Polish Traditions: Palm Sunday

Polish Traditions: Palm Sunday (Niedziela Palmowa)

Palm Sunday – the day commemorating Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem – is an important celebration that occurs one week before Easter. Tradition dictates that “palms” be brought to church on this day to be blessed. Yet what happens when palms don’t grow in your country?

In Poland, this problem has been solved in a creative and colorful way.  “Palms” brought to Polish churches on Palm Sunday are not your average plants, but rather bundles made with willow twigs, pine or juniper branches and colorful decorations.

Some Polish towns nowadays even host competitions for the most beautiful and biggest palm!  The most famous of these competitions happens annually in Lipnica Murowana where constructions can reach an astonishing height of 20 meters (65 ft.)

If you’re looking for some of the most beautiful and colorful palms, those can be found in the region of Kurpie, in small villages, such as: Łyse, Myszyniec i Lipniki.

Foto: Tygodnik Ostrołęcki