Babka Baking Bee
Friday afternoon 1pm. prep work
Saturday morning 7am final prep
and at 9:00 am. making, shaping and baking
In the Ukrainian Catholic Church, the traditional Easter bread is called “Паска” (pronounced Paska). It is a sweet, rich bread that is a central part of the Easter celebration, especially during the feast of Pascha (Easter).
While “babka” (another type of Eastern European bread, especially popular in Polish and some Ukrainian traditions) may also be prepared for Easter in some regions, Pasca is more commonly associated with the Ukrainian Catholic Easter celebration.
Key Characteristics of Pasca (Ukrainian Easter Bread):
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Shape:
- Traditionally, Pasca is made in a round or cylindrical shape, often resembling a tall, domed loaf.
- Some versions are decorated with religious symbols such as crosses or other Christian motifs.
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Ingredients:
- Flour, butter, eggs, sugar, and milk are the base ingredients, making it a rich and slightly sweet bread.
- It often contains raisins or other dried fruits, and sometimes vanilla or lemon zest is added for flavor.
- The bread is yeast-leavened, giving it a soft, airy texture.
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Baking and Blessing:
- Pasca is often baked in a tall, cylindrical form, using special molds.
- On Holy Saturday, Ukrainian Catholics bake the Pasca, and it is traditionally brought to church on Easter Sunday to be blessed by the priest during the Paschal liturgy.
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Spiritual Significance:
- The Pasca bread symbolizes the Resurrection of Christ. The round shape is a symbol of the eternal, unending nature of God’s love and the Resurrection.
- The blessing of Pasca represents the offering of the first fruits of the earth as a gesture of thanksgiving to God.
Babka:
Babka is another traditional Eastern European bread, but it is somewhat different from Pasca. Babka is more often associated with the Polish and Slavic traditions, though it can also be found in Ukrainian households, particularly in the western regions of Ukraine.
- Babka is a sweet, yeast-based cake or bread, often baked in a bundt pan, and sometimes filled with chocolate, cinnamon, or fruit.
- It is often served during Easter in some Ukrainian homes, though Pasca is the more common bread for the celebration of Pascha.
In summary:
- Pasca is the traditional Ukrainian Easter bread, central to the Ukrainian Catholic Church’s Pascha celebrations.
- Babka is a similar sweet bread, often enjoyed during Easter as well, but it is not as traditionally associated with the Ukrainian Easter liturgy as Pasca.
Both Pasca and Babka are delightful and symbolic treats during the Easter season, but in the context of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, Pasca is the bread most closely linked to the Paschal celebration.
