Poland looks forward to Easter holidays

Continuation

Holy Saturday (Wielka Sobota) is the main day of preparation before the celebration of Easter. On this day people bring to church for sprinkling with holy water the pussy-willow branches, willows or palm trees, and small baskets (Swieconka) with traditional painted eggs, horseradish, salt, pepper, sausages and ham. Painting and consecration of eggs are one of the most important symbols of Easter and are the symbols of life and rebirth. The custom of painting eggs in Poland is one of the essential symbols of Palm Sunday. For painting are traditionally used only natural paints - onion peel, birch leaves, beet and blueberry juice, turmeric, nutshells, tea, leaves of red cabbage, nettle and spinach. Painted in the traditional way in one color eggs are called kraszanki or malowanki, engraved with pictures are skrobanki or rysowanki. Decorated with various patterns and designs and painted using various technologies eggs are called pisanki and often in Poland and Belarus are the objects of decorative art.

Sunday morning traditionally begins with humorous "quilting" of each other with consecrated pussy-willow braches, willow or raspberry decorated with flowers, leaves and ribbons. Since on this day it is not allowed to burn the stove and cook, then the Easter dishes are served cold. On the table there are certainly consecrated in the church kraszanki, salt, horseradish, cold beef, pork coils of sausages, ham and numerous yeast cakes, including traditional paska. An original Polish ritual is rolling of eggs and "bitki" game. The obligatory tradition is good Easter wishes and ritual sharing with kraszanki with relatives and friends, which are eaten with a little amount of consecrated salt and a piece of bread. Pies are also a compulsory component of the Easter breakfast. Numerous Polish Easter cakes, magnificent mazurki with marzipan, chocolate, orange peel, figs, almonds, apples and raisins, as well as the famous babki and miniature babeczki, fragrant makowcy and the most tender cheese curd tarts serniks complete the celebratory meal.

Easter Monday (Poniedziałek Wielkanocny, Oblewanką, Polewanką) completes the Easter celebration. Monday ritual of pouring water on each other, Dyngus-smigus, is a famous Polish tradition rooted in the pagan past and symbolizes purification of the soul from dirt, sin and body diseases.

The majority of Polish cities, blossoming with the first spring flowers, are especially beautiful during the Easter holidays. Travelers wishing to experience the traditions of Easter must remember that Easter season is traditionally in a very Catholic Poland are festive and most museums are closed. It is also recommended to take care of an apartment or a hotel room in advance.