Palm Sunday 2025: history of the holiday, traditions, rituals, prohibitions.

Ukrainians celebrate Palm Sunday, which is a major Orthodox holiday. This holiday commemorates the solemn entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem before His death and suffering. On this occasion, churches bless willow branches and decorate houses and icons with them. In 2025, Palm Sunday falls on April 13.The tradition of blessing willow branches on this day comes from the Jewish custom of welcoming Jesus in Jerusalem with palm branches. Ukrainians use willow branches since palm trees do not grow in Ukraine. The willow symbolizes signs of awakening nature and the beginning of new life after winter sleep.Preparation for the holiday begins a few days in advance, when willow branches are cut and placed in water to bloom. The celebration of Palm Sunday starts on Saturday evening, when services and the blessing of the willow take place in churches. On Sunday, there are also services in churches where priests sprinkle the blessed willow twigs with holy water. After the church service, people bring the blessed twigs home, where they place them near icons and keep them throughout the year. There is also a tradition of gently tapping all family members on the back with willow twigs to attract strength, health, and wealth.Palm Sunday is a day of Great Lent, so on this day it is forbidden to consume meat, eggs, and dairy products. It is allowed to eat fish and drink a little red wine. Before Palm Sunday, there is also the Feast of Lazarus, when Christ resurrected Lazarus from the dead. After Palm Sunday begins Holy Week – the week before Easter, which is dedicated to the last days of Jesus Christ on earth.The Feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem was established by the Christian church in Jerusalem in the 4th century. In Russia, this holiday appeared in the 10th century and was named Palm Sunday. The holiday celebrates the solemn entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem before Easter in 33 AD. Christ entered the city on a donkey, symbolizing peace, and was greeted by the people who threw flowers and laid garments in His path. However, Christ came to Jerusalem not for earthly power, but to endure martyrdom for the atonement of sins. Five days later, the same crowd cried: 'Crucify Him...!'There is also a pagan version of the origin of Palm Sunday, according to which the ancient Slavic ritual of Verbochlist served as a precursor to the holiday, dedicated to fertility and the strength of will symbolized by the willow.Palm Sunday is associated with numerous traditions and rituals aimed at attracting health, wealth, prosperity, successful marriage, and happy motherhood. On this day, it is forbidden to do housework, prepare hot dishes, or engage in heavy physical labor. It is also not advisable to quarrel, express negative thoughts, watch television or play computer games. Instead, one can express wishes for health and happiness through poetry or by using willow twigs.On Palm Sunday, it is important to observe fasting. The Great Forty-Day Fast before Easter implies restrictions on the consumption of meat, eggs, and dairy products. Instead, fish and a little red wine can be consumed.