The Blessing of the Food for Easter dinner is a festive occasion. The blessing prayers specifically address the various contents of the baskets, with special prayers for the meats, eggs, cakes and breads.
In Polish this custom is called, “Święconka” (Blessing of the Easter baskets) or in Ukrainian “Velykden” (The blessing of food on the Great Day).
While the Slavic peoples keep this custom, anyone of any ethnic background can bring whatever food they are serving for blessing on Easter Sunday to celebrate the Resurrection.
Many times these are foods that have been avoided (fasted from) during Great Lent. To eat them on Easter Sunday is a sign of rejoicing.
Traditionally, the foods include:
- eggs - symbolize new life and Christ's bursting forth from the tomb. In many places the eggs are dyed red to remind us of the blood the Lord offered for us and again, red is the color of life.
- bread - symbolic of Jesus, the bread of Life
- lamb - represents Christ, the Lamb once sacrificed Who now lives forever
- salt - represents purification through baptism
- horseradish - symbolic of the bitter sacrifice of Christ
- ham - symbolic of abundance, and a meat to break the fast of Lent
- wine - a sign of the blood of the Lord and to “gladden the heart”
- a candle to be lit at dinner to remind us of Christ, the light that is never overcome by darkness
If you would like to have the food for your Easter meal blessed, please place it in the parish hall on the table provided before the 1030am Easter Sunday Mass. We will bless the baskets afterward.
May we be companions with the Lord in His suffering, death and resurrection as we walk the week of salvation.
Jesus Christ is victorious!
