Palm Sunday 2023: when to celebrate, traditions and prohibitions

Palm Sunday is usually celebrated on the sixth Sunday of Lent and the last Sunday before Easter. This year, Orthodox Christians will celebrate Easter on April 16, and Palm Sunday will be celebrated on April 9. This year, Catholics celebrate Palm Sunday on April 2.

Palm Sunday is the twelfth feast that commemorates the entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. This event preceded the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

According to biblical legends, on the eve of Easter, Christ went to Jerusalem immediately after raising his dead friend Lazarus. After seeing this miracle, many people believed that Jesus was the Messiah for whom they had been waiting for so long. The believers hoped that Jesus would become king of Israel and free the country from Roman rule.

Read also: Easter 2023: what dishes should be on the festive table

Christ rode into the city on a donkey. He was greeted by a cheering crowd who spread their clothes and palm branches in front of him. They shouted to Christ: "Hosanna (save us)! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the king of Israel!"

Since that time, Palm Sunday has been of great importance to all believers, because on that day Jesus voluntarily came to the city, knowing that he would soon face a tragic death. This moment was the beginning of his suffering for people's sins. In our country, this holiday is called Palm Sunday, because willow branches became its main attributes, symbolizing the palm branches with which the people of Jerusalem greeted Christ.

Holiday traditions

Catholics and Orthodox celebrate Palm Sunday in the same way. On Saturday, the day before the holiday, believers attend services with bouquets of willow branches. Before the service begins, a procession is held around the church or in the church itself. During the procession, festive antiphons and a hymn to Christ are sung. The procession symbolizes the historical event when people once came out to meet the Savior during the Lord's Entry into Jerusalem.

During the service, the priests read the Gospel and Psalm 50 and sprinkle the willow branches with holy water. Parishioners stand with branches and lighted candles until the end of the service. The willow tree is also blessed on Palm Sunday, during the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.

Willow branches are credited with healing properties on this day. It is believed that a blessed willow should be brought into the house and placed near an icon. It should stand there for the whole year, protecting the house and its inhabitants from troubles.

When the elders come from church with blessed willow branches, they jokingly pretend to beat the children and say "I don't beat, the willow does." The one being hit has to ask: "What kind of willow?" and the person with the twigs answers "a holy one."

What is prohibited on Palm Sunday

The most important prohibition, of course, concerns the willow branches. Usually people cut them at dawn the day before, on Saturday. But in no case should they be cut from trees that are near a cemetery or have hollows in them.

On Palm Sunday, you can't swear, curse, or even think about bad things.

It is forbidden to celebrate in a "big way" - to drink alcohol and make noise and have fun.

It is strictly forbidden to work, clean, or even cook.

You can't eat meat or non-Lenten foods, though you are allowed to eat fish and drink red wine on this day.

It is believed that on Palm Sunday you should not dye or wash your hair to avoid bringing misfortune and disease.

And you can't sew, knit, or embroider.

Gardening is also prohibited.

There is also a ban on visiting cemeteries.

Superstitions

On this day, consecrated willow branches were stuck in the place in the garden where wheat, potatoes, or other vegetables were to be planted. It was believed that this way you would increase your harvest.

If you plant a flower on Palm Sunday, it should attract wealth. However, it will need to be taken care of very well, because if it wilts, the money will be lost from the house.

When combing your hair on Palm Sunday, you should say: "Water, go into the ground with the headache." Then the comb is put in water, washed there, and the water is used to water the willow tree.

Childless couples were advised to pick "kittens" from a willow tree on this day and carry them with them to help conceive a child.

On Palm Sunday, when greeting each other, believers would put a willow branch to the forehead of their friends so that they would not get sick during the year.

They also made various healing decoctions from willow, which they drank or added to the water in which they bathed their children.

Signs

The way the wind blows on Palm Sunday will determine the summer days ahead. If it was warm and sunny, get ready to harvest a rich fruit crop. If it was frosty, spring bread will be good.

Cards for Palm Sunday

We suggest you learn how to cook eggs for Easter in wine.

We will also remind you of the recipe for paska, which even a beginner can handle.

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