Willow Sunday (Verbna nedilia)
The last Sunday before Easter (Palm Sunday) is called Willow Sunday (Verbna nedilia). On this day willow branches are blessed in the church. The week before Easter, the Great Week (Holy Week), is called the White or Pure Week.
The willow branches were blessed by the priest at church on Verbna Nedilya, and people, holding these blessed branches would go around their village touching each other with the branches by way of greeting, and saying, “Be healthy as water and rich as earth!” The blessed willow branches were used to chase the cattle from the barns where they had stayed in winter into the vernal fields for grazing — verba was supposed to be helpful in protecting the domestic animals against disease and conducive to proliferation. Some of the blessed willow branches were kept at home for the whole year until next year’s Verbna Nedilya — they were supposed to protect the house against fire and evil forces.
The last Sunday before Easter (Palm Sunday) is called Willow Sunday (Verbna nedilia). On this day willow branches are blessed in the church. The week before Easter, the Great Week (Holy Week), is called the White or Pure Week. 
The willow branches were blessed by the priest at church on Verbna Nedilya, and people, holding these blessed branches would go around their village touching each other with the branches by way of greeting, and saying, “Be healthy as water and rich as earth!” The blessed willow branches were used to chase the cattle from the barns where they had stayed in winter into the vernal fields for grazing — verba was supposed to be helpful in protecting the domestic animals against disease and conducive to proliferation. Some of the blessed willow branches were kept at home for the whole year until next year’s Verbna Nedilya — they were supposed to protect the house against fire and evil forces.
“Be healthy as water and rich as earth!”
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