Text Box: most artistically and religiously evocative arrangement in which the Blessed Sacrament, draped in a filmy veil, is prominently displayed. This year, we plan to prepare the TOMB OF JESUS in our church in the Chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary (the left side of the Sanctuary). Many flowers are needed to decorate this Tomb as well as the entire church for the Holy Triduum and for Easter. If you are able to help with these preparations, please use the special envelopes for Easter Flowers and place them in the collection basket. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY. HOLY SATURDAY It is the day of the Easter Vigil. Popular traditions on Holy Saturday are associated in some way with preparations for festivities of Easter. On this day the Blessing of special foods for Easter is still a popular tradition. Meat (ham, sausages), cheese, eggs, butter, Pascha Bread (sweet bread) a salt are blessed by a priest when people are visiting the Tomb of Jesus. After sunset, the Liturgy of the Easter Vigil is celebrated. EASTER TRADITIONS - THE BLESSED EASTER BASKET The immigrants from Eastern Europe brought many beautiful customs to the USA. One of them is the blessing of food for the first meal of Easter. Every Holy Saturday, some people carry baskets laden with food. Others carry smaller baskets with an assortment of symbolic items of food. The food is of a very special nature. Each has a particular place in the post-Lenten, Easter Day celebration. What is in the EASTER BASKET? – Each particular item has a special symbolism for its part in the Easter celebration. THE EGG. Long a symbol of life and re-birth in Catholic tradition. The egg is the standard symbol of the Resurrection of our Lord. It also represents everlasting life and renewal for all who believe in HIM. Eggs hold the seeds of revival and fertility upon the earth. The colored egg is symbolic of the tomb in which our Lord was placed. The egg was originally RED in color , representing the blood of Christ which purifies the believers. PASCHAL LAMB. May be made of butter, sugar or baked dough. It is the center of the symbolic foods- ladened table. It is the central symbol to the Catholic faith. For the fullest Easter celebration, the Lamb is featured carrying a victorious red banner, upon which is a cross. The Lamb, the symbol of ancient times as the sacrificial animal, now portrays Christ as victorious through this presentation. MEAT (ham, sausage). The pig, from which this meat is derived, is also an ancient symbol of prosperity. Forbidden in the Old Testament, they are part of the bounteous meal of Easter. HORSERADISH & PEPPER. Symbol of bitter herbs of Text Box: the Passover, signifying bitterness of spiritual exile and bitterness of the suffering of Jesus. VINEGAR. Reminds us of the gall (sour wine) which was given to our Lord as He hung upon the cross, when He declared: “I thirst”. SALT. It is the most fundamental of all spices and preservatives. Salt reminds us, as the result of our Holy Baptism into Christ, that we are, by His words, the “salt of the earth”. PASCHAL BREAD. This is a round loaf of sweet bread, topped with the cross. It symbolizes the bread of the Eucharistic Meal. It also declares to us as it vividly declared to the Emmaus Disciples – Christ is known to us in the breaking of bread. MYRTLE OR OTHER GREENS. The Easter Basket is decorated with little branches of myrtle or other greens. Myrtle is a ritual green, a symbol of purity and is used to decorate all items in the basket. OTHER CAKES AND SWEETS. In addition to Paschal Sweet Bread, an assortment of various cakes and cookies may be used as part of the festivities. Adorned with Myrtle, or other decoration, they add color and flavor to the Easter. Maybe your ancestors brought different customs and traditions to the USA. Try to follow them. Don’t cut off your roots. The tree with cut roots will die. EASTER LILIES Easter lilies did not exist in North America until about 120 years ago. The white trumpet lily, which blooms naturally in springtime, was introduced here from Bermuda. The popular name “Easter Lilies” comes from the fact that they bloom around Eastertime. They have become associated with Easter as much as poinsettias are with Christmas. In early Christian art, the lily was a symbol of purity because of its delicacy of form and its whiteness. For the same reason, it serves well as a symbol of the Resurrection. Donations for Easter decorations can be made by using the special forms & envelopes found at the entrances to the church (to our registered parishioners, we mailed them with the Lenten Letter). These donations may be made in memory, or honor, of family or friends, living or dead. Easter offerings for flowers enable St. Anne’s Guild to decorate our church throughout the season of Easter. May God reward all our benefactors. PRAY FOR ALL SICK: For all who are sick: members of our families, friends, parishioners, and, especially: Fr. Joseph Fiedorowicz; Stephanie & Joseph Fiedorowicz Senior; Titus Ekanem; Angie Leitao; Maynard & Irene Omernik; Harry McVey; Andy & Vic Miloslavich; Lianne Claver; Martin Koch; Bro. Paul McCarthy; Jenny Maderious; Rachel Ott; Donald Braten; Nellie Lydon; Zbigniew (Ziggi) Wawer - father of Fr. Robert Wawer ; Dave VanSciver; James Maloney; Harry Garland; Jose Isidro; Joseph Catanzaro; thet Reichmuth Family; Halina Osinski; Mary Gomes (Goam); Gregory & Bruns Grayson; Fr. Tony Herrera; Msgr. William Mullen; Claire Cortright; Scott Bailey;