Right now in Poland, evidence of Lent is everywhere you look. On Fat Thursday, Poles eat delicious rose marmalade-filled pastry called paczki. At the supermarkets and bazaars, they sell “palms,” bunches of dried, brightly painted straw flowers, for Palm Sunday. We see these seasonal symbols all around us, but we were interested in what lies below the surface of Lent in Poland.

The attitude towards Lent varies among our friends. At a social event, we asked some Poles their impressions regarding the importance of this season. Of seven, three didn’t observe Lent at all. The others observed it with varying degrees of interest, and six were positive that their family and friends observe it as well. Some of them view it as an obligation, or just tradition. But two of them said that they make the personal decision to observe Lent out of desire to honor the holy season.

One or two people view Lent as a time to work on yourself as a person. According to one friend, Christmas is “more significant, but Lent is more inside one’s soul.” In her words, “I think it is important to observe because one can think about one’s behavior and how it can change for better.” Another wrote, “I know that I should give up something for Lent, but I think that all year we should work on ourselves.” It is normal for people to give up meat on Fridays during the Lent. Beyond that, it seems most common for people to give up or cut back on sweets and chocolate, either on Sundays or for the 40 day period. One person even mentioned giving up television in the past.

This period leading up to Easter is very significant to many people in our lives here in Poland. Even the Poles who have no interest in Lent acknowledge its cultural importance. Keep them in your prayers as they navigate this Holy season to a better understanding of Christ’s love and sacrifice.