Polish legend has it that on the first Good Friday a man was taking a basket of eggs to market to sell. On the way he put the basket down and ran to help Christ carry the cross. When he returned, the eggs were supposedly decorated in beautiful colors and designs. Local Polish immigrants continued the tradition of 'Pisnaki' decorated eggs. The first Easter baskets held dinner. Baskets containing buns, cheeses, lamb, hams and other food items were carried to the Mass on Easter morning to be blessed. Later on the food would then be carried to either friends or neighbors to be enjoyed, or it would simply be taken back home.
The tradition has fallen a bit by the wayside, but the basket still remains a huge hit with the masses. And that’s probably the reason why markets during the springtime are flooded with decorated baskets stuffed with beautiful candy or chocolate eggs, a large assortment of tasty and sugary treats, and of course a chocolate bunny as the centerpiece.
