This is not only a time of reflection and spiritual revival, but also an opportunity to celebrate cultural wealth, which varies depending on the region. Check what traditions are related to this period in Silesia, Kujawy, Mazovia or Lesser Poland.
Easter traditions in Kurpie
Before we decide the baskets and paint the Easter eggs, Palm Sunday awaits us. In the Christian tradition, Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. It is worth spending this day at Kurpie. Although the custom of celebrating Palm Sunday is alive all over Poland, she is most celebrated in the village of Łyse in the Mazowieckie Voivodeship. Unique celebrations are attracted not only by the faithful from the region, but also in the curious from all over Poland. In fact, in the whole country on the last Sunday of Lent, we celebrate Easter palms, but the Kurpie ones are distinguished not only by bright colors, but above all large sizes. Their height ranges from 2 to even 6 meters. Also, their method of execution is different than in the case of a typical Polish palm. They are formed on the basis of a trunk of a cut tree – hazel or pine. Then they are paid with a fork, blueberry or flowers, freely dried or made of paper. Forest vegetation as well as flowers made of tissue paper and paper ribbons are used to decorate Easter Kurpie Easter. From 1969, Palm Sunday celebrations have been accompanied by a competition for the most beautiful Kurpie palm. The awarded works are usually in Łysych, where they are exhibited in both churches – old wood and new brick. Both individuals and entire classes from nearby schools take part in the competition. The record number of Easter palms was submitted to the competition in 2012. The jury then evaluated them as many as 250. Every year several palm trees are not qualified for the competition. The reason is usually a decoration incompatible with tradition, for example the use of grain. A must -have element of traditional Kurpie palms were lively green elements, such as blueberries. Unfortunately, these are less and less often used for decorating twigs. It happens that before Palm Sunday in the forests there is no greenery yet, which makes participants easier to get paper or tissue paper than vegetation.
Easter traditions and customs in Silesia
Palm Sunday begins Easter in Silesia. Similarly to Kashubia, some still cultivate the traditions of swallowing balls dedicated to baza, which are to protect against diseases and sore throat. Farmers with a cross with Palemek make a cross and stick to the ground on Holy Thursday. This is to protect the fields from drought or flood. During the holidays, you must not do any work in the field – then the crops will be fertile. The Silesians are extremely restrictively approaching the exact post on Good Friday – they should not watch television and listen to the radio!
Easter traditions in Lesser Poland. Emmaus, Sleeve and Siuda Baba
In Lesser Poland and in Krakow, there is a lot of customs and Easter traditions to this day, some reach the Middle Ages! Emmaus takes place on Easter Monday. The indulgence takes place at the Krakow Salwator at the monastery of the Norbertine Sisters and the church. Saint. Norbert. It is a tradition from the 16th century, which refers to Jesus’ journey to Emmaus (it was the Risen Emmaus of the Risen for the first time by the disciples). By the way of indulgence, there are stalls with toys, sweets and gingerbread hearts. Tuesday after Christmas is a time of playing on the sleeves, i.e. an indulgence on the Krak mound. Legend has it that the mound was made of the ground worn by people in the sleeves. In the 17th century, rich townspeople from the top of the Krak Mound dropped coins, sweets, fruit, eggs. At the foot of the hill, poor, frogs and children were waiting for these gifts. Today, a medieval festival takes place on the Krak Mound and the nearby Lasota hill. At night from Easter Sunday, Siuda Baba overlaps the inhabitants. Black from soot, because she was not allowed to wash throughout the year of guarding the fire. According to passes in the village of Lednica Góra near Wieliczka, there was a temple of the goddess Ledy. In her honor, an eternal fire was burning, which the priestess guarded. She set off once a year – she was looking for a successor. The chosen maiden, which could not be bought, had to watch fire until the next spring.
Easter traditions and customs in Kujawy. Killing the soup
According to Easter tradition, boys with clay vessels for earning Żuru gathered on Holy Thursday evening. The habit of killing the soup began. It was a sign that the post is slowly ending. The bachelors broke the pot with contents on the threshold of the house in which the lady was on the release. On Good Friday at dawn, the hostess raised the feathers and whipped sleeping houses with willow or birch branches, saying that it was “God’s wounds”. Śmigus-dyngus is a tradition of Easter Monday. The boys walked from home to house, whipping the girls with willow or birch branches or pouring water. The next day there was a rematch – the ladies poured in the bachelors.
Easter traditions and customs in Mazovia. Barabanie in Iłża
In Mazovia, as in Lesser Poland, there are plenty of traditions and Easter customs. From Kurpie Palm in Łysych after Barabanie in Iłża near Radom. If Palm Sunday, then on Kurpie. From 1969, the celebrations have been accompanied by a competition for the most beautiful palm. Kurpie is primarily characterized by size. Their height starts from 2 meters. They are formed on the basis of a trunk of a cut tree – hazel or pine, and forest vegetation as well as flowers and ribbons of paper are used to decorate. Another tradition from Mazovia is the loudest mass of the year. In Iłża near Radom, the Resurrection is celebrated on Saturday to Sunday at night. From midnight to 6 am, the sound of baraban is heard. Ten men hit baraban and pass through the whole city to announce that Christ has been risen. Baraban is a huge Turkish drum used by Janczarskie regiments and branches of the former Polish troops. The copper boiler from the 17th century is removed once a year from the treasury of the parish of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
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