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Where to put willow branches after Palm Sunday. Last year's willow branches, what to do: about the miraculous power of willow

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Palm Sunday in Russia fell on April 1st. Before baking Easter cake and coloring the eggs, the Orthodox bring willow branches to their homes. Willow branches are a symbol of a great religious holiday - the entry of the Lord into Jerusalem.

The main meaning of the holiday is an attempt to comprehend what is happening: sometimes we meet God with all our hearts, and then turn away from him. It seems that everyone is a Christian by baptism, but often we act in a completely un-Christian way. Therefore, this holiday is an occasion for all of us to think about our lives.

Last year's willow branches, what to do: about the holiday

Palm Sunday is a holiday commemorating the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. This is one of the last events in the life of Christ. And it happened a week before Easter - Bright Sunday. Why Palm Sunday? As Jesus entered the Holy City, people lined the path with freshly cut palm branches. This tradition was adopted in the East at the time of the meeting of important persons. In Russia, for lack of palm trees, willow is used.

On this day, not only willow and palm trees are consecrated in the church, but also branches of olive, boxwood, and laurel. There is a tradition to decorate large branches with sweets and fruits, as well as colored ribbons. Illuminated branches were installed at the head, near crucifixes, near fireplaces and hearths of stoves, as well as in animal stalls and other places. They can be installed simply in dry places or placed in a vase of water. Branches protect the house from the elements, diseases, quarrels.

Last year's willow branches, what to do: about the miraculous power of willow

Coming home from the church, consecrated with a willow, they lightly beat all the household members so that they are healthy. Do not forget about all the cattle. All living things absorb the power of spring and renewal.

Willow protects the house from evil forces and spirits.

Willow is planted in the garden if the house has a marriageable bride or a young guy. As soon as the willow is accepted, there will be a wedding.

On St. George's Day, cattle are driven out to the fields with willows. Then he will be healthy and fruitful.

It is believed that a willow can ward off thunder, hail and clouds, tilting it towards the clouds.

The willow reduced the destructive power of the fire by throwing it into the conflagration.

Willow buds were swallowed to get rid of fever, sore throat, and infertility.

Wells were lined with willows so that evil forces would not fall into the water.

To this day, there are many signs and traditions associated with Palm Sunday. They are passed down from older to younger family members.

On the night of Palm Sunday, you can make conspiracies for headaches. To do this, the hair from the comb was dipped into water and the willow was poured with this water. The water will go into the ground along with the headache.

On Palm Sunday, the girls did a love spell on a willow. When pronouncing a spell, the willow was laid behind the icons. It is impossible to throw away the charmed branches.

You can “hit” with a willow only on the back, wishing health. If you were whipped on the back, this person wishes you sickness and evil, and it can come true.

Willow branches could only be cut from young trees. It is important that there are no damages and mossy bark on the trunks.

You can not pick branches from a willow tree if it has a hollow. It is also impossible to tear branches from a cemetery willow.

You can not tear the branches bent over the river. It is believed that mermaids sit on them at night.

Willow is the most tenacious tree. Stick a branch into the ground and a tree will grow. A tree gives a person the same vitality.

If you eat a bud of a consecrated willow, any business will be easily solved. Of course, you can use the "magic" properties of the willow only in extreme cases.

Think of your beloved on Verbnoe, and he will come to you.

If you plant a home plant on Palm Sunday, you will be rich, but if the flower wilts, you will live in poverty all your life.

Last year's willow branches, what to do: what to do?

So, a year has passed, tomorrow is Palm Sunday again, you need to consecrate fresh willows. And what to do with the old, last year's?

The consecrated willow is no longer just tree branches, but a real shrine. You can't just throw it in the trash. It is believed that willow retains its magical properties until next spring.

You can conduct a small ritual on Palm Sunday itself, before it or immediately after Palm Sunday. There are several options for getting rid of willow:

Let the old willows through the flowing water into any body of water.

Burn dried willow branches. In this case, the ashes must be poured out in a place where they will not stomp on it. You can throw the ashes into the river.

If willows sprouted in water, they are best planted in a forest or near a river.

You can store willows for several years, but at the same time celebrate the holiday with fresh twigs every year.

If someone dies in the coming days, then the willow is placed in the coffin.

Some older people collect willows to be laid with them in the grave.

With a lit willow branch, you can cleanse the house, sanctify it by going around the house with this branch and prayer.

Take them to the Church, where they are burned with prayer.

Take it to the forest and leave it between the willow bushes.

If there is a stove in the house, then last year's dried willow can be kindled for baking Easter cakes.

