Traditional Blessing of the Easter Food Basket will take place on Saturday before Easter,
March 30th, 2024 at the University Catholic center at 1 pm.
Święconka meaning “the blessing of the Easter baskets”, is one of the most enduring and beloved Polish traditions on Holy Saturday during Easter.
Baskets containing a sampling of Easter foods are brought to church to be blessed on Holy Saturday. The basket is traditionally lined with a white linen or lace napkin and decorated with sprigs of boxwood (bukszpan), the typical Easter evergreen. Poles take special pride in preparing a decorative and tasteful basket with crisp linens, occasionally embroidered for the occasion, and boxwood and ribbon woven through the handle. Observing the creativity of other parishioners is one of the special joys of the event.
The foods in the baskets have a symbolic meaning:
- eggs – symbolize life and Christ’s resurrection
- bread – symbolic of Jesus
- Butter – is one of the dairy products included to celebrate the end of Lent and the richness of our salvation. The butter is often shaped into a lamb, which is symbolic of the Paschal Lamb, and is known as a baranek. It can also be made of sugar, when it is known as baranek cukrowy wielkanocny.
- lamb – represents Christ
- salt – represents purification
- horseradish – symbolic of the bitter sacrifice of Christ
- ham – symbolic of great joy and abundance.
WHAT: Blessing of the Easter Food Baskets
WHEN: Saturday, March 30th, 2024, at 1 pm
WHERE: University Catholic Center, 2010 University Ave, Austin, TX 78705
