Palm Sunday in Poland
Poland is a country full of unique traditions and customs, especially when it comes to holidays. Easter in Poland is celebrated according to the Western Roman Catholic calendar. In the Christian tradition, Palm Sunday is the last Sunday before Easter. It commemorates the day when Jesus came into Jerusalem, and people greeted him by waving palm fronds and crying out ‘Hosanna!’.
photo:www.to.com.pl
To remember that day, in most Christian faiths people bring palm fronds to houses of worship. But there is one little problem – yes, you’re right… There are no palm trees in Poland as it’s too cold there. But it didn’t stop Poles to maintain the tradition – people gather for a procession with artificial palms made from branches of native trees, including box, willow, yew and olive.
Some of the Polish villages and small towns organize artificial palm competitions. The most famous ones take place in the village of Łyse in the Northeastern region of Kurpie, and in the village of Lipnica Murowana, Southwest of Cracow.
photo:www.wigra.com
The village of Łyse holds a contest for the tallest and most beautiful palm. People from all over the region work hard for the forty days of Lent to make their entries.
photo:www.watra.pl
When it comes to palms in Lipnica Murowana, they’re are so tall that several men have to carry them. To build those palms, people cannot use nails or other metal elements – only wood, willow, reeds, green branches and paper flowers are allowed. In 2011 the biggest palm was over 36 meters high! That’s the record by now. Impressive, isn’t it?
Mystical Powers of Palma
Blessed palms are placed over a sacred image or above the front door to protect against fire and all evil. Early in the morning on Easter Sunday or Easter Monday the inhabitants of southern Poland burn bits of palm or palm crosses in the fields and gardens because it is believed that they will defend them from hail and pests.
photo:www.gazetakrakowska.pl
Jezus Palmowy
In the small village of Tokarnia takes place a tradition known as Jezus Palmowy. A figure of Christ riding a donkey is placed in a cart and pulled through the main square in a procession.
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