Shrove TuesdayThe first day connected with Easter is

Shrove Tuesday. Traditionally in English – speaking countries, on this day people eat

pancakes and organise pancake competitions. In Poland, people eat

herrings prepared in many different ways. It is the last day for some fun before Lent

begins.

Ash WednesdayAsh Wednesday is the first day of forty-

day period of Lent – time of fasting, prayer and penance in preparation for

Easter Sunday. In Poland, people attend church services, where priests

put ash on people’s foreheads to remind them that they too will become ash in the end. The ashes come from palm branches used on Palm Sunday

the previous year.

Palm SundayHoly Week begins with a celebration to

commemorate Christ’s ride into Jerusalem, where people greeted Him with palm branches. In Poland, people

bring palm branches to church services, where they are blesses by the priest.

Maundy ThursdayIn Poland, people go to confession in order to take Communion at Easter.

They also attend special services held on this day to commemorate the Last

Supper.

Good FridayPeople attend special church service to

commemorate Christ’s death on the cross. On that day, people fast – meat

products are forbidden and they should have only one satisfying meal that day.

Easter EveThis is the day when Christ lay in the tomb and is time of awaiting His Resurrection. On that day,

Polish people take food to church to have it blessed. They bring the food in baskets, which are filled with hard-boiled dyed eggs – the symbol of new life, ham, sausages, salt and bread. The blessed food is served as part of the traditional Easter breakfast the next

day.

Easter SundayOn that day, we celebrate Christ’s

Resurrection. People attend special religious celebration on church early in the morning. Then, families gather for Easter breakfast, which traditionally consists of hard-boiled eggs, ham and

sausages. Families spend the time together eating, relaxing in the open air

and meeting their relatives.

Easter Monday

People continue celebrating Christ’s Resurrection as it is a day off work and school in Poland. It is a

tradition in our country to sprinkle water on family members and friends.

Easter