Happy Entrance of the Lord in Jerusalem!

[Toinen]

Happy Entrance of the Lord to Jerusalem, Christians!

[tchaika]

This holiday in Russia is called Palm Sunday because the north of the first plant that comes to life after a long winter - a willow tree.
Solemn entry of Jesus into Jerusalem was its entry to the path of sufferings.

Entry into Jerusalem is described in the Gospel of Matthew (21:1-9). On this day Jesus rode into town on a donkey, which meant that he arrived with the world (the eastern entrance to the traditions of the horse was a symbol of war, and a donkey - a symbol of peace). Residents greeted him pave the way with palm branches as a king.
Believers met the Son of God as king of the earth, not knowing that he came to them as the ruler of the kingdom of heaven. Only Jesus knew that the road, lined with palm branches, leads him to the Cross and Calvary. But the Jews so much waiting and hoping that this person will become a political leader and lead his people to political independence and the earthly realm of pleasure that the branches on which Jesus was, even then were considered sacred.

And after that, every year, Christians celebrate the feast of the Entry of Our Lord in Jerusalem, also called the Week Wailly, flowering Sunday, Palm Sunday or Palm Sunday (in the more northern countries, it replaced the willow branches of palm trees). In Christian tradition the day of the Lord's Entry into Jerusalem as a symbol of the future reign of God. Willow branch symbolizes the victory of life over death - Resurrection of the Lord.

Feature of the willow or willow is that this plant is one of the first blossoms. In addition, with the palm associated with many sayings and signs. "If Palm vedryanaya week, with matinees, the yari good will" - that is, If a week from Monday to Palm Sunday rainy, the crop will be good. "Verba thaw leads, drives to the river last ice" - Palm Sunday to thaw the last pieces of ice, finds true warmth.

Willow branches are blessed in the church for a celebratory All-Night Vigil, that is, on the evening service on the eve of the feast, and then store them at home in the most important place - near the icons.

- Icon by Andrei Rublev, "Entry into Jerusalem", 1405, 80 x 62,5 cm, the Annunciation Cathedral of Moscow Kremlin.