Lithuania has a rich history of springtime rituals. Many of its Easter traditions have their origins in pagan customs which were practiced until the 14th century, when the country finally converted to Christianity. That’s one of the reasons that Lithuanian Easter is a colorful bright celebration that mixes superstition and religion in a country which is predominantly Roman Catholic. Easter was and is one of the two most important and most widely celebrated festivals of the year, the other being Christmas.

Verbos (literally, “Palms”) are bouquets of dried plants used in Palm Sunday celebrations, on the Sunday before Easter. They represent the palm branches that were laid in Christ’s path when he triumphantly entered Jerusalem. Many Verbos are crafted and sold by vendors in streets that day and then sanctified in the churches.

Lithuania is in northern Europe with a cold climate and as palms do not grow there, people created substitutes. The tradition evolved from simple Juniper Birch or Willow branches to what is now elaborate and beautiful wands of dried flowers and grasses. Large clusters of plants interwoven with flowers and sometimes adorned with ribbons are fastened to the top of a wooden stick or branch. Any size of dried flower bouquets are possible—from a small children’s size of 6 or 12 inches to those reaching 10 feet and more. Although the art form is practiced all over Lithuania, it is believed that it originated in Vilnius in the 19th century and these are sometimes called “Vilniaus verbos.” 

Jadvyga Kunicka with giant verbos (Leono Šalkovskio) 

Lithuanian Girl with Verbos (Kanutas Ruseckas, 1847)

There is an old custom of rising early on Easter morning and using verbos to thrash those still sleeping. When thrashing the late-sleeper with verba you might say, “Ne aš mušu, bet verba muša” (I am not hitting you; the verba is). Another saying is “It will whip until it breaks Easter and make everyone happy.” Or, you might say, “Be as you were; be healthy as a fish.” Nobody gets beaten very hard, so you must not complain but be happy as this will ensure health for the coming year. Easter is also a time of welcoming the coming of spring and consequently verbos also have a relationship to fertility, crops, and the health of farm animals. 

In previous centuries people went to church on Palm Sunday and had their verbos blessed during mass. Farmers accompanied by their families would walk through their fields and buildings on the afternoon of Palm Sunday praying and singing ancient hymns. They would place a sprig of blessed palms in each field and in every barn and stable to avert the punishment of bad weather or diseases and to draw God’s blessing on the year’s harvest. The blessed verbos would then be kept in the home where they would be dried and put away. If they had Juniper branches, once the needles fell off the arrangement, they would be stored in a small box or bag and used as incense. During a heavy storm or other occasions the bare branches would be placed under the roof to protect against lightning. 

Lithuanian verbos (Easter Palms) made by Kristina
Pavilanytė-Gaputienė.

Lithuanian verbos (Easter Palms) in Kaziukas Fair, Vilnius. Evaldas Liutkus from Vilnius, Lithuania – Kaziuko mugė #19.

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Lithuanian verbos (Easter Palms) booth in Kaziukas Fair, Vilnius.