The most colourful religious feast before Easter is Palm Sunday, celebrated in churches across the country to commemorate Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The main attribute associated with that day are the palms. Despite the name, they hardly resemble the real palm branches with which Jesus was greeted in the Holy City. Typically, they are bouquets of common box, dried flowers and willow twigs. Some regions are noted for particularly impressive palms, several metres high and decorated with coloured ribbons, dyed grasses, dried or artificial flowers.

On Holy Saturday people bring baskets of their Easter fare to church for a special blessing for all the different Easter foods. Bread, ensuring good fortune, is in Christianity first and foremost a symbol of Christ's body. Eggs stands for re-birth, life's victory over death. Salt is a life-giving mineral, once believed to keep away all evil. Smoked meat ensures health, fertility and abundance. Cheese represents friendship between man and nature. Horseradish is a symbol of strength and physical fitness. Cake (usually an Easter pound cake, round wheat cake) was the last item to appear in the Easter basket and it symbolizes skills and perfection. Tradition has it that the cake should be home-made. Nowadays some people also have chocolate and tropical fruits in their Easter baskets. This custom developed during the Communist period, when chocolate and imported fruit were rarities.

 

If you are planning a visit to Poland, check these useful links:

- hotels: www.hotel-in-poland.eu, www.polish-hotel.eu
- database of all kinds of objects, from agrotourism to hotels and inns: www.relax.pl
- where to go, what to see…: www.polish-holiday.eu

- some beautiful places in Poland: Sianow (www.sianow.eu), Bielkowo (www.bielkowo.eu)
- tips for travelers: Tips (www.travel-tips.eu), Stories (www.travel-stories.eu), Guide Books (www.guide-books.eu)

 

Other interesting websites: