Easter Traditions

Good Friday:

Most churches are open until the next day and many people gather in silent prayer, sing hymns and meditate even at late night. Many of the tombs are decorated with objects related to the present day political situation and are interesting and sometimes very controversial (they were very controversial in communist times when the church could express more by symbols that officially could be said in public).
After these church ceremonies which are not obligatory on that day most Christians continue fasting very strictly and private life is limited to calm and orderly events.
Good Friday means a lot of work for Polish women in the kitchen as it is one of the last days to prepare the delicacies to be eaten during the Easter days to come.

Holy Saturday:

The day of study and peacefulness. There are no masses in the churches and the only celebration is the evening liturgy in preparation of the Resurrection on Sunday. During the evening vigil there are small bonfires lit outside churches and candles are lit from them. Priests enter the dark church with this light as a symbol of breaking the chains of death and enlightening the darkness over humankind. During this evening's celebrations baptismal oaths are renewed and the Tomb of Christ is prayed over by special hymns for that occasion.
In the customs and traditions in Poland this day is singular for one event which takes place from morning till afternoon with frequent prayers in churches during the blessing of the food. This is a very popular custom and widely respected. Food, in small amounts, is placed into willow baskets with spring decorations. There must be an egg - a symbol of new life, salt to keep from being spoilt, and bread as a symbol of the everyday bread people pray for. There are many foods which can be taken to be blessed, fruit, bread. Obligatory there is a lamb made from sugar symbolizing the Resurrected Christ. After the food is blessed in church fasting is over though the rest of the day is spent in peace and meditation.