SHENANDOAH - On Holy Saturday, many churches had the makings of the Easter Sunday feast brought to them for the traditional blessing of the foods for the family celebrations of the holiest day on the Christian calendar.
The blessing of baskets filled with ham, kielbasi/sausage, lamb, butter, paska and many other food items is a tradition mainly in Eastern European Christian churches, both Catholic and Orthodox. Czechs, Croatians, Hungarians, Lithuanians, Poles, Russians, Rusyns, Slovaks, Slovenes, Ukrainians, among others, brought their traditions to the United States, and they continue to be faithfully followed in many local churches on the day before Easter or on early Easter Sunday morning.
According to www.CatholicCulture.com, Holy Saturday in Rome includes an old custom where a fresh tablecloth is spread on the table in the dining room and on it is laid out the Easter meal, including the uncooked Easter lamb that is decorated with flowers, eggs, wine, fruit and a large traditional cake called "pizza." These are sprinkled with holy water and given a special blessing by the priest.
Monsignor Ronald C. Bocian, pastor of the Roman Catholic churches of Shenandoah and Lost Creek, held two food basket blessings, the first at noon at St. Casimir Roman Catholic Church and the second at Annunciation BVM Roman Catholic Church at 12:45 p.m.
At St. Casimir, Bocian stood in front of the altar with more than 75 baskets around him, opening the ceremony with a prayer and then the reading of the Gospel according to St. John 6:1-16.
He closed the ceremony with the following prayer: "God of glory, the eyes of all turn to you as we celebrate Christ's victory over sin and death. Bless us and this food of our first Easter meal. May we who gather at the Lord's table continue to celebrate the joy of his resurrection and be admitted finally to his heavenly banquet. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen."
With his hands, he made the Sign of the Cross in blessing, then used the aspergillum to sprinkle holy water on the baskets.
The Rev. Roman Pitula, pastor of St. Michael and St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic churches in Frackville and Maizeville, respectively, blessed the traditional Easter foods in the Ukrainian ceremony called Sviachenia on Saturday afternoon, first at St. Michael's hall at 4 p.m. Parishioners and their families filled tables with all types of foods. The baskets were covered by beautifully embroidered linens with Ukrainian designs, which were placed on the table and on which some of the basket contents were placed. As with Roman Catholic and Orthodox customs, the foods are very symbolic, representing the foods abstained during the Great Fast or Lent: eggs, meat, butter and rich breads. They are prepared ahead of time and are traditionally eaten on Holy Pascha, thereby keeping cooking on the holy day to a minimum. The variety of foods can be extensive, but the basics are eggs, breads, meats and dairy (butter and cheese). Each family lights a candle, which symbolizes the radiance of the Resurrected Christ, prior to the prayers, incensing and the blessing of the foods with holy water.
The foods have the following meanings:
- Paska - A rich, decorated bread, it represents Christ, the True Bread of Life and the Living Bread. Traditionally, the candle is placed in the center of the bread, though many use a separate candleholder.
- Babka - A sweet bread, usually with raisins, represents Mary, the Mother of God (Theotokos).
- Pysanky - Decorated eggs with intricate designs and colors represent hope and are likened to Christ, who rose from the dead, since eggs, which look dead, bring forth new life.
- Krashanky - Plain, dyed eggs in a variety of colors, which also symbolize life. Traditionally, there is a red egg to represent salvation through the blood of Christ.
- Salt - A small amount represents the Christian's call to be the "salt of the earth" and his or her duty to others.
- Butter - Usually in the form of a lamb, representing Christ as "The Lamb of God" and the "Paschal Lamb." The butter also represents the goodness of Christ. Cloves are sometimes used to outline a cross and represent the oils and spices used to anoint the body of Christ.
- Cheese - Cheese, along with all dairy products, are related to the prophesies that told of the prosperity and peace of the Messianic times and are symbolic of the special gifts given by God.
- Horseradish/beets/vinegar/sugar - The bitterness of horseradish is a reminder of Christ's bitter suffering; the red of the beets tells of Christ's Passion and the blood He shed; the vinegar reminds of the gall Jesus was offered on the cross; the sugar reminds that Christ's sufferings are seen in the light of the Resurrection.
- Ham, roasted lamb, sausage, kielbasa, bacon - These rich meats are reminders of the richness and joy of the Resurrection. They also are symbols of God's overabundance and limitless mercy and generosity.
The Paschal dinner can also include pierogie, halupki, mashed potatoes and gravy, salads, vegetables, head cheese, cakes, cheesecakes and tortes. It is important not to waste any of the blessed food. The crumbs and bones are buried so that the Earth receives blessing from the Resurrection.
After the blessing, Pitula offered his wishes for all to have a holy Pascha.