It's a tradition that has its own place at the table every Easter. Lambs made from butter are common place in many Polish households. Alana LaFlore reports.
UTICA, N.Y. -- Butter lambs are an Easter staple for many Polish homes. They're filled with religious significance - as Poland is a mostly Catholic country.
"During lent we abstain from eating certain things or doing certain things. And using the butter at Easter is a symbol of returning to the richness, the goodness in life returned to us by Christ's death and resurrection," said Janice Lyszczarz, a member of the Kopernik Memorial Association.
The lamb represents the lamb of God sacrificed for sin - and it's accessories have a message as well.
"The lamb has a red ribbon around his neck which signifies the blood he shed and the flag on his back represents his victory over death," said Lyszczarz.
Making a butter lamb requires a pound of butter, a spoon, a toothpick, peppercorns for the eyes and some red ribbon.
Lyszczarz, a member of the Kopernik Memorial Association -- a group that works to preserve Polish culture - shows people how to make the lambs every year around Utica. The butter lambs are a way to explain Polish culture to others in the community.
"The more we share our culture the more I think it provides for better understanding among different groups," said Lyszczarz.