Polish Easter Tradition:
Blessing Easter Baskets at Church on Holy Saturday

     The custom of blessing Easter food baskets was brought to Wisconsin in the late 1800's by early Polish immigrants. These immigrants settled in the communities of Stevens Point, Independence, Pulaski and the south side of Milwaukee.

     In many places, the practice of blessing Easter baskets at the church on Holy Saturday has been maintained with other Eastern European countries. The Christian significance of Easter is symbolized in the food used for the holiday feast. Baskets with food are lined with white cloth and decorated with ribbons and green branches or pussy willows. They are then filled with traditional Easter foods to be blessed: colored hardboiled eggs symbolizing the new life; a sugar or butter lamb representing Christ, the Lamb of God; bread or a tall decorative cake called Babka; and ham, sausage, salt and pepper.

     The food blessed on Holy Saturday is consumed by the family and guests at Easter Sunday breakfast, after Resurrection Mass. The colored eggs are exchanged and offered to friends.

Traditional Polish Easter Basket

The following are common components of the Polish Easter basket:

Maslo - [butter] -- This favorite diary product is often shaped into a lamb [Baranek Wielkanocny] or a cross. This reminds us of the goodness of Christ that we should have toward all things.

Babka - [Easter bread] -- A round loaf topped with a cross of a fish, symbolic of Jesus, who is our true Bread of Life.

Chrzan - [horseradish with grated red beets] -- Symbolic of the Passion of Christ still in our minds but sweetened with some sugar because of the Resurrection.

Jajka - [eggs] and Pisanki - [eggs decorated with the symbols of Easter, of life, of prosperity] -- Indicate new life and Christ's resurrection from the tomb.

Kielbasa - [sausage] -- A spicy sausage of pork products, indicative of God's favor and generosity.

Szynka - [ham] -- Symbolic of great joy and abundance. Some prefer lamb or veal. The lamb also reminds Catholics that the Risen Christ is the "Lamb of God."

Slonina - [smoked bacon] -- A symbol of the overabundance of God's mercy and generosity.

Sol - [salt] -- So necessary an element in our physical life, that Jesus used its symbolism: "You are the salt of the earth."

Ser - [cheese] -- Shaped into a ball, it is the symbol of the moderation Christians should have at all times.

     A candle is inserted into the basket to represent Christ, the Light of the World. A colorful ribbon and sometimes sprigs of greenery are attached, the linen cover is drawn over the top, and it is ready for the priest's visit or for the trek to church where it is joined with the baskets of others to await the blessing that will render it fit for consumption on Easter Sunday.