Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday is a church and folk holiday celebrated one week before Easter. The holiday commemorates Jesus Christ's entry into the temple in Jerusalem, where he was greeted with willow branches. In Armenian churches, a liturgy and the rite of Blessing are performed on this day, after which the blessed willow branches are distributed to the faithful. These branches are believed to have magical powers of goodness, abundance, and fertility. On Palm Sunday, churches are decorated with willow branches, and in the evening the Door Opening ceremony is held, symbolizing the Lord's second coming and the Last Judgment. During the holiday, a passage from the Song of Songs is also read. By the order of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, Palm Sunday is declared a day of blessing for children. The roots of the holiday are pre-Christian and connected to the water and rain goddess Narin, as well as tree worship. The holiday is spring-themed and dedicated to the rebirth of life, trees, and flowering. After the adoption of Christianity, the holiday was adapted to Christian ideology, marking Jesus' peaceful entry into Jerusalem. Traditions include gathering willow branches, decorating the church, lighting candles, and blessing ceremonies. Newlyweds and engaged couples are marked with special rites. On Palm Sunday, people wear spring clothes. Regional variations exist: in Kesab, special rites with cloth pieces are performed; in Javakhk, animals are lightly tapped with willow b