I’ve always loved Easter.
The food. The weather. The candy. The bunnies!
If you know me, you know I’m known for my (slightly obsessive) Easter Bunny Collection. There must be a few hundred of them hopping around the house by now—pink, white, yellow, fuzzy, ceramic, plastic—you name it. The family joke is whoever counts them all gets $100. So far… no one’s claimed the cash. I suspect they give up somewhere around Bunny #132.
Growing up in a Polish family in a tight-knit Polish community, Easter was a BIG deal. As a Christian Catholic, it was the second most important holiday after Christmas—and honestly, sometimes I loved it even more because it felt like a fresh, pastel-colored celebration of spring and tradition.
One of my earliest memories is dyeing Easter eggs with my siblings. We’d get so creative, and somewhere there’s a photo of me—smiling proudly—holding up a blue egg (which, yes, later cracked in my Easter basket).
The day before Easter, we’d head to church for the Blessing of the Easter Baskets. There was no full Mass, just families filing in with beautiful baskets filled with traditional Polish foods—ham, kielbasa, bread, a butter lamb (yes, shaped like a lamb with peppercorn eyes!), and of course… horseradish. My dad insisted on adding a generous chunk of the spicy root, and now it’s forever a staple in my fridge, right next to the butter.
Each blessed basket was not only a tradition—it was a prelude to feasting. When I think of Polish food, I think of comfort and family.
If you’re craving a taste of tradition, try these Sweet & Sour Polish Kielbasa Skewers:
Sweet & Sour Polish Kielbasa Skewers Recipe
Or explore my go-to:
Polish Kielbasa Stuffed Acorn Squash Recipe
This Easter, I’m keeping it simple: fried honey ham slices (leftover from Christmas and hiding in the freezer), buttery fried Mrs. T’s pierogis (yes, I know they’re not homemade, but don’t judge me!), sauerkraut with onions, sour cream, and—of course—red beet horseradish. If you’re inspired to make your own pierogis, here’s my favorite guide:
Delightful Delicacy: Crafting Polish Potato Pierogis
We don’t just stop at dinner! My mom still makes Easter baskets for us grown-ups, filled with candy, chocolate, sometimes a stuffed animal, and—if we’re lucky—a bottle of wine. She’s the true Easter Bunny MVP.
If you’re planning Easter brunch, try these tasty dishes for your spread:
Sunday Brunch Cheesy Veggie Quiche Recipe
Spinach & Ham Puff Pastry Bites Recipe
And if you love celebrating Polish culture year-round, check out this list of:
Popular Polish Food Festivals in the USA
Today, I’m wearing pink (my happy color), enjoying the sunshine, and soaking in every moment of this beloved holiday. My Easter may not have a butter lamb this year, but it’s full of memories, flavor, and joy.
What are your favorite Easter memories or Polish traditions? I’d love to hear them—share in the comments below!
Oddly, my favorite Easter is the same one. I was with my BFF and her family. Spooky.
❤
Easter bunnies are a big part of our Easter tradition too! We hide two special stuffed bunnies every year for our girls to find when they are doing their indoor egg hunt. We always pretend that they are the Easter bunnies helpers that he left behind to help him hide all the eggs. They love it!!