The Orthodox Christians observe Palm Sunday on April 13. The feast commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, when his disciples and the townspeople met him with ficus tree, date palm and olive tree branches. It is celebrated on the Sunday before Easter, IPN reports.

The day before Palm Sunday, Lazarus Saturday, is the miracle when Jesus Christ raised Lazarus from the dead after he had lain in the grave four days. Here, at the end of Great Lent and the forty days of fasting and penitence, the Church combines this celebration with that of Palm Sunday. In triumph and joy, the Church bears witness to the power of Christ over death. On Palm Sunday, believers often prepare palm fronds by knotting them into crosses in preparation for the procession on Sunday.

Priest Oleg Ursu, of the Ialoveni Church “Saint Pious Parascheva”, has told IPN that they bless blooming willow tree branches in churches on Palm Sunday. The faithful take these branches and candles home with them after the service, and keep them in their icon corner. Those who fast are allowed to eat fish and drink wine. The hangings and vestments in churches are changed to a festive color.

Palm Sunday is one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the liturgical year. They say beekeepers on this day must surround the beehives with blessed branches, while farmers must bury buds under furrows. When there is a storm, the buds blessed on Palm Sunday are put in the fire so as to scatter the clouds and hail.