One of the prominent festivals in central-European nation Poland, Easter is celebrated with great devotion and fanfare. Poland has a very rich culture and heritage which is reflected in all the festivities especially on the occasion of Easter. The rituals of Christian Church are followed in all the religious ceremonies and Easter celebrations are observed according to the traditional Polish culture. These Easter celebrations involve lot of preparation and are very elaborate.
There is a tradition in Poland which is very unique. Housewives stop baking bread one week before the Palm Sunday because of the fear that the bread baked throughout the year would get spoil. Then, they start baking only in Holy Week. In many parts of Poland, they start baking again only on Good Friday while in other parts it s not permitted to cook any thing on that day. It was believed that in older times, that violating this trend would bring miseries to the villagers.
Another tradition is about the “Blessing Basket” which is also a unique tradition in the Poland. People in Poland prepare these blessing baskets on the Saturday before Easter Sunday. An Easter basket is filled with coloured eggs, cake, bread, salt, pepper and white coloured sausages. After preparing, it is taken to the church for getting it blessed. In the Great Lent period, getting the basket blessed is mandatory for a devotee.
Another Polish Easter tradition is ritual of Dyngus or Smingus Dyngus. It is celebrated on the Easter Monday which is the first Monday after the Easter Sunday. This is a very entertaining and charming ritual in which boys roam around in the neighbourhood and sprinkle perfume or water over the girls. This ritual has its origin in the pagan traditions. Easter Monday is also observed as the “Switching Day” as boys on this day switch girls with a small willow branch.
In Poland, having an elaborate breakfast with family is a traditional Easter celebration. Everyone wishes each other good luck and prosperity. Green leaves and a sugar lamb are the important part of Easter day table decorations. Food that the people eat is blessed by the priest.
