Saturday, March 22, 2008
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 4490 Norquest Blvd., Austintown, is among many Roman Catholic churches that observe a tradition of blessing an Easter basket filled with samples of foods to be eaten on Easter Sunday.
The church had blessings of baskets at 1 and 4 p.m. Holy Saturday.
Immaculate Heart provided an ingredient list for a traditional Slovak basket. The custom is from the desire of the Christian community to ask God’s blessing on the foods that will break the Lenten fast, and from which people may have abstained from eating. The religious significance of the foods are symbolic of Christ.
A wicker basket decorated with a ribbon or bow is used. A decorated candle also may be included in the basket, and some people light it when the food is blessed. A linen cover, embroidered with the sign of the risen Christ or other religious symbol, is placed over the food.
Read more in Sunday’s Vindicator and vindy.com