Palm Sunday in 2025: What should believers do?
On April 13, 2025, Orthodox believers will celebrate Palm Sunday. Natalia Zinovich, a historian and cultural critic, told Izvestia about the stories and traditions of this event.
How to prepare for Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday is a holiday that symbolizes the appearance of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem on the eve of his torment and death. Traditionally, this holiday is celebrated on the sixth Sunday of Great Lent. On this day, it is customary to consecrate willow branches, symbolizing the palm branches with which the Jews greeted Jesus Christ.
According to Natalia Zinovich, the Palm Sunday tradition has pagan roots. This is due to the fact that this time coincides with the beginning of spring, when nature wakes up, plants bloom and it gets warm. Returning to Orthodox traditions, on Sunday people come to churches, consecrate willow branches and, according to tradition, keep them near icons throughout the year.
What to do on Palm Sunday
On the eve of the holiday, on Saturday, it is customary to go to church for an all-night vigil. The service lasts from sunset to dawn in strict observance of the charter.
On Palm Sunday, you can afford to eat fish, seafood, vegetable oil and dry wine.
It is believed that cleaning needs to be done the day before, because on Sunday it is better to postpone household chores and spend a holiday with loved ones. On this day, one should not quarrel or have any evil thoughts. Many people visit cemeteries on the holiday and remember the dead. In a separate publication — all parent Saturdays in 2025.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
