What does Palm Sunday mean?

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

In 2020, the Bright Feast of Easter falls on April 19, and by this date you can find out the time of the onset of other passing holidays - for example, Palm Sunday. This great day has its own signs, traditions and customs. True believers know what kind of holiday it is, what should and should not be done on this day.

What holiday is it

Palm Sunday is a popular name according to the established tradition, and in the church calendar of all Christian denominations it is called the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. Orthodoxy, as the main religion of the Slavic peoples, came to the pagans and brought them true faith, but it is not by chance that it is called a good religion.

Interesting! What a holiday of Spirits day and its traditions

All folk customs are adapted by the church and associated with the events of Christian history. Therefore, the three Savior remained folk holidays, and the church celebrates them like other dates, but does not interfere with observing the original traditions and customs of the Slavs.

The name "Palm Sunday" and the attributes of the holiday are adapted to local conditions and climate characteristics. Where the main events described in the sacred books took place, this Sunday was called Palmov.

It was on this day 2020 years ago that Jesus Christ, after many days of wandering in the desert, entered Jerusalem, and the inhabitants of the city greeted him, holding palm branches in their hands.

One can understand what kind of holiday it is, only knowing that among the peoples living where the palm tree sprouts, it is a meaningful and eloquent symbol. Palm is an attribute of justice, victory, peace and prosperity, success and longevity.

It became a martyr's symbol only after the inhuman death of the Son of God in the name of mankind. Meeting Jesus Christ with the branches of a palm tree, the inhabitants of Jerusalem recognized him as the Messiah, who brings true faith in peace.

It was made palm-tree, because palm trees practically do not grow in places where Orthodoxy is professed. But the Slavs had another, no less significant symbol - the willow.

In the pagan beliefs of the Slavs, it was given no less importance than the Jews of the palm tree. Folk omens and traditions revere him, endowing him with a mystically respectful meaning:

• the willow opens its buds at a time when everyone else is still in hibernation;
• opened with the first warm spring days, the kidneys symbolize the victory of warmth over cold, life over death;
• in terms of meaning and meaning, freshly cut willow branches can be correlated with palm branches.

On this great holiday, the entire Christian world celebrates another anniversary since the moment when the Son of God, already knowing what a painful death awaits him, entered the central square of Jerusalem. And the inhabitants of the city greeted him as the king of the earth, not yet knowing that before them the future King of Heaven.

What not to do on Palm Sunday

There is a whole list of prohibitions that apply to this holiday, and true believers try to observe each of them so as not to receive any consequences. So, what not to do:

• swearing, starting quarrels and conflicts, drinking alcohol and getting drunk, as in any major religious holiday;
• do nothing on the ground (in the garden and in the garden);
• release cattle and poultry from the premises, because the unclean spirits can spoil them;
• cut willow branches from old trees or from those growing near the cemetery for performing rituals, as folk signs say;
• harvest them on Sunday, because cutting is also a job that will have to be done if you do not take care of it in due time (it is also better to buy branches in advance, and put them in the water so that the buds bloom even more);
• to cook hot food, even though the holiday is great, this is the sixth week of Great Lent and you need to observe dry food;
• to sew, knit, embroider, clean the house, wash, cook;
• hold commemorations, go to the cemetery, arrange noisy feasts, think about the bad, be sad and sad.

Knowing what kind of holiday this is, in modern reality, church ministers advise not to watch TV and refrain from working at the computer. You also need to remember that any Sunday is considered not a very good day for a haircut. And if you break the ban on cutting and dyeing your hair on Palm Sunday, folk signs promise big troubles and incurable diseases.

If a person believes in God, it does not occur to him to do something like that, he will visit church, pray, celebrate the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem as it should - at the family lean table, on which, on the occasion of such a day, there will be fish dishes and some red wine.

Signs and superstitions

Almost all the signs and customs on this day are associated with the willow. Slavic peoples revered this tree, believed in its magical significance, used it for conspiracies, treatment, prevention of possible misfortunes and the manufacture of amulets.

For this purpose, it is better to take the branches consecrated in the church, but for other needs, you can also cut them at dawn on Saturday:

• to be healthy all year round, people beat relatives and friends on the body with willow twigs;
• if you eat three buds from a twig, you will live long and keep your health;
• there were many rituals for the kidneys - they swallowed 9 to get pregnant, put a necklace around their neck - for the same purpose. One could make a wish and pray to the Most Holy Theotokos, and not take off the peculiar beads until the cherished dream comes true;
• kidneys were added to holiday lenten baked goods, they were dried and pounded to be used for sore throats, added to food;
• to protect the house from fire, the branches were burned, and to save it from the wind, they were buried in the backyard;
• to force the cattle to give milk and reproduce, according to signs, it was possible by adding willow branches and buds to the feed on a holiday;
• for the same purpose, the beekeeper and the shed were surrounded by a blessed bundle, and the branches were dug along the perimeter - in each corner of the territory;
• if on Palm Sunday you think about who you love, by evening he will certainly come to visit;
• there were especially many signs about the weather: dry - to a poor harvest, rain - to a decent reward for labor, frost promises wonderful spring bread.

Consecrated bunches of bush branches were kept behind icons and taken out as needed. They were used for medicinal purposes, added to baked goods for the holidays, extinguished a fire or drove away a storm.

It was believed that they are able to stop the incipient hail. According to legend, one abandoned branch is enough for this.

Since the dried bunch could not be stored in the house with the onset of new Palm Sunday, the stove was melted with it before starting to cook that day in the sixth week of Great Lent, when hot food was allowed.

Traditions to preserve the consecrated willow in the house to protect it from evil spirits have survived to this day, and to this day they say that it cannot be thrown into a garbage container, but can only be burned or buried in the ground.

Traditions on this holiday

On this day, ecclesiastical and pagan traditions are equally reverently observed. Having defended the all-night vigil in the church, they consecrate the willow branches brought with them, bring them home and put them in light or transparent vessels with water so that the buds bloom.

When the bundle is dry, it is placed on the shrine. For the holiday, cookies with kidneys are baked ahead of time, they are given to children as a treat.

Branches of consecrated or not even consecrated willow are placed in every room, the old bundle is burned in order to destroy all the accumulated negative, and the new one - in order to gain protection from evil spirits.

This is a family day, according to a centuries-old tradition, it is met at a laid table, in the circle of the closest and dearest people.

Summarize

1. Palm Sunday is celebrated in Russia almost as long as this state exists.
2. It is necessary to visit the church and dedicate the twigs of the tree.
3. Bring them home and place them in light-colored glass vases.
4. You can bake cookies with kidneys, perform various rituals.
5. On a quiet and bright holiday, you cannot think about bad and sad things, but it is also not recommended to gather cheerful companies and drink alcohol.