April 13 11:31
Today, a week before Easter, Orthodox Christians will celebrate one of the most important holidays in the Orthodox calendar – Palm Sunday. In 2025, he fell on April 13th. It is believed that the holiday is dedicated to the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem.
The symbol of the holiday was palm branches that threw under the feet of Christ. In Russia, instead of them, they began to use the Verob as the first plant that comes to life after the winter.
According to church canons, a holiday preceding the beginning of a passionate week requires a special internal mood. On this day, it is recommended to abandon the worldly fuss, hard physical labor and economic worries, including cleaning, washing, repair work and the like. It is believed that such behavior contradicts the spirit of the celebration, permeated by the foreboding of the imminent suffering of Christ. The Orthodox tradition recommends focusing on prayer, attending worship, communicating with loved ones and preparing for Easter.
There were many signs associated with the Palm Sunday, by which they tried the future. For example, clear and sunny weather foreshadowed the generally favorable, fruitful year. If on Palm Sunday it was raining or snow, they knew a lot of wheat in the fall. And if the weather was dry, they prepared for the lean season. A windy day promised a chilly and cool summer.
If for the holiday the reeds of the verb were completely bloomed, they no longer waited for cold weather, since it was believed that spring completely entered into its rights. According to popular signs, if on this day the bees returned early to the hive, warming should soon come. And the bright red sunset indicated the approach of the rains.
