What? No Bunny??

So in case you didn't know, it's Easter on Sunday. Yep. I have been learning about the Polish Easter traditions recently and I must say, there are some interesting ones. Mainly that the bunny doesn't visit!! I guess he's too busy filling up the baskets for the little American children. The bunny does come to visit some people in Poland (Like me! Thank you Bunny-parents.) Of course Easter really isn't about the bunny though, is it?

In Poland, this season is filled with many traditions. For example, everyone is supposed to have their windows washed before Easter. Another tradition is that on the Saturday before Easter, people take baskets filled with the food they will eat on Easter Sunday to the local church to be blessed. This is something that almost everyone in the country does, so lines form outside of churches as people wait for the opportunity to have their basket blessed. On Sunday, most people visit with their families. Then there's Easter Monday. I have been warned about this day by pretty much everyone here. It's called "Wet Monday" and stepping outside on this day is a sure way to get a nice, cold shower because people throw water on each other. Now, I have asked several people why they do this and the best answer I have received is, "It probably started in a village somewhere where they were bored." There you have it. Actually, I think it has something to do with marriage... but I'm not exactly sure. In any case, I will let you know if I get to experience the joys of Wet Monday. In the picture of the Easter market, you can see colorful palms for Palm Sunday and baskets for the Saturday blessing.

For the most part, I think that these are great traditions... as long as they don't distract from the greater meaning of Easter and as long as it doesn't become more important than coming before God and saying, For our sake You made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. My prayer is that the people of Poland, as they go to religious services this week, will not be weighed down by religion and tradition so much that they forget why we set aside this season for reflection and rejoicing - and many do. Much like my prayer for America is that the Easter Bunny doesn't become more of our focus than the death and resurrection of Christ. We have much to be joyous about. As it says in 1 Peter 1:3-4,
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you...

This is why we celebrate, this living hope. This is why we rejoice.