Origin & history
Easter Sunday originated from the Jewish feast of Passover, but for Christians it commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion. In Poland, Christianity was adopted in 966 AD under Mieszko I, and Easter has been celebrated as the principal feast ever since. The Polish Catholic Church follows the Gregorian calendar, so Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon of spring.
Customs & traditions
Polish Easter Sunday begins with the 'Rezurekcja' (Resurrection Mass) at dawn, often held outdoors or in churches decorated with spring flowers. People bring baskets of food—including painted eggs (pisanki), bread, sausage, and horseradish—to be blessed by the priest on Holy Saturday, and these are eaten on Easter Sunday. The festive breakfast includes żurek (sour rye soup), white sausage, and mazurki (decorative pastries). Children and adults often hunt for hidden Easter eggs in gardens. A unique tradition is 'Śmigus-Dyngus' (Wet Monday) on the following day, where people playfully splash each other with water.
Why it is celebrated
Easter Sunday is the highest point of the Christian liturgical year, celebrating the central belief in Jesus's victory over death. For Poles, it is also a time for family reunions and reaffirming cultural identity, blending deep religious faith with centuries-old folk traditions.