Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday)

Palm Sunday (Bulgarian for "Flower" or "Verbnitsa") is celebrated on the Sunday after Lazarus Day. It is believed that on this day the Lord Jesus Christ walked on a donkey into Jerusalem, greeted joyfully by people with palm branches in their hands.

Orthodox custom in Bulgaria chose for this holiday branch of the newly opened willow. In the evening, during the night vigil, these branches are consecrated in the temple and distributed in the morning to believers. Everyone brings branches of willows into the house, weaves a wreath out of them and hangs on the door against evil and disease. This wreath is only burned after a year.

In some regions of Bulgaria known rite "kumichene". Young girls who took part in Lazarus Day gather by the river. Each brings a wreath of willow branches and a special ritual bread "doll". Puts it all on a plaque and puts it in the river. The one who has a wreath floated in front of everyone becomes a "kuma" and then leads the "choro" (dance in which everyone joins hands) to his house.

In the north-east of Bulgaria, "Flower" is also associated with memorial ceremonies. It is believed that on this day the dead “dissolve” (their souls come out of the graves) and want loved ones to bring them something. Even before sunrise, women go to the cemetery with willow branches and hay in their hands. They cast the grave with cumin, water it with water and stick twigs close to the stove, and then light hay there.

Despite the strict fast, it is allowed to eat fish on this day.