I Made You A Butter Lamb
if you even care
My favorite Polish Easter tradition is the Baranek wielkanocny- otherwise known as the butter lamb. Every year without fail, my grandmother would go to the local Polish grocer and pick one out for our dinner table. I could give you the whole long history of the butter lamb and it’s connection with Jesus, but honestly, that wasn’t the part that meant a lot to me (sue me!). I loved that every year, they were a bit different. It was just a sweet tradition within my Polish culture that I loved sharing with my friends.
When my Babcia (grandma in Polish) passed away in 2022, it came with a complete dynamic shift within my family. With the matriarchy of the family gone quite suddenly, I think we all felt a bit lost of what to do without her. I found that through my grieving, my favorite way to connect with her was by continuing the traditions that she held so near to her heart. I fell in love with gardening, used her vintage tablecloths to sew them into something new, attempted to cook her beet soup which I used to love so much- in efforts to keep her energy alive through the things I can create myself. Which brings us to- my annual butter lambs.
My sweet beautiful butter lamb!!!! Unfortunately, I am obsessed with her and will have a hard time actually eating part of it.
Of course, a whole photoshoot must happen with the butter lambs.
Every year, I make a whole batch of them for my loved ones and friends to bring to their own Easter dinners. I am by no means a chef or baker or anything, so this is my way of sharing a special tradition within my own culture with the people I love.
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If you’re interested in making your own, all you need is a butter lamb mold- I got mine from the Polish Art Center. The directions are relatively straightforward from there, but I, of course, add some character to my lambs with their peppercorn eyes, little ribbon bows and this year- the addition of some hair!!
Last year’s Easter butter lambs- without all the butter hair clearly. My goal is to push the butter lambs each year so they’re a little more absurd and playful.
My butter lamb’s of the past- I found this photo from Easter in 2021. Dare I say my own butter lambs are way cuter?
It was always my favorite tradition- a photo of the butter lamb from an Easter I missed while living abroad in London in 2019. I had to ask my mom to send me a photo.
I’ve been really entranced by all the lamb related Easter creations I’ve seen in my instagram feed lately, so I had to share it here.
This incredible lamb dessert!
A beautiful sugar lamb.
A Rice Krispie Lamb!! I mean… incredible.
And a beautiful Easter almond cake!
As I grow older and meet new people, I find the most exciting part can be what traditions run through their families. Similar to my heirlooms conversation a few posts ago, there is truly something so special about having these tangible traditions that have lived within families for generations and truly making them your own. I love that this butter lamb has been a tradition within my family for as long as I can remember, but I can now take it for what I knew it as and put my own creative touch to it- and be able to share it with my own friends. That is such a joy in this life!
I highly encourage anyone reading to reflect upon any tradition that has meant something to you in your lifetime and think of how you can build upon them for your own families. It’s a small gesture I make time for once a year that means a lot to me, and keeps that really special connection I have with my Babcia, who I miss so much.
Thank you all for being here and for reading my post this week! I have been inundated with simply just making the butter lambs, so I am thankful I can finally share with you all. As always, leave a comment if there’s a tradition in your family that you love or send me a dm on instagram- I love to chat!!
Happy Easter if you celebrate- if not, I still hope you enjoyed my butter lambs.
-Izabela
The lambs are so cute and such a sweet gesture! When I was a kid, it was an Easter tradition for my brother and I to receive a book in our Easter baskets, and it was definitely my favorite part of the whole basket. This post is making me reflect on how I can start giving Easter gifts, like books, to my family members now that I am an adult. I think that would be a fun way to expand on the tradition while involving the whole family!
my polish grandmother did the same and we continue to place the lamb on the table each year in her honor!! but wow yours are adorable!!