Easter in Poland and in the UK

In Poland, Easter is a time when families come together to celebrate and share traditional foods. The week before Easter Sunday is called Holy Week, and it is a time for reflection and prayer. On Holy Saturday, many people attend a special mass called the Blessing of the Easter Basket. This is where people bring baskets filled with traditional foods such as eggs, ham, bread, and cheese to be blessed by the priest. On Easter Sunday, families gather together for a big feast, which usually includes a variety of traditional dishes such as żurek (sour rye soup), roasted meats, and a delicious cake called babka. Children also enjoy hunting for Easter eggs, which are decorated and hidden around the house or garden.

In the UK, Easter is celebrated with many traditions such as egg hunts and the giving of Easter eggs. Many people also attend church services to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. On Good Friday, which is the Friday before Easter Sunday, there are often processions and reenactments of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Hot cross buns, which are sweet buns made with raisins and marked with a cross on top, are also a popular Easter treat in the UK.

Despite some differences in the specific customs and traditions, Easter is a time of great joy and celebration in both Poland and the UK. It is a time when families come together to enjoy good food and good company. Whether it's the Blessing of the Easter Basket in Poland or the egg hunts in the UK, the spirit of Easter is the same: a celebration of new beginnings and the hope of renewal.

Below you can find some differences in Easter customs between Poland and the UK:

1. Holy Week - In Poland, Holy Week is a time for reflection and prayer. In the UK, Holy Week is observed with services in churches, but it is not as widely celebrated as in Poland.

2. Easter baskets - In Poland, people bring baskets filled with traditional foods to be blessed by the priest on Holy Saturday. In the UK, Easter baskets are not a common tradition.

3. Traditional foods - In Poland, Easter meals often include żurek (sour rye soup), roasted meats, and babka cake. In the UK, traditional Easter foods include hot cross buns and roast lamb.

4. Easter eggs - In both countries, Easter eggs are a popular tradition, but they are decorated differently. In Poland, they are often painted with intricate designs, while in the UK, they are usually chocolate eggs.

5. Easter Monday - In Poland, it is traditional for boys and men to drench girls and women with water on Easter Monday, in a tradition known as Śmigus-Dyngus. In the UK, Easter Monday is a public holiday, but there are no specific customs or traditions associated with it.

Overall, while there are some similarities in Easter customs between Poland and the UK, there are also some notable differences.