EASTER TRADITION IN LEOBSCHÜTZ, SILESIA (PRESENT-DAY POLAND)

IN THE FORMER PRUSSO-GERMAN DISTRICT OF LEOBSCHÜTZ, WHICH EXISTED IN UPPER SILESIA (PRESENT-DAY POLAND) BETWEEN 1816 AND 1945, THERE USED TO BE THE TRADITION OF APPLYING A THOROUGH SPRING CLEANING TO HOUSE AND COURTYARD TO GET THEM READY FOR EASTER. TO THIS END, THE LANDLORD WOULD CAREFULLY WHITE THE KITCHEN, HALL, WALLS, AS WELL AS THE STABLES. THE FURNITURE WOULD BE BROUGHT TO THE COURTYARD AND THOROUGHLY SCRUBBED. THE GARDENS WOULD BE CLEARED OF BRITTLE BRANCHES AND LEAVES. EVEN THE ROADS AND WALKS WOULD BE SWEPT. EVERYTHING HAD TO BE GLEAMING BRIGHT AND CLEAN FOR THE EASTER FESTIVITIES.

“FUN FAIR WITHOUT CAKE – NO WAY” [REGIONAL PROVERB] – THIS ALSO APPLIED TO THE HOLIDAYS IN LEOBSCHÜTZ. THIS IS WHY THE HOUSEWIFE WOULD BAKE ALL KINDS OF EASTRY PASTRIES AND CAKES AND WAS IN CHARGE OF THE EASTER EGGS WHICH WERE COOKED IN GREEN GRASS OR BROWN ONION SKINS. WISE SAYINGS AND FLOWERS WOULD BE DRAWN ONTO THE WAX BEFORE COLOURING, OR WERE CARVED IN AFTERWARDS.

CLEANSING WITH EASTER WATER...ON GOOD FRIDAY BEFORE SUNRISE, THE GIRLS WOULD GO TO THE VILLAGE BROOK IN SILENCE (!) TO SCOOP THE SO-CALLED EASTER WATER WHICH THEY USED TO CLEANSE THEMSELVES BACK AT HOME TO REMOVE FRECKLES AND THUS TO LOOK EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL. SOME OF THE EASTER WATER WAS ALSO POURED INTO THE ANIMALS’ DRINKING TROUGHS TO PROTECT THEM AGAINST ILLNESSES.