22.03.2018
Poland is a country full of unique traditions and customs, especially when it comes to holidays. As Easter is the most important holiday, even more than Christmas, we would like to tell you a few things about it so you won’t be surprised if you get a chance to celebrate it in our country.
As you might know the entire week before Easter is called Holy Week, and during that time there’s a lot of things going on here.
Exactly 7 days before the main celebrations take place, people gather for a procession with palms in their hands. This is the moment when they begin to celebrate. I know what you are thinking – Where the hell do Polish people take the real palms from? It’s too cold for them to grow there! Well, you’re absolutely right about that. In Poland, all we can get are ‘artificial palms’. They’re usually made from branches of native trees, including box, willow, yew and olive.
Some of the Polish villages and small towns organize artificial palm competitions. The most liked one takes place in Lipnica Murowana. In 2013 the biggest palm was over 32 meters high! Impressive?
Probably one of the most enduring and beloved Polish traditions on Holy Saturday – not only in Poland but also within Polish communities all around the world. The name of this custom might sounds mysterious but it’s nothing more than blessing the food that will be eaten during the Easter feast. Of course, you won’t spot people bringing tables full of many traditional dishes right to the front of the church (it would be funny though) instead, a small amount of the most important food like eggs, bread, meat and butter are put inside the basket. It’s a very important tradition in Polish culture so you can often spot entire families participating in it.
The time has come. Sunday morning in this case means the big, traditional, family breakfast. It starts with sharing of the blessed food we’ve already talked about between family members. It’s also a time of small talk between each other during which everyone wishes each other and themselves all the best. After that, the main activity takes place – eating. We won’t lie to you! Some people may say that Easter is all about tradition, celebration, meeting with family but deep down they know that it’s also mainly (or all) about food. After the breakfast is finished, people take a walk and enjoy the rest of the day (unless somebody ate too much and they cannot move for a while…).
In Poland eggs are not only used as food on the table. As well, they’re an important part of the Easter tradition. Children decorate them with paints, crayons, stickers, tissue-paper etc. After they’re ready they are used as a decoration for the Easter table and they’re also a part of the Easter bucket.
Easter at the PIAST Hotel – Special Offer
Reserve 3 nights between March 29th and April 3rd.
for only 450,-PLN in a double room and 390-PLN in a single room! The package includes: 3 nights, bed and breakfast; Egg painting workshop on Holy Saturday held in the afternoon.
Published by: Michał Boruta