Verbnaia nedelia

[Leslie J. Dorfman]

Dear Maria,
        Thank you for the reference.  Bulgakov's book looks very
useful.  I'm posting this to the list for others who may be
interested.

        According to our library catalog, we do have the book (unless
for some reason it turns up missing).  So I will take a look.  Thanks
anyway for your offer to send me a copy of the relevant pages.

Best,
Leslie Dorfman

On Tue, 14 Mar 1995, Ctr for Russian and East European Studies wrote:

> To my colleague interested in Verbnaia nedelia:
>    A most useful text for anyone working in the Silver Age period is
> S.V. Bulgakov's (not that Bulgakov) NASTOL'NAIA KNIGA DLIA
> SVIASHCHENNO-TSERKOVNO-SLUZHITELEI, 2nd ed. (Khar'kov, 1900).  In the
> first part, on pp. 528-530, in the section "Triod' postnaia" (which
> describes the pre-paschal weeks), under "Palm Sunday" ("Vkhod
> Gospoden' v Iurusalim, ili Nedelia Vaii"), the author explains that,
> based on the custom of using palm fronds (symbolizing "znamenie
> pobedy," which greets Him who overcame Hades and Death through His
> sacrifice) in the ceremony celebrating Christ's entry into Jerusalem,
> this Sunday is called "Palm Sunday" (Nedelia Vaii), and in common
> Russian usage is called "Pussy Willow Sunday" (Verbnaia nedelia).
> Palm fronds in Russia are replaced by pussy willow branches, since
> the latter throws out buds before all other trees.  The author goes
> on to discuss the symbolism of the use of the pussy willow in the
> Russian context, and adds a bizarre footnote on the behavior of Russian
> Orthodox congregations on this holiday and the various clerical
> methods suggested for countering it.
>    I will gladly xerox the relevant pages and send them snail mail
> if your library does not have the necessary text (you should order it;
> there is much there to interest you if you work in this period; YMCA
> Press has it).  Please forward your address to:  crees at kuhub.cc.
> ukans.edu       Maria Carlson
>