A detailed description of the Easter tradition in Poland

POLAND . The Unofficial Guide

Bogna

Mar 26, 10, 17:29 #1

All nationalities, countries and cultures have their own festivals and ways to celebrate them.

In Poland, especially for Chrześcijanie or Katolicy (Christians or Catholics), two greatest and most important festivals are Boże Narodzenie (Christmas) and Wielkanoc (Easter).

In this article I would like to present customs, traditions, and the very idea of Easter in Poland.

Easter (Wielkanoc or Święta Wielkanocne) commemorates Zmartwychwstanie Jezusa Chrystusa (Jesus Christ Resurrection).

First, on the last Thursday before Wielki Post (Lent) there is the so-called Tłusty Czwartek (Fat Thursday) when all the people eat pączki wypełnione marmoladą (donuts filled with marmalade) or faworki or chrust (sweet crispy biscuits in the shape of thin folded ribbons, deep-fried and with powdered sugar). Then, we have forty days of Wielki Post (Lent) which starts with Środa Popielcowa or Popielec (Ash Wednesday). It finishes the period of karnawał (carnival). During this time every Friday there is Droga Krzyżowa (Stations of the Cross) in churches – a service which depicts Jesus road to be ukrzyżowany (crucified) and every Sunday – Gorzkie Żale (Opening Lamentations) – it is a collection of songs about Męka Chrystusa (Christ’s Passion).

On the fifth Sunday of the Lent there is Niedziela Palmowa when we bring gałązki palmowe or palmy (palms) to church to be poświęcone (blessed). There is a special konkurs (competiotion) known in the whole Poland which takes place in the village called Lipnica Murowana – its main idea is to make the highest and the most beautiful palm.

Then, there are Wielki Czwartek (Holy Thursday), Wielki Piątek (Good Friday) and Wielka Sobota (Holy Saturday) when there are special services in churches. On Wielka Sobota (Holy Saturday) we put different kinds of food into koszyki (baskets): jajka (eggs), sól (salt), chleb (bread), kiełbasa (sausage), chrzan (horseradish) and we take them to church where they are poświęcone (blessed) and eaten for uroczyste śniadanie wielkanocne (solemn Easter breakfast) on Niedziela Wielkanocna, Wielka Niedziela or Niedziela Zmartwychwstania Pańskiego (Easter Sunday).

The most important day of Easter is mentioned above Niedziela Wielkanocna, Wielka Niedziela or Niedziela Zmartwychwstania Pańskiego (Easter Sunday) with solemn masses. It is the day to be spent with families and relatives, to relax and rest. For children, there is the custom that zajączek wielkanocny (Easter bunny) brings presents. Sometimes, parents hide the gifts in different parts of the house, room or garden and children must look for them.

Poniedziałek Wielkanocny (Easter Monday) has a tradition called Śmigus-Dyngus (Dyngus Day) that is why it is also known as Lany Poniedziałek (Wet Monday)– people make others wet by pouring water or perfumes. It is especially popular with children and teenagers.

Similarly to Boże Narodzenie (Christmas), there are also various decorations bought, made and prepared for Easter. These are: baranki and zajączki cukrowe (sugar Easter lambs and bunnies), kury (chickens) and pisanki (colourful Easter eggs) – ręcznie malowane (hand painted), farbowane (dyed) or the so-called wydmuszki (blown eggs).

As you see, Polish festivals - especially Easter and Christmas - are rich in numerous traditions – both religious and these more earthly ones. This is very pleasant and weeks earlier all the people just feel the special atmosphere of oncoming unusual time. Polish people prepare for these days carefully cleaning and tidying the flats and houses, going shopping to buy presents for their relatives and thinking also about the spiritual side of the festivals.

