"Palm" Sunday in Russia. Another interesting tradition.

        Today is Palm Sunday in Russia.  Next week then, of course, is Easter.  The Russian Orthodox church uses the Julian calendar to calculate its "moveable feasts" of which Easter is one.  Most of the rest of the world (including the USA) uses the Gregorian calendar.   By using the Julian calendar Easter is May 5th this year in Russia.  (Russia uses the same calendar we do for every other purpose)  The complex formula used to come up with May 5th is beyond my limited ability to comprehend so I will not even attempt an explanation.  Just trust me, today is Palm Sunday, the week before Easter and  the day that commemorates Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  Jesus's worshippers met him with palm branches along the way.  And in many places in the world palm branches are part of the celebration.  Here's where the interesting Russian tradition comes in.
        Of course you can't find real palm branches in Russia.  In fact the only thing in bloom this early in Russia is Pussy Willows.  So in Russian the willows substitute for the palm branches.  And for the week before Palm (Willow)  Sunday you can buy these pussy willows on just about every street corner.  And then on "Palm" Sunday the vendors come out in droves and they sell these willows by the thousands. the people take them to church and then home for decoration.   Below are a few pictures we took today of some of the vendors and buyers.  Many of them set up near a church as you can see from the pictures.  Other items of religious significance are also sold.  We couldn't resist buying a small Russian Orthodox easter egg.  (As you can also see its still a little cool here in Siberia on April 28th)  We hope you are all enjoying the spring weather.  We sure are.  No snow and ice.

A Russian Orthodox easter egg

Some typical Russian Easter cards.