The culmination of Lent is Holy Week, appropriately known in Polish as "the Great Week." The most important are the first day, Palm Sunday, and the last three, known by the Latin term, "Triduum." The remaining days are largely set aside for the physical preparation for Easter: shopping, baking and house-cleaning. From Palm Sunday through the Resurrection Procession at Sunrise on Easter Sunday, thus is the single period of time in which Polish Catholics will spend the most time in devotion at church. These devotions intensify in the Triduum, beginning on Holy Thursday.
   Kalwaria (Calvary) is the name of Polish retreat and pilgrimage centers used especially during Holy Week. The best known is Kalwaria Zebrzydowska near Pope John Paul II’s birthplace of Wadowic.

Niedziela Palmowa * Palm Sunday

    In the past, Palm Sunday was called Niedziela Kwietna (floral Sunday), because bouquets of wildflowers, pussy willows and evergreens were blessed in churches, rather than real, subtropical palms, which were not available. 
   Bazie or Kotki are the pussy willow branches cut several weeks ahead and placed in water so they sprout their furry, little buds by Palm Sunday. According to one old folk custom, swallowing one of the buds was said to ensure health all year. 
   Parishioners process with the palms through the streets around the parish, celebrating the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Many Polish regions craft a special floral stick in lieu of or addition to the palms. These are also blessed and carried in procession, like palms.

* View the Procession at St. Helen's Parish, Chicago (video)
* View a still from the Procession
* See the lost folk art of Palm Weaving
* Palm Sunday prayer for small children (English)
* Polish Palms Website / Palmy Wielkanocne

Wielka Sroda * Holy Wednesday

   Topienie Judasza (Effigy of Judas). On Holy Wednesday, youngsters enjoyed hurling an effigy of Judas from the church steeple. It was then dragged through the village, pounded with sticks and stones and what was left of it was drowned in a nearby pond or
river.

Wielki Czwartek * Holy Thursday

    Holy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper when Christ instituted the priesthood. In cathedrals, bishops wash the feet of 12 parishioners just as Christ did his apostles before the supper. Following this evening "Washing of the Feet," in which the Host will be Consecrated for the Last Time until the Easter Vigil, it is customary to perform the "Seven Churches" Visitation. The faithful make pilgrimage to seven different local churches, at which Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament continues until late into the night.

* See the Kordecki Monstrance from Jasna Gora (Czestochowa)
* Dla Dzieci / For Kids: Jasna Gora Vessels to Print & Color

External Link:
* Holy Thursday prayer for small children ( in English)