Lazar and Palm Sunday

Lazar is a Christian holiday that bears the name of St. Lazar. The name

Lazar is a symbol of health and longevity. Lazarus was a friend of Jesus Christ. When he died, four days after his death he vaskrasva.

Lazar is celebrated on the eighth day before Easter and always on Saturday.

On this day perform custom Lazaruvane. Young women called "lazarki" pick flowers gum that will embroil the feast of Palm Sunday (the next day). Girls are dressed in traditional folk costumes. They go round the houses of the village, singing songs and lazarski ritual blessing for health, happiness and prosperity. The owner of the house gave them eggs, money, fruit and small gifts. In the past Lazar young men from the village have asked for the hand of his bride.

It was believed that a girl who has not performed this ritual can not be married. Therefore it was necessary for every girl from the village to lazaruva.

Palm Sunday is a Christian moveable feast

that falls on the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem

In many Christian churches, Palm Sunday is marked by the distribution of palm leaves (often tied into crosses) to the assembled worshippers.

Palm Sunday

According to the Gospels, Jesus rode a donkey

into Jerusalem, and the celebrating people there lay down their cloaks in front of him, and also lay down small branches of trees. The people sang part of Psalms

In Bulgaria, Palm Sunday is known as Tsvetnitsa (flower) or Vrabnitsa (willow). People with flower-related names, celebrate this day as their "name day"