A Traditional Polish Easter Basket

I made this traditional Polish Easter basket for a friend.  I hope she has lots of fun with it.
I decorated a basket with moss, twigs and boxwood.  Boxwood is a traditional evergreen used on Polish Easter baskets.

I wrapped one of the paskas I showed yesterday and placed it right down in the middle.

I added twice smoked kielbasa, Polish farmer's cheese, butter, horseradish, polish candies and decorated eggs.  The butter is usually shaped like a lamb or a cross but the market had not received their Easter order yet so I just bought a tub of regular Polish butter.

A Polish Easter card and directions for how to celebrate Easter, Polish style.

Here is a list of what goes into a traditional Polish Easter basket:

Maslo (butter)  Symbolizes the good will of Christ which all Christians should have towards each other.

Paska (bread) Symbolizes Jesus as the bread of life.

Chrzan (horseradish)  Symbolizes the Passion of Christ

Pizanki (decorated eggs) These are decorated with Polish designs. Symbolizing new life and the ressurection from the tomb.

Kielbasa (sausage)  Gods favor and generosity.

Sol (salt)  Prosperity and justice.  People are the flavor of the earth.

Ser (cheese)  Symbolizes moderation which all Christians should practice.

Candle   Christ is the light of the world.

Palms  These are decorated and paraded around by everyone on Easter and Palm Sunday.

Linen Cover   Used to cover the basket when it is taken to the church for the priest's blessing.

I bought this cover locally at a Polish store.  I think this is actually polyester though traditional ones were made of linen and hand embroidered by each family.  I think I would rather have a basket like this than one just filled with Easter candy!

Comments

brokenteepee said…
You are going to make me cry. My grandmother would make these every year. And bake the bread with the hard boiled eggs in it. And the chrischiki *sigh*
Why do I never get such wonderful gifts?
Leanne said…
lovely tradition. I bet your friend will be thrilled.
Anonymous said…
What a fine basket!

I don't think we've had the tradition of easter baskets here, perhaps back in the days when the rich people went out to give the poor ones something nice to eat ar actually something to eat at all. But I think that mostly happened during Christmas.

We give children big eater eggs made from papier mache I think filled with candy but we grown ups have to buy our own if we want one :-) :-)

Have a great day!
Christer.
Anonymous said…
that is such a beautiful gift, honestly Joyce you have a heart as big as Texas, to take the time an the thought to put together such a wonderful gift you truly are an inspiration , and I know you would rather have this than candy, the sausage an mustard gal you are!!!
TARYTERRE said…
That is so wonderful. Really beautiful and a lovely gesture.
Mama L said…
That is an awesome basket, my Grammy was Polish. I miss her so much, thanks for the share and the breakdown of what it all means....really nice to have the background on the items in the basket. Blessings
Guillaume said…
Easter is coming, it is time to prepare for it.
Mary Ann said…
That is so very beautiful, we grew up with many Polish families in Kansas City, Kansas... it's good to see someone carrying on the old traditions.
Barb said…
What a wonderful tradition. Thanks for sharing!
Nellie said…
How amazing! What a lucky friend! I enjoyed reading what each item symbolizes.
Like it? She will go nuts with all those goodies in it. It's an adventure all it's own. I like that tradition better than ours with the candy...but were I a child..maybe not! LOL
Hugs to you, Joyce! :)
Mona
thewiildmagnola said…
I would much prefer a traditional basket of one culture.....a meaning way to celebrate Easter.

Good job and good fun in the making.
luckybunny said…
That is so awesome!
Carole said…
Hi, this would be a great contribution to Food on Friday: Easter Foods over at Carole's Chatter. Please do bring it over. Cheers