WHAT IS DYNGUS DAY? “DYNGUS DAY” is historically a Polish tradition which celebrates the end of the often restrictive observance of lent and the joy of Easter. A special celebration held the Monday after Easter, a day of feasting, drinking, playing pranks and merrymaking. The traditions of Dyngus Day predate Christianity, in Poland, by hundreds of years and are derived from pagan celebrations welcoming the spring. Young men would signal their amorous intentions to young women by dousing them with water. In one interpretation of this tradition, the young man…
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The Polish Easter Basket
Polish Easter Basket Maslo (Butter) – This dairy product is often shaped into a lamb (Baranek Wielkanocny) or a cross. This reminds us of the good will of Christ that we should have towards all things. Babka (Easter Bread) – A round or long loaf topped with a cross or a fish, symbolic of Jesus, who is the Bread of Life. Chrzan (Horseradish) – Symbolic of the Passion of Christ still in our minds. Jajka (Eggs) and Pisanki (decorated with symbols of Easter, of life, of prosperity) – Indicates new…
Read MoreSwieconka
The blessing of the Easter food, or the “Swieconka” is a tradition dear to the heart of every Pole. Being deeply religious, he is grateful to God for all His gifts of both nature and grace, and, as a token of this gratitude, has the food of his table sanctified with the hope that spring, the season of the Resurrection, will also be blessed by God’s goodness and mercy. Traditions vary from village to village and family to family. They have changed and evolved with each passing generation. Traditionally the…
Read MoreEaster Pisanki
Pisanki are eggs which are decorated by writing on them. They can be divided into two main techniques; “batykowane” and “scrobane”. Batykowane employs the use of a stylus and wax to draw on the eggs which are then placed in colored dyes. Skrobane uses an egg which is first dyed a solid color and then the decoration is scraped or scratched into the shell. There are three main motifs which are used in the decorating of pisanki. They are geometric, such as dots, triangles, and crosses, floral, such as flowers,…
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The Polish Christmas Eve
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