Polish Easter 2020

Polish Easter 2020 Wesołych Świąt!

A Polish Easter like no other in 2020 during a virus pandemic! Still keeping the faith though.

So many happy memories around Easter for me.

In the Catholic Calendar Easter is the big one, its the corner stone of our faith. Jesus died but he rose again, hope and new life all in one.

We used to celebrate Polish Easter Mass on the Sunday at Holy Cross Convent.

If you were a non practising Catholic, Easter and Christmas were the only 2 masses people would attend religiously!

For me not being able to go to Easter Mass at all this year is just unheard of in my lifetime.

Good Friday we were not allowed to eat meat or do any chores or work, something I still abide to this day. At 3pm we would stop and pray.

Saturday was just a normal day.

Easter Sunday, the Mass just seemed to be more energising! People were so much more happier and full of life, it was always a colourful extravaganza !! Hymns would be sang out loud with extra gusto! You dressed in your extra special Sunday best and yet (still!!) nobody would open a window or leave the door ajar to let some air in a small chapel!

Following Mass everyone gathered outside in the garden beside church, wishing each other Happy Easter, exchange gifts, Easter Eggs etc.

My mum used to hard boil eggs when she was a little girl and decorate them by hand (long before Cadburys got in on the act!)

We walked home and tucked into a fantastic special feast mum prepared, food that we tended to save until Easter.

She used to work such long hours preparing everything during the week or Saturday. I hope to cover those in later food blogs.

Being an active child, it was difficult not being able to do anything (much like dad) but we all gathered around the TV and watched the usual religious films of that time, shown on the TV.

The Hollywood Classics such as:

Ben Hur (1959)

The Ten Commandments (1956)

The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)

Plus many more.

Often my mum would cry such was the tension, not so much because of the film but what it represented.

Listening to Polish Hymns on the record player and just enjoy our time together.

When I was younger me and dad would tell made up Bear stories with my Teddies, something I still do with my daughter although how long that will last as she gets older is to be seen.

See look below - woolly hat thick coat I never stood a chance did I!

The other great thing about Easter was being off school and meeting up with friends! We would go to each others houses or play out all day long. Just very happy times with no cares in the world.

Today we are all locked down unable to go anywhere? I would usually go to mum and dads grave, give it a clean, fresh candles and flowers see how the Tulips and Daffs have come up, sadly I am not allowed to do that now.

So mum and dad are not here with me (physically) anymore so I light a candle and say a few prayers this Easter for them and my family. This is all we can do this year, but thankful my own family are well and together safely which is all that matters really doesn't it?

Wesołych Świąt to everyone I hope in spite of this terrible virus you all remain safe and well over Easter and beyond.

Happy Easter from the Krawczyk family.