EASTER IN POLAND

WHEN IS IT?

Easter is in March or April, 40 days after the Ash Wednesday.

ASH WEDNESDAY

A priest puts some ash on people’s forehead as a sign of penance.

ŚWIĘCONKA (EASTER BASKET)

It is a tradition to go to church on Holy Saturday with a basket full of food we are going to eat the next day. The basket should have white linen inside and it should be decorated with boxwood. In church a priest sprinkles the food with holy water.

EASTER BREAKFAST

For Easter breakfast we eat food from our Easter baskets, such as:

EGGS

Eggs are a symbol of life. We share the egg from the Easter basket with our families.

BREAD

After eggs this is the most important food.

WHITE SAUSAGE (WEISSWURST)

It’s a special kind of sausage. It isn’t really white, it’s just called white. It has a very strong smell.

HAM

Ham is the symbol of joy and wealth.

SOUR RYE SOUP (ŻUREK)

It’s made of rye flour and meat. It can be served with white sausage and eggs.

LAMB

A lamb can be made of butter or sugar.

BABKA (A CAKE)

It’s a spongy cake traditionally baked for Easter Sunday.

MAZUREK (CAKE)

It’s a very sweet cake with icing, chocolate or kajmak. It is decorated with dried fruit, walnuts, almonds or roasted seeds.

SALT

It is a symbol of purification.

PEPPER

Pepper is also a symbol of purification. We add pepper and salt to the food we have for breakfast.

OTHER SYMBOLS OF EASTER ARE:

boxwood

catkin

Easter eggs – they are decorated in different ways.

OTHER CUSTOMS

Children believe that on Easter day Easter bunny brings them gifts such as sweets.

WET MONDAY (ŚMIGUS DYNGUS)

On Easter Monday boys pour water over girls and girls wet boys on Tuesday.

The presentation was prepared by class Va