Tsvetnitsa

Tsvetnitsa, or Palm Sunday took place two Sundays ago and brought with it some interesting traditions. I vaguely remember Palm Sunday from when I went to church as a kid, but it took me a while to understand that was what we were celebrating when it arrived. In Bulgaria a palm frond isn't used on Tsvetnitsa, instead people go to church and line up to receive long willow branches that they then form into wreaths. They can then be worn on your head and are taken home and placed above the door to keep out evil spirits. After receiving the willow, we bought candles and lit them inside the church. On Tsvetnitsa Bulgarians not only celebrate Palm Sunday but anyone who was named after a flower (Violetta, Lily, Margarita (Daisy) as well as a variety of boys names) celebrates their name day. Outside the church people had set up stalls to sell flowers and since so many people are named after plants and flowers the restaurants and cafes were packed with people celebrating. It was a perfect day.