Easter food baskets blessed at St. Pat's

By LINDA M. LINONIS

linonis@vindy.com

HUBBARD

The Rev. Timothy O’Neill likened the array of food baskets to be blessed to “an Easter parade.”

The pastor of St. Patrick Church, 357 N. Main St., blessed Easter food baskets on Holy Saturday afternoon, continuing a long-standing tradition of the church. Congregants arranged baskets near the altar.

Father O’Neill has led the Hubbard congregation for 22 years. “The tradition has been going on a whole lot longer than that,” he said, adding the church was established in 1869 by Catholics of Irish and German heritage.

He described the church as a “blended congregation” representing a variety of ethnic backgrounds. “There’s beauty in how we blend together,” Father O’Neill said. He pointed out, “The belief in the risen Christ binds us together.”

In addition to blessing the foods with holy water, Father O’Neill also blessed the people in attendance.

“They’re keeping up a tradition that they learned from grandparents and parents,” he said. “It’s important to carry on these customs from generation to generation. ... It ties us together.” He added “all ages” participate in the tradition.

Father O’Neill said some families cover the food with a special cloth used for this purpose or bring the same basket. Every family has its own way, he said. And he encouraged families to start the tradition if they haven’t done it before.

The custom of blessing foods included at Easter Sunday dinner originated with people of Eastern and Central Europe. Traditionally, the foods were those not included in meals of abstinence during Lent.

In its Holy Week bulletin, St. Columba Cathedral in Youngstown includes a page on the Easter basket tradition, noting what foods are included and the symbolism. Foods are:

Butter: The dairy product often is shaped into a lamb or cross. It reminds us of the good will of Christ that we should have toward all things.

Easter bread: A round or long loaf of sweet bread topped with a cross or fish, symbolic of Jesus, the bread of life.

Easter eggs: They indicate new life and Christ’s resurrection.

Kielbasa: The sausage product symbolizes God’s favor and generosity.

Ham: It is a symbol of joy and abundance. Sometimes lamb or veal is included; it reminds Christians that Jesus is the lamb of God.

Bacon: It is a sign of God’s mercy and generosity.

Salt: The necessary element in our lives, symbolic of prosperity and justice and reminder that we are “the salt of the earth.”

Cheese: A mild cheese represents moderation that Christians should have.

Candle: It represents Christ as the light of the world.

Ribbons and greenery: They are a sign of life and joy in the spring.

Linen cover: It often is decorated with symbols of Easter.