“It is definitely one of the busiest periods of the year, just as busy as Christmas”, said Polish shopkeeper Angelika Gogolewska.

Having lived in the UK for six years, and not being religious herself, Ms Gogolewska largely ignores traditional catholic traditions of her childhood in her adult life.

But this year’s going to be different.

“My son is eight and I want him to know what ‘swieconka’ is [traditional Polish Easter baskets].

Read also: 'Midsomer isn't real' - town's plaques project set to be thrown out

“Frankly I had to Google what’s supposed to be in the basket. It is kind of sad how quickly we forget”.

Last year she took over ownership at Wisla Supermarket in Kidlington, and for her the festive season is a perfect occasion to overturn the damage done to shop’s reputation in years past.

Oxford Mail:

The Oxford Mail has previously reported on Sorah Salih, who was caught twice selling smuggled cigarettes, and his successor Erfan Gharib, who sold cigarettes to an underaged buyer in April 2018.

“We’ve been here since June 2018 and as long we are here I can assure that nothing of this kind is going to happen ever again”, Ms Gogolewska underlined, before describing her usual trade.

“Poles ask for white and smoked sausages, cold cuts, rye soup ingredients.

“Bread is important for them, especially the one in which rye soup is served. Vegetables are in high demand, especially wloszczyzna [mixed vegetables used as broth base], but what’s really surprising for me is how far people are willing to travel in search of Polish apples.

Read also: Landlord of 'Oxfordshire's best pub' reacts to the award

“From what I know, we are the only shop importing genuinely Polish vegetables and fruit in Oxfordshire”, she added.

Historically, Easter celebrations are a product of mixing local pagan traditions with the influence of Christianity ( the English word “Easter” derives from “Eostre”, the name of the Anglo-Saxon pagan goddess of fertility).

Swieconka became the very heart of catholic Poles’ Easter, a tradition dating back to the seventh century.

Oxford Mail:

The same applies to the tradition of colouring and decorating eggs [pisanki], still present in the Slavic world from Croatia to Poland.

Swieconka is a tiny wickerwork basket, lined with a white linen napkin, decorated with boxwood twigs and filled with food samples (eggs, bread, salt, horseradish and ham) symbolising different aspects of the spring tradition.

Good Friday is not a public holiday in Poland and proper celebration of Wielkanoc [Easter] begins as families carry their baskets to churches on Saturday morning for a ritual blessing (ceremonies will be held at St Anthony of Padua Church in Oxford at 9am, 9.45am and 10.30am this Saturday).

Read also: Latest results from court

Swieconka is the centre of a table on Sunday morning, when families meet to share a meal – a tradition surprisingly widely cultivated to this day, and also by non-religious Poles.

A very special tradition is reserved for Monday. Don’t be surprised, if your Polish friends will sprinkle or soak you with water – it means they wish you well. You have every right to return the favour, but be warned, that tradition of Smingus Dyngus leads to regular water battles, that go for generations...