way pouring water on unmarried girls was the way

of showing them men`s inerest. The more of showing them men`s inerest. The more water the man poured on the girl, the more water the man poured on the girl, the more he liked herhe liked her! ! ThenThen the girl the girl used to thank the used to thank the boy for choosing her by boy for choosing her by offerofferinging him somehim some

decorated eggs! decorated eggs!

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