Tsvetnitsa

What happens

Bulgarians call Orthodox Palm Sunday Tsvetnitsa, from the word for flower. People take willow twigs to church to be blessed, then twist them into small wreaths to hang on the door or over the icon at home. It is also the name day of everyone whose name comes from a flower or a tree, such as Tsvetan, Roza, Lilia, Violeta and Yavor, which makes it one of the busiest name days of the year. The day before, on Lazarus Saturday, girls in costume go from house to house singing, with flowers in their hair.

The flowers

WillowBlessed twigs, woven into wreaths for the house.WreathGirls float small wreaths on the river in an old custom of the day.RoseOne of many flowers that give Bulgarians their names.

More flowers and customs of Tsvetnitsa

Decoration Palm Sunday Christian festival with palms or local branches marking Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem 🇮🇳 India and 1 more · Custom Decoration Palm branch A symbol of victory, peace, and eternal life made from palm leaves 🇪🇬 Egypt and 7 more · Offering or rite Decoration Easter palmpalma wielkanocna, verba A decorated willow or juniper branch for Palm Sunday in Poland and Lithuania 🇱🇹 Lithuania and 3 more · Offering or rite Pussy willow Soft, silvery spring catkins from several small willow species 🇷🇺 Russia and 4 more · Wildflower