EASTER

Sunday - Resurrection. This occasion is elaborately celebrated only among the Greeks, the Slavs, and the Poles. It begins at sunrise on Easter Sunday with the entire community participating. The priest removes the monstrance from the Holy Sepulcher and carries it in a procession, the final destination being the high altar, where it is enshrined alongside a statue of Christ holding an Easter banner. During the procession, the faithful joyously sing the ancient hymn,
"The glad day has come, which we all so desired" (Wesoły nam dziś dzień nastał, którego z nas każdy żądał).
At the beginning of this hymn, all the bells and organs ring and sound out. Military units fire salvoes. The singing, the bells, the banners, the white vestments, and the unusual atmosphere of joy and warmth fill the heart with shivers of great emotion. At the end of the service, a festive Te Deum Laudamus is sung.
At the end of this service, all exchange wishes of good health and prosperity. The traditional Polish Easter greeting is: "Christ is risen!" After returning from Easter morning Mass, the family partakes of a festive breakfast called "święcone" or "święconka", meaning blessed. This is the food from the Easter basket.