EASTER IN POLAND

Easter is one of the most important festivals for Christian Orthodox people.

The customs are very old and have been present in our culture for a long time.

Holy Week lasts from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday.

PALM SUNDAY

People go to the Orthodox Church with willow branches to bless them.

The palms represent the palm branches that were

scattered for the Jesus to greet him as he was arriving

to Jerusalem.

Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday is the beginning of Easter Triduum.

It is the fifth day of Holy Week and it commemorates the Last Supper.

Good Friday

During Good Friday people commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus.

This day is very solemn and calm, it is characterized by the prayers and meditation.

It is a day of fasting – we don't eat meat and very often people fast the whole day.

HOLY SATURDAY

Blessing of the Easter baskets

It is the last day to prepare for Easter.

We go to the Orthodox Church with baskets full of food to bless it.

It is one of the most important Easter traditionsand usually all the families go together to the

church.

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Please, click on the link to see the short film

The foods in the baskets have a symbolic meaning:

eggs - symbolize life and resurrection of Christ

bread - symbol of Jesus

salt - represents purification

horseradish - symbolic of the bitter sacrifice of Christ

ham - symbolic of great joy and abundance

We eat the blessed food during the Easter breakfast.

EASTER

Easter is celebrated on Sunday.It is a day of joy, because of Christ's

Resurrection.

All the families meet together for the Easter breakfast, which ends the Lent.

Easter breakfast

Easter Monday = Wet Monday = Śmigus Dyngus

It is the last day of Easter celebration, however it is a day full of fun and... water !

Traditionally during that day boys and men were pouring water on girls and women. Nowadays, everybody is having fun and there are no rules on who is pouring the water on who.

Our advice is not to leave the house that day, and if you do take at least a bottle of water, it may be useful.