Blessing of the Easter Baskets

Święconka is the blessing of the Easter baskets and is one of the most enduring and beloved Polish traditions.
 
In Poland, the blessing of the baskets is  a practice dating to the 15th century or earlier.  Baskets containing a sampling of Easter foods are brought to church to be blessed on Holy Saturday. Traditionally, the basket is  lined with a white linen or lace napkin and decorated with sprigs of boxwood (bukszpan), the typical Easter evergreen. Poles take special pride in preparing a decorative and tasteful basket with crisp linens, occasionally embroidered for the occasion, and boxwood and ribbon woven through the handle. Observing the creativity of other parishioners is one of the special joys of the event.

The food items in the Easter basket, as well as at the Easter Sunday breakfast when the blessed food is eaten, have special significance. There is a special blessing for meat, egg, cake, and bread, so baskets will most likely include these ingredients.

• Bread (chleb),  is usually a braided chałka, representing life given by God.
• Easter bread (babka) is a round cake of rich, eggy yeast dough with raisins that is reminiscent of the risen Lord.
• Butter (masło) is one of the dairy products included to celebrate the end of Lent and the richness of our salvation. The butter is often shaped into a lamb, which is symbolic of the Paschal Lamb, and is known as a baranek.
• Colored eggs (pisanki), as well as uncolored hard-cooked eggs, indicate hope, new life, and Christ rising from his tomb.
• Ham (szynka), as well as other meats, symbolizes great joy and abundance in celebration of Christ's resurrection.
• Sausage links (kiełbasa) are symbolic of the chains of death that were broken when Jesus rose from the dead, as well as of God's generosity.
• Horseradish (chrzan) is a reminder of the bitterness and harshness of the Passion of Jesus, and the vinegar it is mixed with symbolizes the sour wine given to Jesus on the cross.
• Salt (sól) is present to add zest to life and preserve us from corruption.
• Sweets (słodycze) suggest the promise of eternal life or good things to come.

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