Easter in Poland

Palm SundayThe celebration of Easter is preceded by Holy Week. It begins with Palm Sunday. Palm branches and twigs commemorate Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The original palm branch is replaced by a willow or raspberry branch, and is decorated with ribbons, flowers, and leaves. It is believed that swallowing a willow catkin from a branch consecrated by a priest would bring health. On this day someone who gets up early in the morning swat other members of the family with a small willow branch.

Palm Branches:- These are used as a symbol of peace.

Holy Thursday

On Holy Thursday in the Church a priest washes the feet of twelve poor people on the Thursday before Easter in memory of Jesus's Act. Also on this day Jesus ate and drank with his apostles. This meal were known as the Last Supper, because Jesus died soon after.

Good Friday

The next, Good Friday, is the commemoration of the Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus.symbolic tombs of Christ appear in churches. The adoration of the Good Friday tombs is called “the visitation of the tombs’. Good Friday is a day of mourning. The church bells are silent on Good Friday. Rattles and clappers take their place.

Holy Saturday

On the next day, Holy Saturday, believers brings small baskets filled with cakes, eggs, horseradish, ham or sausages, salt, and tiny sugar lambs. Inside the churches, priests sprinkles holy water on these baskets.

An egg is an ancient symbol of life.

The consecration of horseradish refers to the bitterness of the passion of Jesus.

•A lamb made of suggar commemorates the resurrected Christ.•The bread and salt are symbols of good health and a prosperous life.

Easter day Easter day is the Commemoration

of the Resurrection of Jesus, with its promise of eternal life . On Sunday at 6 a.m. services

accompanied by processions are held to commemorate the

Resurrection. After Mass, we have breakfast at the beautifully laid table. Sharing a boiled egg with relatives is an old national tradition. Each member of the

household receives a piece of the consecrated egg with salt and

bread. Sharing the consecrated food with relatives we wishes

each other all the best at Easter.

Colouring eggs The custom of colouring eggs for

Easter is very popular and held almost in each house. Eggs

which are painted in one colour are called “kraszanki”. If patterns

are etched with a pointed instrument on the paint, the eggs are called “rysowanki”. The eggs decorated with the use of treated wax are called “pisanki”. Melted beeswax is applied to the fresh white egg and then dipped in successive baths of dye. After

each dip wax is painted over the area where the preceding colour is to remain. Eventually Pisanki are painted with bright colours

and become a work of art.

Easter TimeEaster is a time of joy For all people, girls and

boysJoyfully today we sing,

Jesus is our risen King.   Jesus is risen! Yes, Jesus

is risen! Jesus is risen! He lives in Heav'n on high.

  Hear us as we sing Thy

praise, Happily our voices raise

Thank-you, Jesus for your love

And our home in Heav'n above.  

Jesus is risen! Yes, Jesus is risen! Jesus is risen!

He lives in Heav'n on high.

Mazurek Cakes are very important

ingredients of Easter breakfast. “ Mazurki” are prepared only for Easter. „Mazurek” is a flat cake, usually on a pastry covered with paste of nuts, almonds etc., colorfully decorated with jam and nuts and raisins. On top of this, beautiful decorations are made, such as eggs of icing; willow branches made of marzipan, chocolate flowers, and other delicacies. With letters made of cream “Hallelujah” is written – joy of the Resurrection.

Mazurek Royale

1 cup butter1 cup plus 2 TBS sugar8 oz ground almonds1 tsp. vanilla extract1 grated orange rind6 egg whites1 ½ sifted flour

Some chocolate, nuts, marzipan

Thoroughly cream the butter and sugar. Combine with the almonds, orange rind and vanilla. Beat the egg whites until stiff. Alternately add the flour and the egg whites to the mixture. Roll out thin and place on a buttered cookie sheet. Spread dough with fingers to cover sheet entirely. Bake at 350F for 35 minutes. Cool slightly, decorate with marzipan, chocolate, nuts and then cut into squares.

Easter Monday On Easter Monday there is a

very ancient Easter tradition called “Smingus-Dyngus” – custom of pouring water or perfume on one another. No one is safe from this tradition.

According to the tradition this represents the renewal of the sacrament of baptism after Christ has risen.

The game of egg shackling is very popular in which you hold a hard-boiled egg firmly in your hand and hit against another opponents.

Produced by pupils from Primary School from Bielsk Podlaski, Poland

under the supervision of

Beata Lenartowicz

and Alicja Krystosiuk