Palm Sunday, Tsvetnitsa in Bulgarian (the word comes from tsvete, flower) is a Christian holiday loved and looked forward to by many, commemorating the Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. It is a moveable feast, always falling on the Sunday preceding Easter.
On this day, as he enters the holy city Christ is welcomed by the crowd with palm, olive and laurel branches, hence the name Palm Sunday, or Tsvetnitsa or Vrabnitsa (from varba, willow) in Christian Orthodoxy. The willow twigs are blessed in church, and then taken home for health.
People who observe Lent are allowed fish. The following day marks the start of Holy Week - the last days in the life of Jesus Christ when he takes upon himself all sins of the human race to redeem them.
The religious symbols and rituals aside, Palm Sunday is also a very personal day for all Bulgarians with names meaning flowers. In this country, there are more than 360,000 people who will be celebrating their name day today with friends and family, and wishing one another health and prosperity.
Compiled by Yoan Kolev
Translated from the Bulgarian and posted by Milena Daynova
Photos: BTA, BGNES
The National Ethnographic Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences presents its new exhibition "Starry Sky – Mythology and Science" , which covers knowledge of Space from antiquity to the present day and examines mythology, ancient beliefs and the..
Today we mark the 105th anniversary of the birth of academician Valeri Petrov - poet, novelist, screenwriter, playwright and translator. Born in Sofia on 22 April 1920 under the name of Valeri Nissim Mevorakh, he graduated in medicine from Sofia..
Today, the entire Christian world celebrates the Bright Resurrection of Christ. For Orthodox peoples, this is the most radiant and joyful day - the Feast of Feasts - which proclaims the victory of life over death. In Bulgaria, we call it Velikden (“Great..
Mostly Cloudy
Cloudy
Overcast, rain
Partly cloudy, chance of rain
Partly Cloudy