Polish Easter traditions - strange but true

Strange but True
One week before Palm Sunday, housewives stopped baking bread through the fear that the bread they baked throughout the rest of the year would spoil. Not until the Holy Week did they start baking. In some parts they began to do so on Good Friday, in others- it was not permitted to bake anything at all that day. If any housewife violated this ban, the entire village would be in danger of a long drought, which could be repelled only by throwing the pots and guilty housewife into a pond.

Strange but True
It is believed that swallowing a willow catkin from a branch consecrated by a priest would bring health, and palm branch placed behind a holy image until the following year would bring the inhabitants luck.

Strange but True
On Good Friday no animals could be slaughtered or bread baked, and mirrors covered over. The use of combs was not allowed.

Strange but True
The master of the house was not permitted to take part of preparing the traditional Easter Bread, otherwise his moustache would go grey and the dough would fail.

Strange but True
Easter bread spread with horseradish, was believed to give protection against throat diseases and against illnesses and complaints.

Polish Traditions