EASTER IN POLAND

OUR EASTER STARTS ON GREASY THURSDAY!!! IN POLAND THE LAST THURSDAY BEFORE LENT IS CALLED GREASY THURSDAY THIS DAY WE EAT A LOT OF SWEETS CALED ’PĄCZKI’ (doughnuts) OR FAWORKI. WE LIKE THIS TRADITION A LOT

Ash Wednesday, the seventh Wednesday preceding Easter Sunday, is the first day of the season of Lent. Its name comes from the ancient practice of placing ashes on worshippers’ heads or foreheads as a sign of humility before God, a symbol of mourning and sorrow. Lent is a season for penance, reflection and fasting in order to prepare ourselves for Christ's Resurrection and for our Redemption.

Holy Week lasts from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. Palm Sunday, the week before Easter Sunday, is marked by church attendance with palm-leaf substitutes in the form of willow branches or handmade bouquets of dried flowers

Before Easter children prepare different kinds of Easter decorations

In Poland before Easter we prepare Easter Eggs – called PISANKI in Polish.

Easter Eve is the day, when Christ was laid in the tomb. On this day people prepare Easter baskets, which contain traditional food e.g. dyed eggs, bread, salt, pepper, sausages, horseradish and sugar or chocolate lamb. The baskets are blessed in the church.

EASTER CAKES

Sharing of the Egg! Before Easter breakfast, members of the family share the blessed Easter eggs and wish all the best to each other.

The family breakfast on Easter Sunday morning is an important part of Polish Easter celebration. On the breakfast table, each of the participants wishes the others of the family good luck and happiness. The table is decorated with green leaves and a sugar lamb may be placed as a centre- piece. Sharing a boiled egg with one’s relatives is a national tradition of Poland on Easter breakfast table. A piece of egg with salt and pepper, sanctified by priest, is a vital item on this occasion.

Śmigus Dyngus - Wet Monday – the day after Easter Sunday. One of the best holiday when people start the water fights! During all the day, it is allowed to throw water on the others, also unknown! The best thing is to remain at home all the day, because while leaving to go for a short walk or to even go to the church, one is likely to be wet! And it is not the right to be annoyed. Obviously, one should not exaggerate with the quantity of water thrown on an unknown, cultivate the tradition.

…..and after that we have to come back to school…….

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION HAPPY EASTER GREETINGS FROM POLAND

THIS PRESENTATION WAS PREPARED BY STUDENTS FROM ZESPÓŁ SZKÓŁ IN WRZOSOWA, POLAND and their teacher: Anna Wasiak