The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

EASTER SATURDAY

THE UKRAINIANS BLESS BASKETS CONTAINING: A SPECIAL EASTER BREAD
"PASKA", MEAT, EGGS, CHEESE, BUTTER, SALT, HORSERADISH AND
SPECIALLY PAINTED EASTER EGGS, IN CHURCH ON EASTER SATURDAY, IN A
SPECIAL CEREMONY. A LIGHTED CANDLE IS PUT BY EACH BASKET.
(ORIGINALLY, AND IN SOME CHURCHES EVEN NOW, THE CEREMONY TOOK PLACE
BEFORE SUNRISE EASTER SUNDAY. WEATHER PERMITTING, THIS CEREMONY IS
PERFORMED OUTSIDE.)

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM ; SWIECZONKA

Date learned: 10-00-1970

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EASTER CUSTOM

A BASKET OF FOOD CONTAINING HARD-BOILED EGGS, KHOBASI, SALT, HOMEMADE
NUT OR/AND POPPYSEED CAKE, AND BREAD (HOMEMADE IF
POSSIBLE) IS TAKEN TO THE CHURCH ON HOLY SATURDAY TO BE BLESSED BY
THE PRIEST WITH HOLY WATER. THIS FOOD CANNOT BE EATEN UNTIL
EASTER SUNDAY MORNING. ALL OF THE FOOD MUST BE EATEN. IT CANNOT BE
THROWN AWAY.

Submitter comment: (1890'S)
INFORMANT'S PARENTS FOLLOWED THIS PRACTICE AND INFORMANT ALSO STILL
FOLLOWS IT.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH

Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM ; SWIECZONKA

Date learned: 10-02-1971

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POLISH EASTER CUSTOM

AT MASS ON EASTER SATURDAY EACH POLISH FAMILY BRINGS A BASKET OF FOOD
WITH THEM. INSIDE IS EVERYTHING THEY ARE PLANNING TO EAT ON EASTER
SUNDAY, BREAD, KILBASA, HAM, COLORED EGGS, BUTTER, SALT. THE FATHER
OF THE FAMILY BRINGS THIS BASKET TO ( THE ) ALTAR TO BE BLESSED.
AFTER MASS EACH FAMILY COLLECTS THEIR OWN AND LEAVES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS

Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM ; SWIECZONKA

Date learned: 11-22-1971

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EASTER CUSTOM ( HOLY SATURDAY )

ON HOLY SATURDAY, POLISH PEOPLE TAKE A BASKET OF FOOD TO THE CHURCH
TO BE BLESSED. THIS FOOD MUST INCLUDE SAUSAGE, BUTTER, EGGS, GARLIC,
SALT, FRESH BREAD AND CHEESE. THE PRIEST BLESSES THIS FOOD WHICH IS
THEN EATEN COLD FOR EASTER SUNDAY BREAKFAST.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): SWIECZONKA

Date learned: 10-15-1971

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EASTER BASKETS

IT IS CUSTOMARY FOR POLISH PEOPLE ON THE SATURDAY BEFORE
EASTER SUNDAY (HOLY SATURDAY) TO TAKE A BASKET OF FOOD TO A
NEARBY CHURCH TO HAVE IT BLESSED.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT KNOWS THIS THROUGH HER MOTHER WHO IMMIGRATED TO THE UNITED
STATES FROM POLAND. THE PRACTICE IS COMMON NOW TO THE POLISH PEOPLE
OF BOTH COUNTRIES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): SWIECZONKA

Date learned: 11-01-1971

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ON THE SATURDAY BEFORE EASTER SUNDAY, FOOD, USUALLY SAUSAGES, COLORED
EGGS, BREAD, CAKES, ETC., ARE TAKEN TO THE CHURCH IN GAILY DECORATED
BASKETS TO BE BLESSED. ON EASTER SUNDAY MORNING, AFTER THE
RESURRECTION MASS, THE FOOD WHICH WAS BLESSED THE PREVIOUS DAY IS
EATEN FOR BREAKFAST.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAID THAT SHE AND HER HUSBAND STILL PRACTICE THIS CUSTOM
ALTHOUGH IT IS ONLY ACKNOWLEDGED IN OLD POLISH-CATHOLIC PARISHES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM ; SWIECZONKA

