On Palm Sunday, churches bless bouquets or various forms of tied, bound, or woven spring greenery. This commemorates Christ's arrival in Jerusalem, where people welcomed him with great joy, breaking off palm branches and laying them on his path.

The tradition, which has been widespread across Europe since the 9th century, has been something truly special in Ljubno ob Savinji since the late 19th century. Every year, in front of the parish church, the blessing of the famous Palm Sunday bundles, known as Ljubno poticas, takes place. These symbolize the local community’s connection to faith, wood, and farming traditions.

The Ljubno poticas are a cultural monument of national significance and an important part of cultural heritage.

The Ljubno poticas got their name from the bundles that were once made from fine bread or pastries and greenery.

By the late 19th century, it was a tradition in Ljubno for young men to compete over who could bring the largest and heaviest potica for blessing on Palm Sunday. Since Jože Poličnik was of a slender build and could not compete with his stronger peers, he decided that if he couldn't make the biggest and heaviest, he would create the most beautiful potica.

Thus, in 1887, instead of the usual bundle, he brought a potica in the shape of a carpenter's crown—a type of backpack crate used for carrying tools—to the blessing on Palm Sunday.

Since then, the idea has remained, but the motifs have evolved while staying connected to everyday life. The most commonly depicted themes include farming tools, devices, and objects (such as a mower or cart), household items (like a cradle, baby pacifier, or clock), and musical instruments (such as an accordion, guitar, or zither).

A potica must be made from seven types of wood: willow (iva), beech (beka), yew (tisa), ivy (bršljan), holly (božji les), dogwood (dren), and boxwood (pušpan). The decorations include red holly or holly-like berries, small yellow dogwood flowers, and ivy leaves.

An apple or an orange is also a must on a Ljubno potica. The apple, in particular, is the final touch, and in times of scarcity, having multiple apples on a potica was considered especially prestigious.

It has always been believed that true Ljubno poticas are those made at home from natural spring materials such as fresh greenery, bark, twigs, and fruits.

Today, potica makers in home workshops also use machines, which has brought a modern touch to the tradition while allowing for greater creativity and more complex final designs.

You can view the Ljubno poticas from Tuesday to Friday between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM at the Tourist Information Center (TIC) in Ljubno ob Savinji.

On April 13th, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, the TIC in Ljubno ob Savinji will host an Open House Day for the Ljubno Palm Sunday Potica collection, along with a screening of the film "Ruševec."

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