Palm Sunday: Orthodox Christians mark Jesus Christ's entry into Jerusalem
The Orthodox Christians celebrate Palm Sunday today. Palm Sunday is one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the liturgical year. The feast commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
The Church says when Jesus entered Jerusalem, his disciples and the townspeople met him with ficus tree, date palm and olive tree branches. That’s why the Orthodox Christians on Palm Sunday go to church with palm branches that symbolize victory over death and have these blessed. They take the branches home with them after the service and keep them all year round.
They say beekeepers on this day must surround the beehives with blessed branches, while farmers must bury buds under furrows. When there is a storm, the buds blessed on Palm Sunday are put in the fire to scatter the clouds and hail.
On this day, those who fast are allowed to eat fish and drink wine. After Palm Sunday, the Orthodox Christians enter Passion Week.
Orthodox Christians will celebrate Easter in a week, on April 20.
