Święconka (pronounced[ɕfjɛnˈt͡sɔnka]ⓘ), meaning "the blessing of the Easter baskets", is one of the most enduring and belovedPolish traditions onHoly Saturday duringEaster. With roots dating back to the early history ofPoland, it is also observed by expatriate and their descendantsPoles in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden and other Polish communities in the world.
The tradition of food blessing at Easter, which has early-medieval roots in Christian society.[1][2] The tradition is said to date from the 7th century in its basic form, the more modern form containing bread and eggs (symbols of resurrection and Christ) are said to date from the 12th century.[3]
Baskets containing a sampling of Easter foods are brought to church to be blessed on Holy Saturday. The basket is traditionally lined with a whitelinen orlace napkin and decorated with sprigs ofboxwood (bukszpan), the typical Easter evergreen and/or bazie/kotki willow branches. Poles take special care in preparing a beautiful, decorative and tasteful basket with crisp white linens or lace occasionally embroidered for the occasion, and boxwood and ribbon sometimes woven through the handle. Observing the creativity of other parishioners is one of the special joys of the event. Tradition of blessed Easter basket in Poland is very important part of Easter in Poland. They also involve love of beauty, aesthetics and creativity of the Polish people.
While in some older or rural communities, the priest visits the home to bless the foods, the vast majority of Poles andPolish Americans visit the church on Holy Saturday, praying at the Tomb of the Lord (the fourteenth and finalStation of the Cross). The Blessing of the Food is, however, a festive occasion. The three-part blessing prayers specifically address the various contents of the baskets, with special prayers for the meats, eggs, cakes and breads. The priest or deacon then sprinkles the individual baskets withholy water.[4]
More traditional Polish churches use a straw brush foraspersing the water; others use the more modern metal holy water sprinkling wand. In some parishes, the baskets are lined up on long tables; in others, parishioners process to the front of the altar carrying their baskets, as if in a Communion line. Older generations of Polish Americans, descended from early 19th-century immigrants, tend to bless whole meal quantities, often brought to church halls or cafeterias in large hampers and picnic baskets.
The foods in the baskets have a symbolic meaning:
The food blessed in the church remains untouched according to local traditions until Sunday morning.
