Lazareva Saturday — secrets of the April 12 holiday: omens, superstitions, prohibitions

Lazarus Saturday is the day before Palm Sunday, or in another way, the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. The holiday is dedicated to one of the main miracles performed by Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the righteous Lazarus, and in 2025 falls on April 12. For more information about what happened on this significant day and what signs our ancestors believed, see the Izvestia article.

Lazarev's Saturday in 2025: when, what kind of holiday, history

Lazarus Saturday occupies a special place among the many Orthodox celebrations. The day precedes the beginning of Holy Week, the week before Easter, dedicated to the last days of the earthly life of Jesus Christ. For Orthodox believers, Lazarev Saturday is a symbol of hope for eternal life. Despite the fact that the holiday is celebrated on the eve of Palm Sunday, historically the events took place much earlier. It is believed that the Lord entered Jerusalem two months after the miracle.

The events of this day are narrated by the Gospel of John. According to legend, Saint Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary, lived in Bethany, near Jerusalem. The family was on good terms with Christ, who visited them more than once, coming to these parts. When Lazarus died of a serious illness, Christ did not come to Bethany immediately.

It is believed that the Savior intentionally delayed coming to Bethany. The reason for this was the Lord's desire to show people a true miracle. After all, the resurrections that He had performed more than once before were often questioned, since Christ came to the dying shortly before he left for another world, and many believed that the person could be unconscious.

That is why Jesus' actions were equated to quackery, the priests explain. Therefore, in the case of Lazarus, he endured for four days, saying, "This disease is not for death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."

When Jesus came to the house and saw the tears of Lazarus' family, he himself felt sorrow and shed tears.

Rector of the Church of the New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Orthodox Church, Priest Konstantin Maltsev pays special attention to this episode. According to the expert, here we see a human moment of compassion, because in Christ two natures were combined — divine and human. As a human, He cries that He has lost his friend, at the same time, having divine power, He can resurrect him.

The righteous man came to life after the words of Jesus Christ: "Lazarus, get out!" The resurrected one came out to the people in the form in which he was buried. The news of the great miracle spread quickly throughout the city. People have recognized the divine nature of Jesus Christ. When the Messiah rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, the crowd greeted him with glee, throwing palm branches at his feet.

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Lazarus Saturday traditions, signs of April 12

The history of the celebration of St. Peter's Sabbath dates back to early Christianity. In Byzantium, the day was celebrated as a celebration of hope and resurrection. Over time, it appeared in other countries. In the evening of this day, on the eve of Palm Sunday, people brought and are bringing willow branches to the temple, which replaced the palm tree in the harsher northern regions. The priest performs the rite of consecration at the evening service. In Slavic countries, the willow tree became a symbol of celebration in imitation of the contemporaries of Jesus Christ.

Traditionally, on Lazarus Saturday, the townspeople went to cut willow trees on the banks of flowing rivers. For example, in Moscow, a tree grew abundantly on the banks of the Neglinka River. The housewives also prepared various treats for the Sunday holiday: buckwheat pancakes and fish coop were baked, porridge was cooked.

On the territory of Greece, it was customary to make special sweet biscuits, which were called "lazarchiki" in everyday life. All this was eaten on Palm Sunday, because in honor of the holiday, a relaxation was made: it was allowed to eat fish and vegetable oil.

In addition, there are many signs associated with Lazarev Saturday. For example, after bringing a willow into the house, it was necessary to hit the household with it — people believed that everyone who was "beaten" was given health for the whole year. They also paid attention to the number of buds blooming on the willow. If there were a lot of them, the year will be rich and full of joyful events.

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Lazareva Saturday: what you can eat, what you can't do

The Orthodox Church does not indicate what can and cannot be done on Lazarus Saturday. However, according to popular beliefs, as on many Orthodox holidays, it is better to refrain from heavy housework: washing things by hand, doing needlework, and carrying out general cleaning.

In addition, the ongoing Great Lent excludes noisy festivities and feasts. However, Lazarus Saturday is the only day during Lent when, in addition to traditional lenten dishes, it is allowed to eat fish caviar, add vegetable oil and drink wine.