Written by: Lena Siedlecka, Oliwia Paul, Magdalena Sztaba, Kinga Paszek, Dawid Rejczyk -Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski Primary School in Sarzyna from Poland

Easter is one of the most important holidays in Poland so in our hometown we retain many well-known Polish Easter traditions and customs, e.g. the Tomb Guard,  Blessing the Basket, Wet Monday or Easter Sunday Breakfast. Yet, the way we celebrate some local traditions is unique.

One of the most interesting  Easter traditions is the Tomb Guard. It involves keeping guard at the Tomb of Jesus Christ. In Sarzyna, there are three male groups watching the Grave  – The Senior Soldiers (so called Rajtki which is an old form for riding breeches), The Romans, the Young Polish Soldiers and Mary’s Girls who pray at the Dungeon on Maundy Thursday and then at the Tomb from Good Friday until Easter.

On Holy Saturday we prepare Easter baskets filled with food for the Easter breakfast which symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus. In our hometown, Easter baskets are blessed by the priest in the church and along the streets. The parade of the priest accompanied by the Tomb Guard is going through the village on tractor or horse-drawn carriages.

Firecrackers wake us up early on Easter morning to announce the resurrection. The whole village goes to the church for the Mass after which families have festive Easter breakfast including sour rye soup. Families pay visits to relatives and children prepare for water fights.

            Wet Monday is a Polish Easter tradition that includes pouring water on each other. There used be a tradition of spraying water only on females which was foreshadowing soon-to-occur marriage. Nowadays, The Tomb Guard ride across the village to keep the tradition alive. So when in Poland on Easter Monday, beware if you don’t want to get soaked.