Traditionally, Easter palms are prepared on
Ash Wednesday, from
willow branches (with
catkins). An Easter palm may also sport some decorations, such as
ribbons or dried flowers or other plants, with attributed beneficial effects. The tradition has developed and become transmitted from generation to generation (in some particular cases even lasting seven generations of practitioners) in villages of North West of
Vilnius city. The first iconographic records of the tying of verbos can be traced to the middle of the 19th century, because the iconic painting “Lithuanian girl with verbos” by
Kanutas Ruseckas, painted in 1847, has inadvertently recorded this tradition, as well as the description by ethnographer Oscar Kolberg in 1866 and other sources. In the early 20th century, around
Vilnius (, now in
Lithuania, but between the wars part of
Poland), decorations made to resemble palm trees began to be sold on Palm Sunday each year. Rarely more than long, the Easter palms soon became popular throughout Poland, and were exported to France in significant quantities as well. It is possible that the Easter palm was originally designed by Polish interwar artist
Ferdynand Ruszczyc; further historical research is needed. There are many regional variations between Easter palms in Poland. In the south of the country, willow branches of various lengths are tied together, sometimes with
hazel branches or
wicker as well, and topped with a large
flower bouquet and other decorations, including a golden cross. ==Cultural significance==