Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday)

Palm SundayEaster holidays in Romania, as in the whole Orthodox world, begin on Saturday, which commemorates the Resurrection of Lazarus. In Romania, the Sabbath of the Resurrection of Lazarus bears the same name as the next Sunday after it - "Palm". However, in Romania and Moldova, it sounds like Floriile – which means “Flower”.

One can not go into long discussions about what pre-Christian traditions were brought to the Easter holidays, but only to say that even the day of the resurrection of Lazarus has several meanings in Romania. Lazarus, who “lent” his name to this day, is associated with Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, who was resurrected by Christ, at the same time it is a beggar Lazarus, as well as Lazarique, who died of his addiction to the plecints.

The Sabbath day before Holy Week in Orthodoxy is called “The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem.” This week marks the end of the 40-day fast and marks the moment of the need to share Christ’s suffering. From this day begins the most severe period of Lent. This last week was and still is, but for the most part in Romanian villages, it is the harshest week.

The introduction to the period of Easter holidays was considered symbeta floriilor (Palm Saturday or Saturday of the Resurrection of Lazarus), on this Saturday evening the older generation tried to eat very little, and from Palm Sunday to Holy (Great, as they say in Romania), Thursday, did not eat at all. Young people these days ate mainly lean bread and dried fruit (known in Russia prunes and others). They only drank pure spring water. However, this did not mean that the ancestors of modern Romanians considered compliance with the requirement of fasting only with these restrictions. In the same period, people tried to refrain from profanity, and especially from profanity. It is not allowed to quarrel or even be offended by anyone. Complete sexual abstinence was prescribed.