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Here on Zakynthos, on Palm Sunday the churches are decorated with palms – Vaya – woven into different shapes.
These have been made by the priest and his family. Once ready they are lightly tied to a length of string that goes from side-to-side of the church, making up 6 or more rows. Ready for the service in the morning of Palm Sunday.
After the service, the priest says a blessing for these ‘decorations’. This has no sooner than been bestowed, when it becomes a ‘free-for-all’, where members of the congregation, having strategically positioned themselves, start pulling at them, so as to take them home.
As they leave, each are given a small bouquet made up of ‘vaya’, wild flowers and a sprig from an olive tree.
Here are videos on how to make them – (although in Greek, the lens is up close, showing in detail how it is done) –
– Sun – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0Rc53zPnz
– Cross – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfO5KlshkFw
– Donkey – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZrC-3qS2mU
