Tsvetnitsa (Palm Sunday) is both a Christian and a national holiday. It always falls on the Sunday before Easter Sunday. In Bulgaria, it is also called Vrabnitsa, Tsvetna nedelia (Colourful Sunday), Vaya, Kuklinden (Doll’s day), etc. The holiday falls into the sixth Sunday of the Long Lent.

On this day, the church organizes a sermon and blesses willow branches. They are given to the faithful, and each of them carries a willow branch to their homes to bless it with health. The tradition also dictates to decorate the front door of the house with a willow branch and to weave into a garland the blessed branches.

All people with names related to plants – like Violetta, Gergina, Dahlia, Zdravko, Iglika, Kamelia, Roza, Tsveta, Yavor etc. – celebrate a name day today.