Easter Basket Blessing - Bangor

All are invited to participate in the Eastern European tradition of Święconka, the blessing of Easter baskets and foods, on Saturday, March 30, at 9:30 a.m. at St. Mary Church in Bangor.

It is traditional for people to bring in their Easter baskets to have them blessed by a priest. The baskets are usually lined or covered with white linen and filled with symbolic foods that will be eaten on Easter. For instance, bread is symbolic of the Lord Jesus who gives us his risen body as the bread of life, while ham is a symbol of the joy we share and the abundance of grace we receive.

Other traditional foods that are included in the baskets are: bread, butter, horseradish, hard-cooked eggs, other meats (sausage, lamb, bacon), salt, and cheese. The baskets are then decorated with items such as ribbons, greenery, dried flowers, and a white cloth symbolizing Christ’s burial shroud.