Polish Christian Holiday (Easter) Object: "Niesmiertelnik"

This is a Polish Christian Easter decoration, called "niesmiertelnik," which means straw flower and also immortal in Polish. These "niesmiertelnik" branches are made of dried and dyed flowers to replace the palms that would be blessed on "Niedziela palmowa", Polish for Palm Sunday. The palms commemorate the Sunday before Easter, celebrating the death and ascension of Jesus Christ to heaven.

Poland lacks the palms indigenous to Jerusalem that would be blessed at church on Palm Sunday. Consequently, the Poles developed an alternative Easter "palm." Typically, people carry blooming pussy willows branches decorated with branches of birch, raspberry, currant and also some boxwood, dry flowers and grass, ribbons and other decorations. Different regions have their own type of palms.

The Christian faith is based on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus or Christ. Jesus, (7–2 BC/BCE – 30–36 AD/CE), is the central figure of Christianity. Most Christian denominations venerate him as God the Son.

The principal sources of information regarding Jesus are the four canonical gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The gospels declare that Jesus was a Jew born in Bethlehem, in the Roman province of Judea. At the age of 30, he began to preach throughout Palestine, which was then under Roman rule. The gospels describe miracles that Jesus performed such as raising the dead.

Most critical historians agree that Jesus was a Jew who was regarded as a teacher and healer. He was crucified in Jerusalem, on the orders of the Roman Prefect of Judaea, on the charge of sedition against the Roman Empire. Christians believe that Jesus then rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, from which he will return.
Source:
“The Polish Palm”. A History of the World. The British Museum. 30 June 2013. Document URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld/objects/CUCcQUNrTqW8OUE6i0YuKg http://culture.polishsite.us/articles/art274.html "Jesus Christ." Children's Illustrated Encyclopedia. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 2010. 297. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 1 July 2013. Document URL http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy.lapl.org/ps/i.do?id=GALE|CX1796500200&v=2.1&u=lapl&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus