Palm Sunday, or the Entrance of the Lord into Jerusalem, in the church calendar of Christians is one of the brightest holidays. On this day, believers recall how Jesus, on the eve of his last Easter, appeared in Jerusalem on a donkey. Palm Sunday is a rolling date, but this holiday is always celebrated exactly one week before Easter.
Why is Palm Sunday exactly?
According to the Bible, when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the people joyfully greeted him: he sang songs, covered the way with flowers, and waved palm branches. In Judea, the palm symbolizes virtue and closeness to God. However, in our area, this tree is a rarity. That is why the branches of the palm tree, it was decided to replace with willow. This tree first comes to life and blossoms after winter. Hence the holiday and such a name - Palm Sunday.
Its celebration was introduced by the Christian church in the 4th century. The holiday came to Russia only in the 10th century.
Rituals and traditions of Palm Sunday
The ancient Slavs on the eve of the holiday prepared willow twigs in a special way. They went to break the willow, which grew precisely on the banks of the river. If the weather did not favor the flowering of the tree, then its branches were previously placed in the water so that by the festive day they would bloom. 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 of whipping each other with a consecrated willow, saying: "Willow is a whip, beat to tears. I’m not beating, but a willow. Be healthy, like a 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 bundle of consecrated willow, saying: "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 lowered.
Healing earrings were also attributed healing properties. For example, to recover from a fever, it was necessary to swallow nine such earrings. They were also baked in bread for protection.
What to do with blessed willow
Consecrated willow branches must be stored throughout the year - until the next holiday. This is best done with church images (icons). They can also be attached to different places at home. Our ancestors believed that they protect the home from thunderstorms, lightning and thunder, as well as from evil spirits.
Is it possible to throw out the blessed willow
It is believed that willow retains its magical and healing properties throughout the year. If last year’s branches were left for the holiday, do not throw them in the bin, but burn them. They can also be thrown into a stream or stream, but not into standing water. The lake and the pond are not suitable for these purposes.
