Easter in Poland

Easter in Poland

Easter, also known as Pascha , the Feast of the Resurrection, the Sunday of the Resurrection, or Resurrection Day, is the most important religious celebration of the Christian liturgical year, observed between late March and late April. Before Easter a whole family clean the house. We bake cakes and we paint Easter eggs. Eggs which are painted in one color are called “kraszanki”. On Saturday people go to church with the small baskets to have the food blessed. In our baskets are: bread, eggs, some ham, horseradish, pepper, salt, cheese, butter or honey. After that, on Sunday morning everyone sits at the table and we eat traditional breakfast, we divide an egg and we wishes each other health, wealth and happiness. The beautifully laid table is covered with colored eggs, cold meats, coils of sausages, ham, yeast cakes, pound cakes, poppy-seed cakes, and in the middle of it all, a lamb made of sugar, commemorating the resurrected Christ. Horseradish was mixed with beets, “cwikla”, traditionally present on Polish Easter tables. Sharing a boiled egg with our relatives is a national tradition. A piece of egg with salt and pepper, consecrated by priest, is an inseparable accessory in the good wishes we extend to each other at Easter.
On Easter Monday there is a very ancient Easter tradition called “Smingus-Dyngus” – custom of pouring water on one another. "Smingus Dyngus" is celebrated in Poland on the first Monday after Easter. On this day boys sprinkle girls with water. It is said that girls who get caught and soaked with water will marry within the year. It's been suggested that this is the very reason why some girls make feeble attempts to escape the dousing. In that day everyone is wet. It is very funny celebration.