Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday. As the end of Lent, it is not only a time for reflection, but also for customs. The name Palm Sunday derives from the palm branches with which pilgrims in Jerusalem cheered Jesus as he entered. Today these are symbolized by the palm bushes, which are also referred to as palm trees, palm poles or palm beserl, depending on the region.
Ten facts about palm bushes
1. According to old popular belief, the palm bushes should be tied on the Friday before Palm Sunday, on the so-called Painful Friday, before sunrise.
2. Incidentally, the art of tying used to be passed on from father to son – it was purely a man’s business.
3. Of course, there is no trace of palm branches in our home region. In this country, seven or nine types of trees/herbs are usually tied to form a bush. In any case, it is important that it is an odd number.
4. Branches of eg catkins (willows), heather, hazelnut, oak, boxwood, holly, juniper (crane witten), yew can be used.
5. The palm bush looks very different in Upper Austria. The variety ranges from small bunches tied to a willow stick to meter-high palm sticks that are decorated with apples, colorful ribbons or palm pretzels.
6. According to an old custom, the twigs are tied together with soaked willow bark – it is a matter of honor not to use wire.
7. An apple is often placed in the palm bush, which is divided among all family members after church. It is said to be particularly healing and beneficial.
8th. The colorful ribbons also have their meaning: green stands for joy at the resurrection, red for the bloody death of Christ, white for his innocence.
9. The palm bush consecrated in the church is set up in different places with different wishes and requests. For example, he should protect the harvest in the field. Under the roof he protects people from storms and fire. In the stable it wards off diseases and in the Herrgottswinkel it is attached to the glory of God.
10 Often the catkins were eaten by people or fed to the animals – to protect against diseases and other evils. For example, it was customary to eat three palm cats. That should protect against a sore throat.
Instructions for tying a palm bush
On its YouTube channel, the Diocese of Linz shows how to tie a palm bush in just a few simple steps.
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Are needed:
Catkins, boxwood, yew, juniper, snow heather, holly, hazelnut shoots, twine, willow, 1 hazelnut stick, scissors, screwdriver
Arrange the plants in a bushy manner and do not let them out of hand. Tie the branches with twine and trim the ends with secateurs. Place the tip of the willow at the base of the branches, hold with your thumb and wrap the plants tightly with willow. Use a screwdriver to expose the branches a little and pull the willow through the hole. Finally, fix the hazelnut stick with slight twisting movements.
Show us your copies!
Have you tied palm bushes yourself or bought a particularly beautiful piece? Feel free to send us a photo to online@nachrichten.at!
Source: Nachrichten
