Celebrating Easter

I have already written about Easter, a year ago.

Both Christmas and Easter are also celebrated by people who just think it's a chance for a family meeting. For them, it's not really connected with religion. Everybody has free time during those celebrations - Easter Sunday and Easter Monday (Wet Monday) are national holidays.

Lent

In the past during Lent people didn't eat meat or fat food. There were other kinds of sweets too. And no partying. Nowadays fasting is a person's choice. One can choose to stop drinking alcohol for 40 days, another to stop eating sweets.

Continue reading about food... and media and shops during Easter.

Food

The most celebrated part of Easter is definitely the Sunday morning. After a mass (or no) there is the breakfast, that could become lunch or dinner. Yup, we could spend hours sitting by the table, eating and chatting with family, There is an abundance of food because traditionally the Sunday breakfast came after 40 days of fasting.

Sunday breakfast is a hell for vegetarians (meat) or vegans (eggs).

There is a superstition that you shouldn't eat święconka (see earlier post) after sunset because; you will go blind, you will have ants at home or for another reason depending on the region.

Meat

The meat most associated with Easter is probably biała kiełbasa (white sausage). It can be made of just pork or pork and beef. It's often eaten as a part of żurek - sour rye soup (along with eggs).

There is a lot of pork on the table. There are eaten (when cold) baked hams made from pork parts like schab or boczek.

Pasztet can be made from a mix of several different kinds of meat (including beef or pork). There are recipes for pasztet without meat, but if that would be a case, there would be a clear information added.

Eggs

Eggs are symbol of life, and since associated with Easter symbolism, there is a lot of them on the tables.

You share a piece of egg with family (or friends/colleagues) and wish each other all the best.

Eggs are a part of święconka, the most decorative part of it. There are various types of decorations, depending on the region. The easiest way to colour the eggs is to boil them in water with onion skin.

You can eat boiled eggs, eggs with filling, eggs in salads. Eggs are part of mayonnaise that is added to salad and part of traditional cakes - babka or mazurek.

Nowadays you can also find vegetarian/vegan recipes for some of the dishes and catering.

Media

The closer to Easter, the more Easted-related things appear in media. Interviews with Catholic priests or celebrities. Articles on Jesus and his crucifixion, Easter customs (how it was traditionally done in Poland, or how it's around the world). Tips on Easter decorations and Easter recipes. Jesus/religion related films or TV series. Reports from Vatican (like Stations of the Cross).

TV channels during Easter holidays air also various films like Marley & Me, Shrek, Eat, Love and Pray, The Green Mile. After all, people have more time during Easter (two officially free days) and can... watch TV more. ;) The weather in April is unpredictable, it could be even snowing for Easter... so a walk outside is not a given. I did go for a walk on Easter Sunday and during it the weather was sunny, cloudy, rainy and haily. It wasn't that bad, I didn't have to take cover, but still...

Shopping

The shops have Easter decorations. Most common are probably eggs and chickens. There is a trend from Germany to include rabbits.

There are special schedules for shops before Easter holiday. The shops can be either opened longer or closed earlier, depending on the products/services offered. Most often shopping malls (grocery shop chains) will work longer hours until Friday. On Saturday they will be working shorter. On Sunday and Monday shopping malls will be closed.

Only gas stations, some pharmacies or small grocery shops (if the owner will decide to sell things by herself/himself) can be open during national holidays.


How is Easter celebrated in your country/region?