Palm (Flowery) Sunday - Entrance into Jerusalem

The triumphant entry of Jesus into the city of Jerusalem before His passion, is considered one of the twelve Major Feasts of the Byzantine liturgical year. It is always celebrated on the Sunday before Easter with the blessing of a variety of branches.

Because of the cold weather in the Carpathian region neither palm nor olive trees are able to thrive, and even other trees rarely blossom in time for the celebration of Palm Sunday. For this reason, our ancestors introduced the custom of blessing willow-branches, which, at that time, are already budding (pussy-willows) . Pussy-willows also express the liturgical symbolism of Palm Sunday in a proper manner. During the winter the willow tree seems to be dead and yet, with the coming of spring, it sprouts and gives a sign of life. Thus, the willow branches bring to our mind the wood of the Tree of the Cross, while the buds (a sign of new life) remind us of our own glorious resurrection. Learn more!