Buttery and Blessed: The History of the Butter Lamb Tradition in Buffalo, NY

In Buffalo, Easter isn't quite complete without one special guest at the dinner table. It's the Butter Lamb, a beloved symbol of spring, renewal, and Western New York tradition.

While the origins of the butter lamb (or “baranek wielkanocny” in Polish) can be traced back to Eastern Europe, particularly Poland and Ukraine, Buffalo has made the custom distinctly its own. The city’s rich immigrant history, especially its large Polish-American community, helped transform this Old World tradition into a local Easter staple.

A butter lamb is exactly what it sounds like — a lamb made entirely out of butter, often complete with peppercorn eyes, a red ribbon around its neck, and a small flag bearing the words “Alleluia” or “Happy Easter.” In Catholic tradition, the lamb symbolizes Jesus as the “Lamb of God,” and its presence signifies peace, sacrifice, and his resurrection.

While some families make their own, many in Buffalo know exactly where to go to get theirs: the Broadway Market.

For over a century, the Broadway Market on Buffalo’s East Side has served as a cultural cornerstone, especially during the Lenten and Easter season. And no visit to the market in spring would be complete without stopping by the Malczewski’s Butter Lamb stand, a name that’s become nearly synonymous with the tradition in Western New York.

Founded in the 1960s, the Malczewski family has been handcrafting butter lambs for generations, producing thousands each Easter. What started as a small family kitchen project has grown into a full-scale operation with butter lambs distributed across local groceries and regional stores. However, true purists still swear by grabbing theirs fresh from the Broadway Market itself.

For many Buffalonians, buying a butter lamb is less about practicality and more about preserving family tradition. The butter lamb has even achieved minor celebrity status beyond Buffalo. It’s been featured in travel blogs, local newscasts, and even made a playful appearance in TV segments about unique regional traditions. For many outsiders, it's a charming curiosity, but for Buffalonians it's an essential part of what makes Easter special.

Buttery and Blessed: The History of the Butter Lamb Tradition in Buffalo, NY