Easter Sunday

Easter has been celebrated in Poland since the country's Christianisation in 966 AD. Over the centuries, Polish Easter traditions developed into a rich blend of religious observance and folk customs. The date of Easter follows the computus - it falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring on or after the spring equinox. This calculation was established by the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD.

The week before Easter is marked by important preparations. On Holy Saturday, families bring baskets of food (święconka) to church for blessing - typically containing eggs, bread, salt, sausage, and a small lamb figurine. Easter morning begins with the Resurrection Mass (Rezurekcja), often held at dawn. The festive Easter breakfast that follows features the blessed foods, along with żurek (sour rye soup), white sausage, and a variety of cakes and pastries.

Easter eggs (pisanki) are a central symbol of Polish Easter. The tradition of decorating eggs with intricate patterns using wax-resist dyeing techniques is particularly strong in southeastern Poland. Families gather for a multi-course Easter breakfast and spend the day together. Many regional customs vary across Poland, including traditional dances and processions.