Date learned: 11-07-1971

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POLISH EASTER CUSTOM

ON HOLY SATURDAY, MY BROTHERS AND I USUALLY ACCOMPANIED MY MOTHER TO
CHURCH. WE TOOK WITH US FOOD THAT WOULD BE EATEN ON EASTER SUNDAY.
NOT ALL OF THE FOOD WOULD BE TAKEN, OF COURSE, BUT MERELY
REPRESENTATIVE PORTIONS. OUR BASKET WOULD CONTAIN A FEW LINKS OF
KIELBASA, SOME SLICES OF HAM, SEVERAL BOILED EGGS, A PORTION OF A
COFFEE CAKE WHICH MY MOTHER BAKED ONLY AT CHRISTMAS AND EASTER,
( AND ) SOME POTATOES WHICH WERE TO BE USED IN THE POTATO SALAD. I
BELIEVE WE WENT TO CHURCH IN THE AFTERNOON, WHEN LENT WAS
OFFICIALLY ENDED AND THERE THE PRIEST WOULD WALK UP AND DOWN THE
AISLES AND BLESS THE EASTER BASKETS WITH HOLY WATER. SOME PARISHES
IN WHICH WE LIVED DID NOT PRACTICE THIS CUSTOM AND FOR MANY YEARS WE
DID NOT HAVE OUR FOOD BLESSED. NOW, MY PARISH, WHICH IS BY NO MEANS
COMPRISED OF A POLISH ETHNIC GROUP, HAS BEGUN THE PRACTICE. THE
PEOPLE IN OUR SUBURB ARE CLAIMING THAT THIS PARISH IS THE ONLY ONE
TO DO THIS AND ( THAT ) IT IS A ROSEVILLE CUSTOM, NOT RELATED
IN ANY WAY TO POLISH CUSTOMS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE

Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM ; SWIECZONKA ; WATER

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

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BLESSING OF FRUIT

EASTER SATURDAY ( , ) A POLISH FAMILY WOULD FILL A BASKET WITH FOOD,
ENOUGH FOR SUNDAY BREAKFAST, WHICH WOULD CONSIST OF BREAD; SALT;
MEATS, USUALLY HAM AND SAUSAGE; ( AND ) EGGS, HARD BOILED WITH NO
SHELLS. THIS BASKET WOULD BE TAKEN TO A CATHOLIC CHURCH AND BLESSED
BY A PRIEST. SUNDAY MORNING A WHITE BROTH WOULD BE MADE. THE FOOD
THAT WAS BLESSED IS CUT UP, AS MUCH AS EACH INDIVIDUAL WILL EAT, AND
THE WHITE BROTH WOULD BE POURED OVER IT. THIS BLESSED FOOD WAS NEVER
EATEN AFTER TWELVE NOON SUNDAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM ; SWIECZONKA

Date learned: 00-00-1968

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HOLY SATURDAY EVENT

EVERY HOLY SATURDAY WE TAKE A BASKET OF FOOD TO CHURCH TO BE BLESSED.
THIS BLESSED FOOD IS EATEN ON EASTER SUNDAY. THIS FOOD SYMBOLIZES
THE NEW LIFE OF EASTER AND IT IS CONTRASTED TO THE BITTER VINEGAR OUR
LORD RECEIVED ON GOOD FRIDAY.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED OF THE SYMBOLANCE ( SYMBOLISM ) FROM HER MOTHER.

Where learned: HOME ; WARREN ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Date learned: 08-00-1964

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POLISH CUSTOM

AT EASTER, THE MOTHER OF A POLISH FAMILY PREPARES A BASKET WHICH IS
FILLED WITH KIELBASA, EGGS, HAM, SWEETBREAD, SALT, PEPPER,
HORSERADISH AND BUTTER. (THE BUTTER IS USUALLY IN THE SHAPE OF A
PASCHAL LAMB.) SOMEONE FROM THE FAMILY TAKES THE BASKET TO CHURCH ON
HOLY SATURDAY TO HAVE IT BLESSED. THE FAMILY EATS THE FOOD, WHICH
IS COLD, FOR BREAKFAST ON EASTER SUNDAY. POLISH PARISHES CONTINUE
THE CUSTOM OF BLESSING THE PASCHAL FOOD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM ; SWIECZONKA

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

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POLISH RELIGIOUS CUSTOM SWIECZONKA--BLESSING OF FOOD

FOOD, CONSISTING OF FRESH SAUSAGE, HAM, SALT, PEPPER, COOKED EGGS,
CAKES, FANCY SWEETBREADS AND BREAD, ARE ( IS ) TAKEN TO CHURCH HOLY
SATURDAY MORNING AND THE PRIEST BLESSES EACH BASKET. PURPOSE OF THIS
CEREMONY IS TO HAVE THIS BLESSED FOOD EASTER SUNDAY TO BEGIN THE
PASCHAL SEASON WITH THE NEW RISEN CHRIST.

