Traditional Slavic Paska for Easter

In anticipation for Easter, we will be selling Paska, a Ukraine Easter bread. And, while we call ours the Perfect Paska for a very special reason (scroll down to learn more) there are also many variations of this bread to include squat, braided styles and elaborately decorated Paska seen in these images below.

Ukrainian Paska is a forbidden food during Lent. It is meant solely to be eaten as the celebratory bread of the Slavic tradition on Easter Sunday and is traditionally made by the mother of the household. Historically, Paska is the bread that signifies blessings, the beginning of a feast, and a rich tradition that spans generations. In the Ukrainian tradition, if you can make or purchase this traditional bread, it is an immense blessing- so much so in the Slavic tradition, people bring their Paska to the church to be blessed!

So, what makes Cliff’s Paska unique and perfect as we share this recipe with our customers?

It’s the baker who watched it rise three times in our bakery.

It’s the baker who kneaded and carefully folded in layers of the bejeweled raisins.

It's the baker who carefully formed each loaf in tiny tin cans

It's the baker, Diana, who, in honor of grandmother Yevgenia Matlashevsky, shares the Ukrainian tradition of Paska with you.

Diana is our newest baker at Cliff's Country Market and is inspired to share this family tradition with everyone this Easter. Her grandmother, Yevgenia was born in 1925 in Ukraine (town unknown) and immigrated to the US over 30 years ago. She passed away at the age of 96 just last year. Through generational inspiration, Diana wished to share this delicious bread recipe. Paska is a bread meant to be torn apart and shared, perfectly suited for your family during this Holy weekend.

In the tradition of Ukraine and the celebration of Paska during Easter, don't forget to say: "preatnum appetitum," which translates to "pleasant appetite"!