♂

Mar 26, 10, 18:44 #2

You could add the Passion Plays held at Zebrzydowice, Pacław, Górka, Czerwińsk and other venues across Poland which attract thousands during Holy Week. These are not passively watched stage plays (as in Bavaria’s much overrated Oberammergau) but interactive events where the pilgrims play the role of the crowds of Old Jerusalem going from one site to another (the house of the Last Supper, Herod’s Palace, the Garden of Olives, etc.) connected to the Passion of Christ. Also the Lenten Retreats (Rekolekcje wielkopostne) held in every Polish parish and fairly well attended. They include youth retreats and others for individual professional communities.
Sunrise Easter Mass (Rezurekcja) begin with a procession that thrice encircles the outside of the church before the service begins inside -- plenty of beautiful old hymns, the scent of incense, the sound of churchbells, also firecrackers being shot off in the distance (artillery if it’s a garrison town) in memory of the thunderous rumblings thought to have accompanied the opening of Christ’s tomb. All in all, it's a good thing there is a Poland and a Polonia. Otherwise we'd all have to sink into all that hyper-commercialised secular slime!

Polonius3Threads: 1,005 Posts: 4,835 Joined: Apr 11, 08 ♂	Mar 28, 10, 23:48 #3
Mar 29, 10, 04:31 - Thread attached on merging: How are you celebrating Niedziela Palmowa? To the native Poles on PF: how are you celebrating this important festival? Procession, palm-making contest, Easter duty (confession), Easter fair, Passion Play, etc.?

MEMBER ♀

Apr 3, 10, 06:47 #4

if someone is wondering:
Explaining the Easter Bunny

The modern version of the Easter Bunny (cute and cuddly) was heavily influenced by German traditions dating back to the 1500s. According to Mental Floss, "The Germans converted the pagan rabbit image into Oschter Haws, a rabbit that was believed to lay a nest of colored eggs as gifts for good children."

Eventually, chocolate became just as popular a gift as pastel-colored eggs. And, if you ask us, a lot tastier.

plk123Threads: 30 Posts: 6,412 Joined: Aug 29, 07 ♂	Apr 3, 10, 06:52 #5
Polonius3: Procession, they don't do that in the USA in non Polish churches. sad but true. :(

Polonius3Threads: 1,005 Posts: 4,835 Joined: Apr 11, 08 ♂	Apr 3, 10, 09:27 #6
You should visit Our Lady of Częstochowa parish in Sterling Hts some day. It's like being in Poland. All the traditonal liturgical and Polish paraliturgical forms are painstakingly maintained. In fact, hardly a word of Enlgish can be heard in the chruch, adjoining communtiy centre, parish offcies, car park or elsewhere in the parish compound.

♂

Apr 3, 10, 11:56 #7

Christianity is too young kid to own Easter tradition. Easter is basically old pagan tradition that celebrates the beginning of spring. Its equivalent in Middle Asia (Turks, Mongols, etc) is Bahar which is still celebrated in whole middle Asia for some days starting March 21..
Christians connected this pagan Easter to Christianity to convert people and Muslims connected this Bahar to Hidrilyas to convert people to Muslims. The both Easter and Bahar are based on the spring, and fertility goddess, in pagan religions, which we can also see in Shamanism.

ArienThreads: 6 Posts: 1,604 Joined: Oct 20, 08 ♂	Apr 3, 10, 12:23 #8
nomaderol: The both Easter and Bahar are based on the spring, and fertility goddess, in pagan religions, which we can also see in Shamanism. thinks of sexy ladies dancing in the forest :)

nomaderolThreads: 7 Posts: 1,213 Joined: Oct 18, 09 ♂	Edited by: nomaderol Apr 3, 10, 12:31 #9
but, this is the time of fertility goddess. during this time, ladies want to make babies. and they check males for their seriousness and their promising words of men about taking care of them while pregnant and after making their baby. goddess of sex is in august. during vacation time. sea, sun, fun..

48 [Guests - 39 / Members - 9] users on live forums now

Home \| Unanswered \| Archives \| Random \| Statistics	Time in Poland: 01:52 / May 27
About Us \| Contact Us \| Rules, Privacy \| Poland Advertising	© 2005-12 PolishForums.com

POLAND . The Unofficial Guide	Unanswered \| Archives
POLAND . The Unofficial Guide	Meet Polish People at PF!	Witamy, Guest \| PF Members \| Gold Members