Tying the bushes

Palmbu

On Palm Sunday, Bishop Josef Marketz blesses the palm bushes on Cathedral Square in Klagenfurt

(Bild: Uta Rojsek-Wiedergut)

The Friday before Palm Sunday, this year March 22, is not a special day in the calendar, but according to centuries-old tradition, it is: on the Friday of Sorrows, people are supposed to cut the palm catkins and tie palm bushes before sunrise - the custom is rich in variations. 

In the pre-Easter period, palm catkins adorn our homes in vases, sometimes decorated with Easter eggs, sometimes peeking out between tulips, and on Palm Sunday many people bring a palm bush to church to have it blessed.

Whether on sticks, with a specially tied handle, with or without decorations: for centuries, palm bushes have been carried into churches for blessing - usually a task that children are happy to take on.

(Bild: Kärnten Museum Abteilung Volkskunde)

The custom is reminiscent of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, when people laid a carpet of palm branches for him. The Gospel of John (12:13) says: "Then they took palm branches and went out to receive him, shouting: Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!"

A palm procession was carried out from the Mount of Olives to the city of Jerusalem as early as the year 400. 

The palm tree has been a symbol of life, hope and victory since ancient times. Palm branches are an attribute of the Christian martyrs. 

In our latitudes, instead of palm branches, willow branches are used, which already bear "catkins", and boxwood, juniper or spruce branches are also tied into pre-Easter palm bushes.

Their blessing power fades in the sunlight
"According to tradition, these plants and medicinal herbs should never be harvested in sunlight. This is when they can develop their greatest power," explains Roland Bäck, historian and head of the education department at the Carinthia Museum, to the "Kärntner Krone". According to ancient custom, the palm catkins should therefore be cut before sunrise on the Friday of Sorrows. However, the willows are harvested weeks earlier and kept in a cool place to prevent them from turning yellow.

Bushes or sticks? 
The palm bushes look slightly different in every valley. A rough distinction can be made between Lower Carinthia and Upper Carinthia palm bushes: "In Lower Carinthia, the willow rods are often tied into bushes up to five meters long. In Upper Carinthia, on the other hand, the actual bushes are rather short, but they are tied to hazel poles that are several meters long," Bäck explains.

In Lower Carinthia, rings are tied around the weeping willow branches to hold the bush together. These rings are made in odd numbers, i.e. 3, 5 or 7. The Lavanttaler Buschen has an elaborate handle made of willow. 

In some places, the palm bushes are decorated with an apple, pretzels and colorful crepe paper bows.

Holy Week begins with the blessing of these palm bushes. The Old High German word Kara means lamentation, and this week commemorates the Passion of Jesus.

Palm catkins as a panacea: Fluffy aspirin pills
Palm bushes are said to have great powers of blessing: They are said to ward off bad weather in the oven, soothe pain in the ear, bring blessings in the cradle and the corner of the Lord's house, ward off illness in the cattle at the stable door and guarantee a good harvest in the fields. Palm kitties were even swallowed for sore throats. And in a way, the willow is also a medicine, cows eat it for a reason: the bark contains substances that are extremely similar to acetylsalicylic acid, so it works like aspirin.