Palm Sunday, or the Lord's Entry into Jerusalem, in the church calendar of Christians is one of the brightest holidays. On this day, believers remember how Jesus appeared in Jerusalem on a donkey on the eve of his last Passover. Palm Sunday is a rolling date, but this holiday is always celebrated exactly one week before Easter.
Why is it palm Sunday?
According to the Bible, when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the people greeted him joyfully: they sang songs, strewn the path with flowers and waved palm branches. In Judea, the palm tree symbolizes virtue and closeness to God. However, in our area, this tree is a rarity. That is why it was decided to replace the branches of the palm tree with palm trees. This tree is the first to come to life and bloom after winter. Hence the name of the holiday - Palm Sunday.
Its celebration was introduced by the Christian church in the 4th century. The holiday came to Russia only in the 10th century.
Rites and traditions of Palm Sunday
The ancient Slavs prepared the willow branches in a special way on the eve of the holiday. They went to break the willow, which grew exactly on the banks of the river. If the weather conditions were not conducive to the flowering of the tree, then its branches were previously placed in water so that they would bloom by the holiday. This tradition is still alive.
This tree has long been revered by the Slavs as sacred, and its branches were endowed with magical properties. Our ancestors had a tradition to whip each other with a consecrated willow, saying: “Whip a willow, beat to tears. I am not hitting, but a pussy willow. Be healthy like a pussy willow. It was believed that this tree is capable of transmitting strength, beauty and health to a person.
In addition, on Palm Sunday, the children were woken up with a bunch of consecrated willow, saying at the same time: "The willow is red, beat to tears and be healthy!" If the children were sick, they were bathed in water, into which the consecrated willow was previously dipped.
Healing properties were also attributed to palm earrings. For example, nine of these earrings had to be swallowed to cure a fever. They were also baked into bread for protection.
What to do with the consecrated willow
Consecrated willow branches must be stored throughout the year - until the next holiday. This is best done behind church images (icons). They can also be attached to different places in the house. Our ancestors believed that they protect the home from thunderstorms, lightning and thunder, as well as from evil spirits.
Is it possible to throw away the consecrated willow
It is believed that the willow retains its magical and healing properties throughout the year. If you have last year's branches left for the holiday, do not throw them in the trash can, but burn them. They can also be thrown into a stream or river, but not into stagnant water. A lake and a pond are not suitable for these purposes.
What not to do on Palm Sunday
As in any other Orthodox holiday, on Palm Sunday you should attend a service in the church, think about something high. On this day, it is recommended to give up household chores, watching TV and the Internet.
