The first day of the Slovakia Easter was Flower Sunday (Palm Sunday). On this day, the villagers would bring green twigs and branches called “bahniatka” to church. The priest would bless the twigs and branches with water and a prayer.
Palm Sunday Cross by RogueSun Media
When the villagers returned home from the church they would then place them behind pictures hanging in their house or on the framework of the attic. The villagers believed that the hanging twigs would protect the house from storms. During an actual storm, they would attach the twigs to the windows.
Also on Flower Sunday, when the gospel was read at church, it was believed that all hidden treasures on earth would become uncovered. According to the legend, the treasure would be found at the spot where little flames burned on the ground. However, the treasure hunters would have to hurry to uncover the treasure, because it was also believed that once the priest had finished reading the gospel the flames would disappear.
Many traditions were associated with meal times on Flower Sunday. The farmers were supposed to eat long strands of pasta, so that their crops would do well that year. It was also believed that whichever product the farmer ate first on this day would be the crop that flowered first.
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