Swieconka – Polish Blessing of the Baskets

Serdecznie zapraszamy na Wielkanocne święcenie pokarmów w Wielką Sobotę na godzinę 12, które odbędzie się w kościele    Świetego Patryka w Wicklow Town.

You are warmly invited to a blessing of Polish bread  on Holy  Saturday 16^th April at midday ( 12.00pm) Please extend this   invitation to all members of your community.

Easter Saturday Swieconka  (sh-vee-en-soon-kah) is one of the most enduring and beloved Polish traditions. Baskets containing a sampling of Easter foods are brought to church to be blessed on Holy Saturday. The basket is traditionally lined with a white linen or lace napkin and decorated with sprigs of boxwood (bukszpan), the typical Easter evergreen. Poles take special pride in  preparing a decorative and tasteful basket with crisp linens, occasionally     embroidered for the  occasion, and just enough boxwood and ribbon woven through the    handle. Observing the  beautiful foods and creations of other parishioners is one of the special joys of the event. While in some older or rural communities, the priest visits the home to bless the foods, the vast majority of Poles and Polish parishioners in Ireland visit the church on Holy Saturday.