The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

EASTER CELEBRATION

ON EASTER MORNING, FOLLOWING RESURRECTION SERVICES, EACH FAMILY WOULD
BRING A BASKET TO BE BLESSED BY A PRIEST. THE BASKETS WOULD USUALLY CONTAIN
A PASKA, A RICH ROUND BREAD WITH DOUGH ORNAMENTS, SEVERAL HARD BOILED COLORFUL
KRASHANKY (SOLID COLOR EGGS), ONE OR TWO PYSANKY, HAM, SAUSAGE, CHEESE, SMALL
CONTAINERS OF BUTTER, SALT, AND GRATED HORSERADISH. COVERING THE BASKET WOULD
BE MOTHER'S MOST BEAUTIFUL EMBROIDERED CLOTH. THE CLOTH WAS SET ASIDE AND THE
CANDLE IN EACH BASKET WAS LIT TO SIGNIFY NEW LIFE. THE PRIEST WOULD THEN SPRINKLE
HOLY WATER ON THE ARRAY OF FOODS. THIS FOOD WOULD LATER BE EATEN AS PART OF THE EASTER DINNER.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT HAS PASSED THIS CUSTOM DOWN TO COLLECTOR.
COLLECTOR HAS KNOWN THIS CUSTOM SINCE THE BEGINNING OF HIS CHILDHOOD.
THIS CUSTOM STARTED IN THE UKRAINE AND CAME TO THIS COUNTRY WITH THE
IMMIGRANTS. THERE IS A SPLIT BETWEEN WHAT DAY THE BASKET IS TO BE BLESSED.
FOR SOME IT IS ON SUNDAY, AS IT WAS IN THE OLD COUNTRY. BUT MORE CHURCHES
ARE BLESSING BASKETS ON HOLY SATURDAY EVE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Date learned: 11-30-1977