As the vibrant season of Easter approaches, one of Poland’s most colorful and meaningful traditions returns to churches and homes across the country and among Polish communities abroad: the crafting and blessing of Easter palms, or palmy wielkanocne. Deeply rooted in Christian symbolism and regional folklore, these unique creations are more than just decorative branches—they are living symbols of faith, renewal, and cultural identity.

A Sacred Gesture with Ancient Roots

Easter palms are prepared to commemorate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event celebrated on Palm Sunday, one week before Easter. While the tradition of carrying palm branches dates to the 4th century in Jerusalem, it gradually spread to the Christian East, Spain, and Gaul. By the 11th century, the blessing of green branches became an integral part of Palm Sunday liturgy throughout the Western Church, including Poland.

In Poland, the custom has flourished since at least the 11th century. Palms are blessed during Palm Sunday mass and are often carried in processions. On Holy Saturday, they are traditionally burned, and the ashes saved for the following year’s Ash Wednesday, when the faithful are marked with the sign of the cross.

What Is Easter Palm?

Unlike the palm fronds of the Middle East, Polish Easter palms are made from local materials, reflecting the country’s rich flora. A typical palm is crafted from:

• Willow twigs (especially catkins or bazie) – the first to bloom in spring, symbolizing rebirth and immortality
• Reeds, grasses, and herbs – often used for texture and form
• Boxwood or juniper – evergreen symbols of life
• Tissue paper flowers – vivid and artistic expressions of joy
• Dried and fresh flowers – adding natural beauty and scent

Each palm is a carefully arranged bouquet, often handmade at home or purchased from local artisans and church fundraisers.

Regional Variations Across Poland

Polish Easter palms vary widely by region, each with its own unique materials and techniques. Here are some notable examples:

Kurpie Palm (Palma Kurpiowska)

Made from the trunk of a small fir or spruce tree, the Kurpie palm is wrapped entirely with widłak (clubmoss), heather, and bilberry twigs. It is adorned with ribbons and paper flowers, leaving the top of the tree green. A famous annual contest for the tallest palm takes place in Łyse, a village in the Kurpie region, every Palm Sunday since the 1960s.

Highlander Palm (Palma Góralska or Podhalańska)

Common in southern Poland, especially in places like Bukowina Tatrzańska and Rabka, these palms are made from willow, hazel, or wicker twigs, with added juniper and boxwood. These regions also host competitions for the longest and most beautiful palm, some reaching several meters high.

Vilnius Palm (Palemka Wileńska)

Distinctively colorful and intricate, Vilnius palms are woven from up to 50 types of dried flowers and grasses. Popular in the Vilnius region and among Polish Lithuanians, these palms are wrapped around a central stick and are symbolic of the Kaziuki Fair in Vilnius.

Płock Palm

Found in northwestern Mazovia, this palm features water reeds, bilberry branches, willow catkins, and pastel-colored tissue flowers, assembled into a neat bouquet.

Silesian Palm

Modest and natural in appearance, the Silesian palm includes five to seven different trees or shrubs, at least one with thorns. The use of red willow is a distinctive feature.

Lasowiak Palm

From southeastern Poland, these palms include willow catkins, grasses, reeds, and even flax, combined with handmade paper flowers.

A Living Legacy

Despite modernization and changing lifestyles, the tradition of the Easter palm remains a vibrant and cherished aspect of Polish culture. It connects generations, blending religious observance with folk artistry. Whether created in a countryside village or bought at a city market, each palm carries with it a message of hope, faith, and the enduring beauty of tradition.

From towering creations in regional contests to humble bouquets tucked into baskets, Easter palms continue to inspire joy and reflection across Poland and beyond.