In Hamtramck, Easter takes on a special meaning

The blessing of Easter food baskets at St. Florian Church.

By Greg Kowalski
Easter has been a special time in Hamtramck virtually since there has been a Hamtramck. The earliest European settlers here were Christians, and no doubt celebrated the sacred holiday.
But it wasn’t until the early part of the 20th century when Hamtramck’s population swelled to an incredible 56,000 people that the full impact of the holiday was felt.
This is the time when the Polish immigrants came into the city. And as most Poles have been Christian for more than a thousand years now, it’s not surprising that they would gravitate to the local Polish Catholic Church, which happened to be St. Florian at that time.
St. Florian Parish, in fact, grew so large that it had to split in 1918 to form Our Lady Queen of Apostles Parish, and then split again in 1920 to create St. Ladislaus Parish. This doesn’t even take into account Holy Cross Polish National Catholic Church or the several African-American Baptist and other churches.
In those days, there was no distinction between a religious or social holiday. Easter was simply Easter. The public schools held Easter pageants and schools went on Easter Break, not “spring break.”
A story in the April 15, 1954 edition of The Citizen newspaper was typical: “Residents Will Pause for Tre-Ore Services.”
It read: “Residents of Hamtramck and North Detroit will pause Friday from 12 noon to 3 p.m. to take part in the Tre Ore services commemorating the crucifixion and death of Christ on the cross of Calvary.
“Virtually all business houses will be closed here in the three-hour period on the request issued by Mayor Albert J. Zak that business be suspended to permit employees to attend the services.”
The story went on to list the times of services at all the local Catholic churches: St. Florian, Q of A, St. Ladislaus, Our Lady Help of Christian, St. Augustine, Resurrection and St. Bartholomew.
Pictured with the story was a photo of Gregory Matyniak, age 6, decorating an “Easter tree” with colored eggs at Pulaski School. The caption noted that he was “a handicapped child who benefits to some extent from the sale of Easter Seals conducted annually by the Hamtramck Rotary Club.”
While the kids in the public school acknowledged Easter, for the kids in Catholic School, Easter culminated the 40 preceding days of Lent during which every Friday afternoon the students went to church to the Stations of the Cross service.
Good Friday was religiously important, but Holy Saturday was special in a different way. That was the day the Easter baskets were packed with ham, colored eggs, bread, butter molded into the form of a lamb and more. These were toted to church where they would be blessed. Lest we get caught up too much in the past, this isn’t just about nostalgia. The basket blessing remains an Easter tradition and is done today.
But today you don’t see as much advertising for Easter, like when the Krupa Sausage Co. offered Krolewiecka sausage for the “First time on the market in Hamtramck,” for “Easter feasting.”
Or how about the reminder from The Hub Men’s Shop that “You don’t have to go high hat to dress well for Easter.” Instead, you could buy a Rocket Shirt for $2.95.
For decades Florian Greenhouse was a classic Hamtramck business. During Easter is specialized in Easter flowers including lilies.
Easter Sunday, of course, was and is the main event. Then like now families attended Mass and gathered for the traditional dinner. Somehow it’s different from the Christmas dinner. Maybe it’s the weather. Easter is in spring, when the days are growing milder and there doesn’t seem to be as much pressure as Christmas with its gift-giving and often an overload of parties.
Easter is more spiritual, less commercial. Like spring itself, it is about rebirth, hopefully to a better world. And hope for a better tomorrow is something every one of any faith can appreciate.