Our Polish Easter Basket

This year we made a traditional Polish Easter Basket. Our hope is to make one each year as our boys grow and to use the items inside to explain the story of Easter and what Christ has done for us. Here are the things we put in it and what they represent.

Butter in the shape of a Lamb | Masło ~ Baranek Wielkanocny

In the old testament a lamb was sacrificed for atonement, to make man right with God, to pay for sin and to make peace… when Christ came he was called the Lamb of God.  He came to pay for the sins of all mankind and make atonement once for all. The lamb in the basket reminds us of the great sacrifice of Jesus.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

John 1:29

Horseradish | Chrzan (also pepper | pieprz)

The crucifixion was a painful way for Christ to die, but even more bitter was that God had to turn his face away from His very own son on the cross. The bitterness of horseradish reminds us of this.

Now from noon until three, darkness came over all the land. At about three o’clock Jesus shouted with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Matthew 27:45-46

Salt | Sól

Jesus called His followers the salt of the earth. In his time salt preserved food (from rot & decay). It also gives food flavor! Salt reminds us that we are to be messengers of the preservation from the rot & decay of sin to others. And also that life should be an adventure full of flavour!

You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its flavour, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people. 

Matthew 5:13

Bread | Chleb
Christ said that He was the bread of life and that if we come to him we will never go hungry. He also used a loaf of bread at the last supper when he talked about his body being broken for us. He told us to remember Him when we broke bread.

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. The one who comes to me will never go hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty.

^{John 6:35} 

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

Luke 22:19

Candle | Świeczka

The candle in the basket represents Christ as the light of the world.

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 

John 1:9

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12

Egg | Jajko

The egg is a symbol of the empty grave reminding us that Jesus rose from the grace and triumphed over death! Also a picture of new life that we have in Christ.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. 

Matthew 28:5-6

Meat, Sausage & Cheese | Wędliny, Kiełbasa i Ser

Symbols of health, fertility & prosperity.

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

2 Peter 1:3

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

1 Timothy 6:17

Palms, Boxwood Branches, Pussy Willows & Ribbons | Palmy

Symbols of joy, hope and new life we have in the resurrection of Jesus. The green colour of the boxwood branches is a symbol of the hope that Christians have in the resurrection and eternal life with Jesus. Palms & Pussy willow’s (used to replace palm branches in Europe & North America) remind us of Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem as King. 

This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet:

“Tell the people of Zion,

‘Look, your king is coming to you,

unassuming and seated on a donkey,

and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

So the disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those following kept shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” As he entered Jerusalem the whole city was thrown into an uproar, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Matthew 21:1-10

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

1 Peter 1:3

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also...

1 Corinthians 15:3-8

He is Risen!

Disclaimer: We are not Polish, but live in Poland and love this country! We believe that the tradition of the Polish Easter Basket has deep meaning pointing towards Christ and that God desires to redeem all men and cultures for the glory of His great name. 

7 years ago i put together an Easter Basket with a dear Polish friend. Here are my thoughts from then...