Our Pennsylvania Dutch family had an old tradition on Palm Sunday weekend. The big question was, who will be the "Palm Esel," meaning "Palm Donkey?
The "Palm Esel" was the last person to get out of bed on Palm Sunday. A funny German tradition with a dark side (like most) it originally shamed the last boy to enter church.
Palm Sunday was exciting, because the Lutheran Church was decorated with real palm branches, brought all the way from Florida! From our little sheltered world in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, at a time when few people traveled more than a few miles from home, Florida seemed unimaginably exotic.
Guess who's the "Palm Esel" in this house?
Hint: not me.
Long ago, sweet and simple times.
Me (left) with my brother, sister and mother.
Me (left) with my brother, sister and mother.
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