Poland

 

Easter DAY

 

In Poland we celebrate Easter at the beginning of April or at the end of March. Easter is the most important holiday in the whole year. It is also very solemn.

At six a.m. is the most important mass in church. It’s called Resurrection. There w e sing psalms about Jesus. When we come back home, it is necessary to say ‘Christ rose from the dead’. The answer is ‘He truly did’.

In the morning we have breakfast with our families. First, we share with pieces of eggs, wish the best and sit at the table. There should be bread, eggs, white sausages, brioches, horseradish, white borsch, salad, grilled meat and many more. At the table there are coloured eggs and sugar lamb.

I like Easter because I can meet with my family. Tasty meals and nice atmosphere is what I like most.

Paul, 11

Polish Easter traditions

 

Before Easter we have a long term called Lent. The day before Lent is called "Ostatki". That day every woman bakes doughnuts or other cakes. Next day is Ash Wednesday. We go to church and priest puts some ash on our head.

Then there is Lent. You can’t dance or sing very loud. Every Friday you shouldn’t eat meat. Seven days before Easter is Palm Sunday. We buy a palm and go to church. In the country many people make their own palms. There is always a competition for the longest palm. Some of them are many metres long!

The most solemn days before Easter are from Thursday to Sunday.

A day before Easter we go to church with baskets full of food. There should be a piece of bread, meat, eggs, pepper, salt, horseradish, cake. When you come back, you can eat everything. Now you now why so many people go there in the very early morning?…

Maggy,12

 

What after Easter?

 

The next day, Monday is also a holiday in Poland. Everyone takes some water and tries to pour it on someone. Some young people take buckets or bags with water and make people all wet. It is not very pleasant, of course. Some of them use perfume (I hate it!).

In the country this tradition called "Śmigus-dyngus". Young people go from house to house like carol singers and people give them food (eggs, sausages, cakes). Country girls wait to be poured with water. It brings luck if you’re wet on that day!

Dorothy, 11

        


Constitution Day in Poland

 

Polish Constitution is one of the oldest in the world. It was signed on 3rd May 1791. Although there were many constitutions after that, this one is the most important in our life. This is the painting that shows the moment after signing the act :

 

 

Every year, the third of May is a very big and solemn holiday in Poland. There is a mass in church and then there are parades, concerts and competitions for children. You can hear music all day: first, it is an orchestra and in the evenings- concerts for young people.

If the weather is fine, it is a really pleasant day for everyone. Families go on picnics or visit their relatives.

Class 5a