It’s traditionally called the Palm in Russia last Sunday before the Orthodox Easter. Other names for the holiday are Palm Sunday, Waya Week or the Entrance of the Lord into Jerusalem.
Where did the name come from
Palm Sunday is celebrated exactly one week before Easter. On this day, Jesus Christ solemnly rode a donkey into Jerusalem. Citizens greeted him with palm branches, which should have meant a special honor to the newcomer. That is why the holiday was originally called "Palm Sunday" (in Latin - Die dominica in palmas).
In the Christian lands where palm trees grow, it was the palm branch that remained the symbol of this day.
However, in most Slavic lands palm trees do not grow. They were replaced by branches of a blossoming willow, which first blooms in spring. It was for Russians that it became a new symbol of the holiday, giving a characteristic name for this day.
Holiday in Christianity
The symbolism of this holiday is primarily in the recognition of Jesus Christ as the Messiah, and in addition, the Lord’s entrance to Jerusalem is a kind of prototype of the entry of the son of man into the gates of Paradise.
In Christian churches, an all-night vigil is held on this day. Believers come to the temple with flowers and branches and light candles, thereby welcoming the coming of Christ. In the morning, the priest reads a special prayer for the blessing of willow, after which he sprinkles the branches with holy water.
Many Orthodox people keep such consecrated branches in the house throughout the next year. In some regions, there is also the custom of putting such branches in the hands of the dead. This should symbolize the greeting of the deceased to Jesus, through faith in which death will be defeated.
