Guest Author - Arleen Kaptur



The entire Lenten Season prepares the way for
the great feast of Easter. Ash Wednesday is the
official beginning of a time to refrain from eating
meat on Fridays, fasting, and saying the Stations
of the Cross in area churches.

Since palms do not grow readily in Poland,
pussywillow branches are placed in water during
Lend and the stems are used as the palms on Palm
Sunday. There are processions around the church
and then the palms are taken home and placed in
prominient places, such as around a crucific,
religious picture or next to the family Bible. Some
are braided and hung on pictures of Our Lord.

During Lent churches go out of their way to present
beautiful arrangments to house the Blessed Sacrament.
Special cloths with beautiful embroidery are placed on
altars, and the church is cleaned so that it just sparkles.
There is a lot of work, and ideas each year to make
this year one of the best. The people of Poland enjoy
visiting area churches and appreciate the effort behind
the beautiful presentations.

Lent in Poland is a time of reflection, gratitude for the
blessings of the land, food, family, and friends. More
time is taken out of the usual day for prayer, and attending
church services. Lent has been a revered time in Poland
for generations. It is practiced so that when Easter comes,
the people of Poland have prepared their homes, their hearts,
and their lives to celebrate.

As they say in Poland, Wesolych Swiat.