Palm Sunday is one of the most joyful and bright Orthodox holidays. On this day, Orthodox Christians celebrate the entrance of Jesus Christ to Jerusalem. History of the holiday Palm Sunday: The history of this holiday is very interesting. The entrance of the Lord into Jerusalem received from us the popular name of Palm Sunday or Verbnitsa by tradition to consecrate on this day a branch of willow, symbolizing the palm leaves that Christ met the inhabitants of Jerusalem, glorifying the Savior as the long-awaited Messiah. Jesus Christ was met by ordinary people, and all their feasible gift to the Savior - simple green palm leaves and cheers "Hosanna!" ("Salvation!"). But, since in our latitudes palms do not grow, the Slavs have chosen for themselves a symbolic tree - willow (willow), whose shoots are blossoming one of the first and begin to blossom and turn green by this date. Therefore, the holiday of the Lord's Entry into Jerusalem was called the Palm Sunday, while the Catholics call this holiday Palm Sunday. The Signs of the Holiday Palm Sunday The Autumn of Ukraine in honor with the willow. Ancient beliefs endowed it with miraculous power. Verbu planted near the wells: it was believed that it cleans water, "pulling" mud and mud. Verba symbolized fertility and the feminine principle: "Yak in the city, pussy-willow, then the yard is red". To the newborn girl the midwife wanted to "paint the Kalini, but the Verbi was strong" and put a bundle of viburnum and a branch of the consecrated willow in the cradle. The consecrated vertebral twigs are planted near the house, where there is a girl for delivery: if the twig is taken - the girl will marry soon. For the first time after the winter, the beast for the day of St. Jura is driven out of the field in the field - so that the beast is healthy and in force. The pussy-willow in ancient times was taken away by thunderclouds - waving the pussy willow toward the clouds and taking away thunder and hail. The verb was thrown into the fire - to subdue the fire. Witch-fed "seals" gave children a sore throat. With the consecrated willows, after returning from the church, the owners walked around the cattle pens, stables and bees - so that the farm was in order, the bees swarmed well, and the cows gave a lot of milk. Dry last year's holy willow lit the oven for Easter cakes; In many places the deceased was placed in the coffin of a consecrated willow. On Palm Sunday, the willow beats children to grow up healthy, cheerful and rich, while saying: "I'm not b'yu - Willba, For tyzhen - Velikden, Nedalechko - chervone yaєchko! As in the day of the Annunciation, which the Orthodox celebrated on April 7, on Friday, on Palm Sunday,. But there are also prohibitions on this day. What can not be done on Palm Sunday? On Palm Sunday, it is not advisable to work, especially doing hard and dirty work. There is also a ban on washing, sewing and knitting. True, most priests insist that the ban on work should not be taken literally, just on days of great church holidays, one should think more about God, rather than about household matters. Since Palm Sunday falls in the period of Lent, one should not overjoy, eat animal food (meat, eggs, milk and dairy products) and drink strong alcohol. There is another specific prohibition on Palm Sunday - you can not cook hot dishes. Therefore, the housewives make the main preparations on the eve, on Saturday evening. Particularly diligently adhere to this rule are those believers who go to night service in the church. In the people there is also a belief that on Palm Sunday it is impossible to do anything with hair - cutting, dyeing and even combing. Sanctified in the church, the branches of pussy will not be thrown into the garbage, as they are believed by many to have the special power to drive away evil forces, serve as a guardian of the house and even protect against the evil eye. What can I do on Palm Sunday? It is very desirable to prepare the willow branches on the eve and take them to church the night before Palm Sunday. After the service, which usually begins after midnight from Saturday to Sunday and lasts for several hours, the brought twigs are sprinkled with holy water. You can consecrate twigs on the Palm Sunday day itself, if you did not get to attend the Vigil service. There is a strange tradition of consecrated branches of willows or willows symbolically lashing each other and wishing at the same time health.

The main thing in this business is not to get carried away and not to overdo it. After the church, they traditionally arranged a family dinner, and the table was laid modest, not forgetting that the Lent is still going on, and the next day begins its strictest week - the Passionate. On Palm Sunday you can treat yourself and your family to cooked fish, but do not forget that hot dishes must be prepared in advance. In addition to fish dishes, during a festive dinner on Palm Sunday it is allowed to use vegetable oil and a little red church wine.