EASTER SYMBOLS IN POLISH
When spring begins and Easter time comes, students of Polish often want to know what the traditional Easter customs and dishes are. First questions are asked when the fairs with stalls selling Easter things appear. On the one hand, everyone knows the popular Easter symbols, such as pisanki (Easter eggs), kurczaczki (chickens), cukrowe baranki (sugar lambs), czekoladowe zajączki (chocolate bunnies) and students only want to know what they are called in Polish. However, their curiosity is aroused by the colourful palms people carry. That is related to palm tree leaves that the inhabitants of Jerusalem used when they were welcoming Christ, who entered their town. Since palm trees do not grow in Poland, people here use colourful palms made of branches of native trees, such as willow (symbol of immortality), dried or paper flowers, coloured grass and other materials.
ŚWIĘCONE AND ŚWIĘCONKA IN POLISH TRADITION
Blessing of food on Holy Saturday is a really important Polish tradition. In the old days a priest was invited to mansions of nobility to bless all the Easter dishes. Nowadays, a symbolic święconka is prepared, i.e. a basket with salt and pepper, which protect food against decay, bread (symbolic of the body of Christ), sausage (symbolic of abundance and prosperity), and coloured eggs (symbolic of new life). When święconka is ready, it is taken to church to be blessed.
Traditional Easter basket is called „święconka“.
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POLISH TRADITION OF SHARING EGG
On Easter Sunday, before gathering at the table to have breakfast, Poles share święcone (the blessed food) and exchange wishes. Traditional Easter dishes are served: żurek (sour rye soup) or barszcz biały (white borscht) with sausage, eggs, salads, decicious cold cuts and, of course, ćwikła z chrzanem (grated beetroot with horseradish). All that is followed by desserts, such as sweet mazurki (cakes) with dried fruit and nuts, drożdżowe baby (yeast cakes)and pascha (made from cottage cheese, milk, cream and dried fruit). It’s a good idea to go for a walk with the family after a hearty breakfast like that.
ŚMIGUS-DYNGUS OR...
But if you want to go for a walk on Easter Monday, called Śmigus-Dyngus, you’d better take an umbrella. On that day, also known as Wet Monday, according to Polish tradition, people throw water over each other for good luck. In the past, only unmarried girls were doused with water. Now you can throw water over anyone you wish, within reason. of course.
Happy Easter!
