I was 21 years old when I saw my first Holy Saturday Easter basket blessing; and, it was my Croatian father-in-law who introduced me to this Catholic tradition that I have grown to love. My mom is Irish, and my dad is Portuguese, Hawaiian, and Chinese and with that blend of ethnicity, I had no reason to have known, seen, or experienced this time-honored Catholic tradition.
This tradition arose in the Eastern European Slavic countries with its roots dating back to the twelfth century in Poland. Today, it is celebrated widely throughout Europe and even here in the United States. That being said, it is most well-known and celebrated by Eastern Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians, including Czechs, Croatians, Hungarians, Lithuanians, Russians, Slovaks and Ukrainians.
Traditionally, Catholics and Orthodox fast during Lent and while it has varied over the centuries, meats, dairy products, and sweets were commonly forgone during the Lenten fast. The fast ended after the Easter Mass and so basket items were typically shared over Easter breakfast or brunch.
The items that are placed in the basket vary according to region and family preference. However extravagant or simple, the baskets were prepared with samples of food steeped in symbolic meaning. Many places like to place ham in their baskets (Praise God for Peter’s vision at Joppa, Acts 10:9-16) while some Croatians and Slovenes prefer lamb, or western Slovaks might place a veal loaf or a yeast bread made with veal in their baskets. Regions known for their wine like Hungary would place bottles of their best vintage and still others like to add green vegetables. The Balkan countries like Serbia, Bosnia, Bulgaria and some others exchange eggs on Easter morning rather than have a basket of blessed food. While each region has its own traditions some of the practices are universal like eggs, butter, and sweets.
Decorating the Easter Basket
It isn’t just the food in the basket that was collected and prepared with great care but how the basket was decorated too. The basket is typically decorated with bright colored ribbons, flowers, or even colored-paper decorations provided by the children. The basket is usually lined with an embroidered cloth and then once the food is placed in it, it is covered with a white linen cloth decorated with signs and symbols for the risen Lord symbolizing the shroud that covered our Lord.
Fun Fact: In Poland, large wooden bowls and even dresser drawers were used since the size reflected your standing in the community.
Basket Contents
Not only are the foods symbolic but traditionally, there are blessings for each type of foods.
- Bacon: with all its fattiness is a symbol of the abundance of God’s mercy and generosity (Remember Joppa!)
- Bread: is usually a braided chałka, representing the rod held by Moses that delivered the Israelites through the Red Sea.
- Bread, Easter: is a round cake of rich, eggy yeast dough with raisins that is reminiscent of the risen Lord
- Butter: and other dairy products are included to celebrate the end of Lent and the richness of our salvation; reminds us of the goodness of Christ that we should have toward all thing. The butter is often shaped into a lamb, which is symbolic of the Paschal Lamb
- Candles: symbolize Jesus, the “light of the world,” and can be lit when the priest blesses the baskets of food
- Cheese: is a symbol to remind Christians of moderation
- Eggs: symbolizing hope, new life and Christ’s Resurrection from the tomb are sometimes plain, colored or maybe even the decorated Ukrainian pysanky
- Ham, Lamb or Veal: are symbolic of great joy and abundance in Christ’s Resurrection
- Horseradish: are symbolic of the bitterness and harshness of the Passion of Christ; the vinegar it is mixed with symbolizing the sour wine given to Jesus on the cross but sweetened with some sugar because of the Resurrection. This may be white or pink with grated red beets
- Olive Oil: is symbolic of healing, hope, peace,
- Pepper: is also symbolic of the Passion of Christ and the bitter herbs
- Kielbassa/Sausage: and its links are symbolic of the chains of death that were broken when Jesus rose from the dead, as well as God’s favor and generosity
- Salt: is symbolic of purification, prosperity and justice; preserves us from corruption. Jesus used its symbolism: “You are the salt of the earth”
- Sweets: point us to the promise of eternal life. It’s not just candy but includes fruits, poppy seed and nut rolls, or pastry items
By Deacon Marques Silva