Polish Easter

"The worst part is when you're almost done and you hear the dreaded 'crack'!" Suddenly, with a muttered curse, a beautiful Easter tradition turns into just another hardboiled egg for lunch.

For many Polish households, the beginning of spring starts with pisanki, the dyed and decorated Easter egg of Poland. Numerous techniques are used to naturally dye eggs, from flower petals to vegetables rind. And when scraped with a knife, the bright white layer of the egg below the dye is revealed.

Once decorated, pisanki are placed in Easter baskets along with, kielbasa (sausage), babka (polish cake), cwikla z chrzanem (beetroot and horseradish salad), chleb (bread) and other traditional Polish foods. The feast is carefully arranged for a swieconka, or blessing. These creations are taken to the church on Holy Easter Saturday. Hundreds of baskets overflow tables, and people wait solemnly for the priest's arrival to perform the blessing.

After a short ceremony, smiles return and visits to friend's baskets are made. The inspection of other pisanki begin. Egg trades are made. Wishes of happiness and healthy new beginnings are given. Saturdays swieconka is finally concludes the next morning with an elaborate Easter Sunday breakfast.

Creating a temporary work of art is beautiful. Each year I try to honor the traditions of my heritage, so I grumble resigned mutterings with the "cracks" I create, and I eat a lot more eggs than necessary!

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[barbtylor]

Piekne!!!!

[qwasi25]

I hope you kids speak Polish

[JCSCougar]

@picolo99100 my Babcia in up state New York has my sister and I dye the eggs a certain color and we don't scratch the egg for styling it but I am going to do that before I chow down on the eggs, babka, red cabbage, kielbasa. My Babcia's family is all from Zolynia, Poland if you are wondering where my Polish heritage roots are from. Wesołych Świąt dla wszystkich (Happy Easter to all).

[picolo99100]

I like this polish tradition. I will try tomorrow to make a nice eggs ;) The Wzselaki Family is very special = I love you xoxo Have Happy Easter

[picolo99100]

I like this polish tradition. I will try tomorrow to make a nice eggs ;) The Wzselaki Family is very special = I love you xoxo