Easter and Lent

Palm Sunday niedziela palmowa is called also "The Sunday of the Lord's Passion niedziela meki Panskiej", "Willow Sunday" (niedziela wierzbowa), "Branch Sunday" (niedziela rozdzkowa) or "April Sunday" (niedziela kwietna) since it takes place usually in April. Read more about the unusual celebrations of this day in Poland in the article Palm Sunday Traditions in Poland - Easter Palms from Pussy Willows and other Customs . Below is a set of beautiful pictures done by our Polish correspondent from the celebration of Palm Sunday in 2007 in Krakow.

Read more: The Palm Sunday Tradition in Poland

Palm Sunday Traditions in Poland - Easter Palms from Pussy Willows and other Customs

Palm Sunday niedziela palmowa is called also The Sunday of the Lord's Passion niedziela meki Panskiej, Willow Sunday niedziela wierzbowa, Branch Sunday niedziela rozdzkowa or April Sunday niedziela kwietna since it takes place usually in April (not in 2005). Here we will focus mainly on the tradition of Polish palms, but let me start with some other habits of Polish Palm Sunday. See woderful photographs from the celebrations of Palm Sunday in 2007 in Krakow, Poland.

Read more: Palm Sunday Traditions in Poland

Easter Saturday in Poland is a busy day. Every Polish family visits a church with a basket full of food products (a piece of bread, salt, sausage, egg - usually painted etc). Especially children love it! The baskets are then blessed by a priest. Read more about Easter Food Blessing - an ancient Polish custom.

Another important ceremony on Easter Saturday are visitats through the churches to see Jesus Tombs. Every church has a uniquely decorated empty tomb. Below is the account from Jerzy of food blessing ceremony in Krakow.

-- Jagoda

Read more: Palm Saturday Tradition in Poland

Although the ancient European art of "Pisanki" has become very closely associated with Easter, it first came about more than 2000 years ago when people realized the connection between the egg and spring. (Our chickens always lay many more eggs in spring, when the daylight hours are long, than in fall and winter). After the dark, cold, and death of winter, the egg symbolized rebirth or hope. Even then certain people used wax and natural dyes to decorate the eggs with meaningful symbols. There is also an old legend that says that every pisanki egg made will reinforce the chain that holds an old evil monster in the bowels of the earth.

Read more: Pisanki: An Ancient Art of Hope and Life