Traditional Blessing of Easter Food on Holy Saturday

The Tradition!  … what’s it all about?

When many of our Eastern European Ancestors came to this country a century ago, they brought with them some beautiful traditions which added a particular beauty to the Easter Holydays.  Among the most popular is the Traditional Blessing of the Foods that would be eaten on Easter morning.  After a strict Lenten fast and abstinence, specially prepared foods were made in advance for the blessing.  A family basket would be filled with these foods and then covered with a crocheted cloth. Often the cloth had an Easter emblem or the words ‘Christ is Risen’ crocheted on it.

Each of these foods had a special significance.  It sounds much like the special foods which our Jewish brothers and sisters use in the celebration of their Seder Meal.  Remember, the basket does not contain ALL the food you will eat on Easter Sunday…just a symbolic portion.  Below is a list of the traditional foods.

EASTER EGGS!  Of course!  Brightly colored, seasonal representations of the New Life that Jesus gave us in His Resurrection.

BABKA…a sweet, rich, yeast bread.  It is usually round and has a golden crust.  Often it has a cross of dough on the top surrounded by braids which can represent the crown of thorns.

OTHER BREADS…nut roll, poppy seed roll. Whatever Easter baked delights are of your own tradition.

KIELBASA and HAM …lamb….a sign of abundance and that the ‘Long Fast’ is truly over.

CHEESE…especially a small round cheese.

HORSERADISH…(nothing is better with ham than beet horseradish)…Some add to their baskets a bit of vinegar or sour cream…it is all meant to represent the bitter drink given to the Lord when He called out from the cross, “I thirst!”

BUTTER….especially the butter formed in the design of a lamb. Christ is the Lamb of God!

SALT…as it gives zest to our foods and reminds us that Christ preserves us to life eternal.

And don’t forget the Chocolate eggs, the Chocolate bunnies, and chicks, and a few jelly beans as well!

Add your Easter dinner wine!

Decorate your basket with family heirloom napkins or linen.

LET THE KIDS MAKE THEIR OWN BASKET!  (After all so many of them gave up candy or sweets for Lent).  If you have pets: don’t forget a treat for them as well.

Enjoy the beautiful traditions of Easter!  Pass them on to your children!  In a way we are not only giving thanks to Almighty God for the Festival of Easter and the wonderful foods that accompany our holyday……we are also remembering our ancestors and our grandparents and parents who handed down to us the rich traditions of a people who were so deeply faithful and so in love with the Church.

This Easter celebrate your ancestors—celebrate your family—celebrate the eternal life won for them and for us by his passion, death, and resurrection!!!

Fr. Chester