Where learned: OHIO ; Sylvania

Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM ; SWIECZONKA

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

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EASTER CUSTOMS

BASKETS FULL OF CANDY ARE PREPARE(D) THE DAY BEFORE EASTER AND ARE
TAKEN TO THE CHURCH TO BE BLESSED. A LITTLE PIECE OF EVERYTHING MUST
BE EATEN THAT DAY. ALSO, A LITTLE HORSERADISH MUST BE EATEN ON
EASTER.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM ; SWIECZONKA

Date learned: 11-00-1968

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EASTER CUSTOM

ON EASTER SATURDAY, IN OUR SLOVENIAN PARISH, BASKETS OF FOOD (HOME-
MADE BREAD, EASTER EGGS, SAUSAGE, HAM, POTICA--A TYPE OF NUTBREAD--)
ARE TAKEN TO THE CHURCH TO BE GIVEN A SPECIAL BLESSING. THIS FOOD
IS THEN EATEN FOR BREAKFAST ON EASTER SUNDAY, MONDAY, AND TUESDAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM ; SWIECZONKA

Date learned: 10-02-1967

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EASTER CUSTOM

ON THE DAY BEFORE EASTER, THE MOTHER OF EACH FAMILY TAKES A BASKET
CONTAINING THE FOOD SHE WILL SERVE ON EASTER TO THE CHURCH TO BE
BLESSED BY THE PRIEST. (USUALLY BETWEEN 12 AND 1:00 IN THE
AFTERNOON.)

Submitter comment: PRACTICED IN PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA ABOUT 1910.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM

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EASTER CUSTOM

ON HOLY SATURDAY OF EASTER WEEK, EACH FAMILY TAKES A BASKET OF FOOD
TO CHURCH TO BE BLESSED. ALL THE FOOD IS PRE-PREPARED: HARD BOILED
EGGS, BREAD, SAUSAGE, HAM, SALT AND PEPPER, BUTTER AND HORSERADISH.
THE NEXT MORNING, ALL OF THE BLESSED FOOD IS EATEN. THE FATHER
CHOPS UP THE EGG INTO AS MANY PIECES AS THERE ARE MEMBERS OF THE
FAMILY, AND DISTRIBUTES THEM TO BE EATEN.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): FAMILY UNITY ; FOOD CUSTOM ; SWIECZONKA

Date learned: 11-02-1969

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HOLY SATURDAY

A POLISH TRADITION, WHICH IS CELEBRATED ON HOLY SATURDAY, IS OBSERVED
DURING EASTER WEEK. ON THIS DAY THE ENTIRE FAMILY ABSTAINS FROM FOOD
UNTIL DINNER TIME, WHERE ( WHEN ) THE FAMILY IS SERVED A MODERATE
DINNER OF FISH AND POTATOES. AFTER DINNER THE FAMILY EATS A PIECE
OF ANGEL BREAD (A LIGHT WAFER), AND EXCHANGES A PIECE WITH EVERYONE
ELSE AT THE TABLE. THIS REPRESENTS THE NEW LIFE WHICH IS COMING ON
EASTER SUNDAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): FAMILY UNITY ; FOOD CUSTOM ; SYMBOL

Date learned: 03-17-1970

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CUSTOM

ON EASTER MORNING, WHEN THE CHURCH BELLS RING, THE MOTHERS BATHE
THEIR BABIES SO IF THEY ARE FRIGHTENED OF ANYTHING, THE FRIGHT WILL
BE WASHED AWAY.

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): bathing ; HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC ; WASHING ; WATER

Date learned: 11-11-1967

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EASTER CUSTOM

ON EASTER SUNDAY, POLISH VILLAGERS WOULD SPRINKLE EVERY ROOM IN THEIR
HOUSE WITH HOLY WATER--INCLUDING THE STABLE AND BARN--AS PROTECTION
FROM FIRE, LIGHTENING, OR OTHER MISFORTUNE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT STILL PRACTICES THIS CUSTOM IN HER HOME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): WATER

Date learned: 02-07-1971

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EASTER CUSTOM

THE NIGHT BEFORE EVERY EASTER, THE FAMILY WOULD TAKE A CLEAR GLASS
AND HOLD THE BOTTOM OF IT OVER A LIGHTED CANDLE TO DARKEN THE BOTTOM
OF THE GLASS (CALLED: SMOKING GLASS). EARLY EASTER MORNING THEY
WOULD TAKE THE GLASS AND LOOK THROUGH IT AT THE SUN, AND THE
SUN COULD BE SEEN "DANCING IN THE FORM OF A CROSS".
(THIS WAS SEEN BY ALL OF THE CRONIN FAMILY AND BY MR. JOHN
HARRINGTON.)

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 11-18-1970

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BELIEF OF EASTER

ON EASTER MORNING, AT 5:00 A.M., THE SUN WILL DANCE.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 02-18-1971

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