| How
many times we have heard people wax poetic about holidays their Babcia or
mother would host full of tasty food and traditions. This year, instead of just
reminiscing, add a little Polish tradition to your holiday yourself: use a butter
lamb or decorate the table with pussy willows. It
doesn’t have to be complicated or time consuming to share our colorful heritage
with your family. Here’s a few recipie
ideas from one of our favorite chefs, Barabara Rolek.
Święconka
/Basket Blessings
One
of the most enduring and beloved Polish traditions is to have your Easter
morning food blessed on Holy Saturday. With roots dating back to the 7th
Century in early Poland, it is continues to observed by expatriates and their
descendant Poles throughout the world. There are always certain
items that should be in the basket along with your food. The
priest then specifically address the various contents of the basket, with
special prayers for the meats, eggs,
cakes & breads. Many of the Mahoning Valley’s churches offer this option on
Holy Saturday. Here’s a few who responded to our inquiery:
NOON
St. John the Baptist, Campbell
Holy Family, Poland
St. Charles,
Boardman
St. Joseph, Austintown
St. Dominic, Youngstown
St. John Paul II
Parish, Warren
Holy Name of
Jesus Church
12:30
PM St. John the Baptist, Campbell
1:00
PM St. Stanislaus Kostka, Youngstown
St. Patrick, Hubbard
St. Rose,
Girard
Queen of the Holy
Rosary, Vienna
2:00
PM St. Anne, Austintown
St. Christine, Youngstown
St. Patrick, Youngstown
St.
Stanislaus Kostka, Youngstown (often followed by
an an Easter egg hunt!)
2:30
PM St.Stephen of Hungary, Youngstown
4:30
PM St. Peter & Paul, Youngstown
3:00
PM St. Columba Cathedral
Easter
Monday is a time to celebrate…
 After
more than six weeks of Lenten fasting, abstaining, sacrificing and penance, all
Catholics will be ready to celebrate. Easter Sunday is for praise and worship,
but, in Polish tradition, Śmigus-Dyngus, the
name for Easter Monday, was for mischief and fun. The stories of
the holiday’s origins are mixed and can be found back to pagan eras. Most like
to claim it remembers the baptism on Easter Monday of Mieszko I (Duke of the
Poland, c. 935 - 992) in 966 AD, uniting all of Poland under the banner of
Christianity.
 Today, if you're in Poland on Easter Monday, then 'look out for the water' is a
useful piece of advice... It's known as Wet Monday for a reason! the water
games also tend to develop into a free for all, where the nearest and most
unsuspecting person – girl or boy, man or woman – is a legitimate target. And I
mean WET! Water balloons are thrown from windows on strangers – and in some
rare places even fire trucks have been known to join in! Learn more about it here
 Modern
celebrations are led by Buffalo’s
Dyngus Day where the annual post-Lenten bash attracts tens of
thousands to Buffalo, New York to celebrate spring, show Polish pride, flirt
with pussy willows and listen to the best polka bands in the nation. Festivities
take place in the city's Historic Polonia District celebrate with a level of
enthusiasm that rivals the best St. Patrick's Day you have ever experienced –
but better cause everyone is in red & white! Check out the schedule
here
 Closer
to home, in Cleveland, our friends by lake created Dyngus Day Cleveland in
2011 and it has grown every year! A little less traditional and certainly more
kitschy, these festivities start this year at 7 AM! If you want to join us
there is always room for one more! Check out this year’s schedule – that claims
to include a REAL Polish wedding here
If
you cannot make either of these great celebrations, make sure you celebrate
close to home - use a squirt gun on all your family, friends and coworkers to
keep the tradition alive.
Calendar
Highlights
 Sunday, April 8 10:30 AM Polish Arts Club of
Youngstown Memorial Mass & Breakfast @ Sts. Peter Paul, Youngstown. Breakfast
to follow is open to the public. Make reservations by calling 330-792-2769 ... Sunday,
April 22 12 - 4 PM Polish Food Fest & Auction @ St.
Joseph the Provider Church, Campbell…Saturday, May 5 6 PM - 11 PM Krakusy
Society Constitution Day Celebration @ St. Christine Parish hall featuring
entertainment by the Polish band Ptaki…Friday,
June 15 7 PM Party on the Plaza – SLAVIC STYLE with Chardon Polka
Band in Downtown Youngstown… Saturday, June 16 11 AM – 11 PM Simply
Slavic in Downtown Youngstown …Sunday, July 1 Noon Lenny Gomulka @Gateway
Clipper, Pittsburgh…Sunday, August 26 …
Do Zobaczenia!
Aundréa
and Your PolishYoungstown Team
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