The willow is indispensable in the almsgiving that is done at The Flower Estatesfrom Saturday, the day before Palm Sunday, when willow and wicker branches are taken to the church, which, then, at the cemetery, are placed on the graves, often in the shape of a crown, but also of a cross.
The custom that has been preserved to this day also includes decorating the household with willow branches, which hang on the gate or in other places, and after the Easter holidays pass, they are placed at the icon, where they are kept throughout the year, as shows in ethnographic writings.
Willow, in great demand on Saturday, in the markets
This is also the reason why both in the markets of Sibiu and at the Municipal Cemetery, willow branches are in great demand these days. The branches are sold either by the link, with prices between 3-5 lei, be ready braided in the form of wreathsat a cost of 10-20 lei.
Willow branches, taken to churches on Lazarus Saturday
It’s just that the willow branches in the markets are not sanctified, but they are bought to be taken to the church and placed on the memorial table for the dead, on Saturday, or even Sunday, on the Day of Flowers, together with the participation in the Liturgy.
The churches in Sibiu were full on Saturday morning, a day also known as Saturday of Lazarus, of believers who participated in the memorial services for the departed. Those present brought willow branches, to be sanctified, but also a cage, cakes, fruits, flour, oil and other dishes, which they shared with others. Moșii de Florii is the day when commemorations are made for the souls of the deceased, now ending Sărindarale, that is, the commemoration of the dead made every Saturday of Great Lent. On this Saturday, Jesus Christ shows his miracles again, resurrecting Lazarus, four days after death.
Preparations in cemeteries, for the days around Florii
Preparations for these crowded days, when hundreds of believers take the road to the cemeteries to decorate the graves of their loved ones, began already in the first days of the week, in anticipation of the Floris.
In the Municipal Cemetery alone, since Tuesday, dozens of teams of caretakers have been mobilized to clean the alleys, cut the grass, check the lighting and prepare everything so that the graves are as accessible as possible to those who will come with light and branches of willow, in these days of celebration.
“Mowing the grass, sanitizing arrangements and, in general, cleaning the Cemetery are activities that we carry out periodically, but especially now we want to be ready for the holidays”, Alberto Telcinschi, legal advisor of the Municipal Cemetery administration, told us. He also specified to us that precisely the periodic nature of the works is the reason why the respective activities are carried out through outsourced service contracts, ordered by the Sibiu City Hall, under whose authority the cemetery administration is located.
The graves without heirs, remained undecorated
Moreover, the legal advisor testified to us that the actions of cleaning, arrangement and other improvements in the cemetery could be much easier if there were not many abandoned graves, for which the owners either did not complete the successions in time, or the concessions expired, or there are many other complicated legal situations, where the heirs are not clear. And which remain unadorned, during the holidays.
On this occasion, Alberto Telcinschi wanted to draw the attention of the owners of the graves or the successors to present themselves at the headquarters of the Municipal Cemetery in order to be supported in clarifying their legal situation. “For the graves that belong to them, all people should declare them as inheritance, together with the succession, just like any other property owned”. he also emphasized.
