The day before the Sunday of Flowers is called Lazar’s Saturday or the flower estates. This holiday reminds the moment when Christ resurrected Lazarus 4 days after his death.
Lazar’s resurrection, 4 days after death photo: parishoCopou.ro
It is also the day that marks the passage between the Great Lent and the Passover Week. The last Saturday before the week of the Passions of the Lord is known in the Christian tradition as “Lazarus’ Saturday”. Theologians say that it is considered its greatest miracle, and at the same time it represents the guarantee of our resurrection.
Saint Lazarus was called and resurrected by Jesus after being dead for four days.
“It is a day that entrusts us to people, the fact that the Savior Jesus Christ is the Lord of heaven and earth and a good connoisseur of the human nature. The feast of the Orthodox calendar refers to the miracle of Jesus Christ when Lazarus’ sisters, Marta and Maria, called the Savior because their brother had died. Christ told them that Lazar did not die, but sleeps, despite the words of the two sisters who insisted that Lazar had died for 4 days. On Saturday, before entering Jerusalem, Jesus performed the last miracle and said: «Lăzăre, I tell you, come out». That was the moment when Saint Lazarus woke up and followed the Savior, reaching, again, in front of his family.“, Stated Gabriel Cazacu, a priest at the Cașin Monastery in Bucharest, for Digi 24.
After this miracle, the crowds gathered at the gates of the fortress welcomed him with flowers and acclaimed the Savior, at the entrance to Jerusalem.
What is given by the apple of the flower estates
Saturday, April 12, is also the last day of remembrance, until the Easter day, of the past. Before the Sunday of Flowers, the believers can divide the pomane packages with fasting foods to relatives and needy people.
The housewives can prepare the packages for Lazar’s Saturday, which will include vegetables, or fruits. At the same time, in the package you can also put eugenics, wafers, soft drinks, etc. It is important that the package that is given by the apple also includes a glass with a coliva, for the memory of the sleeping ones. After the possibility of each, you can divide food cooked.
What is divided must be sanctified by the priest and divide from the soul.
Tradition says that on Saturdays before the Sunday of Flowers the believers lead willow branches to the graves of our loved ones, who are no longer among us. Christians pray to the Lord that all those who are asleep be placed “Instead, instead of greenery, instead of rest, from where all the pain, sadness and sighing ran out of”.
The miracle of Lazar’s resurrection reminds of a great truth that the Church reminds us of its traditions and ordinances. Those who have died and are no longer among us, are not forgotten, are not “in being”, they are mentioned in the church, and on Saturday, special jobs are performed.
Traditions and customs
On the Saturday of Lazăr, several traditions are respected. For example, the housewives cook pies that they will give as an appointment for the souls of the relatives who have died. At the same time, women cook other fasting preparations: rice sarmals and mushrooms or peppers filled with rice, which they share.
“One superstition that women from the village respect is to not turn on this day, so that the dead do not return to earth. Another ancestral custom that is still respected is the Datina of Lăzărel, reminiscent of an ancient god of vegetation that died and reborn at the beginning of each spring.”, Writes the ethnologist of Argeșean Sorin Mazilescu, on his Facebook page.
In fact, in many localities, on the eve of Flowers, the tradition of “Easter songs” is respected. In each community, in front of the Orthodox places of worship, religious songs reminding about the death and resurrection of Lazar, Jesus’ friend. The resurrection of Lazarus anticipates the resurrection of the Savior of Christ.
“On the Sabbath of Flowers, at the houses of the households carols the girls in the respective locality, carrying on the head of field flowers. In their carols, it is told about the unfortunate death and about the funeral of a young man named Lazăr. One of them bears the name of Lăzăriţa, dresses in the bride. In the song, Lăzăriţa mourns Lazăr’s drama and says he asked the mother to make her azima and she did not fulfill her wish; Then the young man went with the sheep to the woods, went up on a branch to shake leaves for sheep, but began to blow the wind. Then Creanga broke, and he fell and died. He found him his three sisters, brought him home, bathed him in sweet milk and buried him“, He says.
There is also a tradition for luck and increase. “Young girls must plant flowers, being convinced that only the planted now will have many flowering branches. In many areas of the country, the younger girls, dressed in white dresses, adorned with spring flowers, go with the carol through the village, telling the story of the poor Lazăr who died very young. Households honor them with eggs, which they can set on the Great Thursday”, The ethnologist also mentions.
On Lazar’s Saturday, the children carve with willow branches sanctified at the church by the village priest. “Then I go to every house, sing and wishes good and health, and as every time, when the carolers come, the hosts receive children with love. He listens to them and adorn their house with holy willow together, they enjoy and hope”, According to Sorin Mazilescu.
