Blessing of Easter Food

Significance:

The blessing is a way to ask God's blessing on the foods that will be consumed during the Easter meal, which marks the end of the 40-day Lent fast.

Symbolic Foods:

•Eggs: Represent life, fertility, and Christ's resurrection.

•Bread: Symbolizes Jesus as the "Bread of Life".

•Easter bread: A round loaf, often with raisins, is a special Easter treat.

•Lamb (butter): Represents Christ as the "Lamb of God".

•Salt: Represents purification.

•Horseradish: Symbolizes the bitter sacrifice of Christ.

•Ham: Symbolic of great joy and abundance.

•Kielbasa/Sausage/: Symbolic of God's mercy.

•Basket Decorations:

The basket is often lined with an embroidered cloth or traditional folk fabric and covered with a white linen cloth, representing the shroud of Christ. It can also be decorated with sprigs of boxwood or Polish "palms".

•Blessing Ceremony:

On Holy Saturday, families bring their baskets to church, where a priest blesses the food with prayers and holy water.