With an old willow, symbolic ones sweep around the corners of the house, and then burn it, thanking for the service.

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Palm Sunday, which we will celebrate this year on April 1, 2018, is just as well known as Easter, which is celebrated exactly one week later. Of course, the main symbol of this event is willow. But how to properly consecrate the willow on Palm Sunday, where and how many willow branches you need to take and where to put them in the house - not everyone can answer these questions. And in general, why do we need willows on Palm Sunday? About everything - in order.

You can start with where the holiday came from, and why is it called that way? Almost 2,000 years ago, the Savior solemnly entered Jerusalem. He came in peace, and the symbol of this was the donkey on which Christ sat (after all, the conquerors of the city always entered on horseback). A huge number of people, imbued with the belief that he is the Son of God, enthusiastically rejoiced and rejoiced like never before in their lives.

They brought a huge amount of palm branches and laid them all over the path of Christ. The result was a whole path covered with branches. Of course, it was a special, solemn moment. Although exactly one week later the Savior will be executed, but he will rise again, which will finally prove his divine nature. That is why we celebrate Palm Sunday first, and exactly a week later - Easter.

Of course, there are no palm branches in our area yet, so we buy willows and decorate the house with them. And willows are willow branches, which are the first to give fresh buds in northern latitudes. They begin to swell in March. That is why, whatever the date of the celebration in a given year, the willows always keep up.

This tradition appeared in Rus' a long time ago - so long ago that one cannot even name the approximate year when it began. After all, from ancient times, our ancestors with whole families went to willow groves, on the coasts of reservoirs, in forests and tore these branches. Of course, they are still being torn today, and most of us tend to simply buy willow branches, bring them home and put them in water so that they herald the arrival of spring to the whole family.

How to consecrate the willow and how many branches you need

You probably noticed that the willow buds are not the same in color and shape:

There are whitish, with gray shades. They are like lumps, quite soft to the touch. These are male kidneys, which are also called "seals".
And there are also female ones - they are elongated, less fluffy, and closer to gray-green in color.

Of course, you can take both of them, because the essence of the holiday is not what kind of willows you bring. But the number of branches matters. As with flowers, it is best to take an unpaired number of branches. At the same time, the total number is not so important - but you should not be greedy either. Try to take exactly as much as you need: yourself, family, friends, neighbors.

NOTE

On the eve of Palm Sunday, willow groves are subject to a real invasion - after all, people strive to collect as many branches as possible. Sometimes they leave the tree bare, and of course, this harms nature. Therefore, you should take this ritual more calmly: try to take a small amount of willow branches and not be excessively greedy.

But about how to properly bless the willow, the answer is unequivocal: the branches should definitely be brought to the church. Many people do this on Sunday morning, directly on the day of the holiday (by the way, you can buy willow branches at the same time). And it would be more correct to come to the temple on Saturday evening, when the Vespers begin. According to tradition, the consecration of the willow takes place on this day. But of course, if you did not have time on Saturday, this is not a reason to abandon the tradition. Then the willow is consecrated on Sunday and brought into the house.

Where to put willow in the house

So, the branches are already at home, and of course we strive to put them in the water in the most prominent place. How to decorate a bouquet? And where is it traditionally placed? Special decorations are not required - after all, this is not a bouquet of flowers, but a symbol of the holiday. Therefore, several willow branches are tied into a simple bundle and placed in a vase on the table.

If the house has a kind of red corner - a quiet place where you are used to relaxing, being alone with your thoughts or praying, you can put a willow there. Usually, on a small shelf, believers put an icon, put church candles. You can also put a small vase with an odd number of branches there. By the way, believers keep them throughout the year - exactly until next spring.

NOTE

In any case, it is important to understand that willow is just a symbol of the holiday, just as painted eggs and Easter cake symbolize Easter. You may have only one branch in the house, or it may turn out that there is not one. But the main thing is sincere faith and a benevolent, festive mood of a person. After all, not faith for a symbol, but a symbol for faith.

Signs associated with willow

Of course, at first the branches are blessed in the church - after all, what are the branches for? That's right, this is a symbol of the holiday, uplifting and allowing you to kind of feel, get in touch with the ancient tradition. And here are some interesting beliefs that have come to us from time immemorial:

With the help of willow, treatment and general healing of the body were carried out. They took several kidneys, filled them with water. And then they drank the whole glass. You can just eat the kidneys.
A twig lightly hit a loved one - it is believed that this gives health and strength for the whole year.
After the holiday, they took part of the twigs, boiled them, and then bathed children in this water, and adults themselves are not forbidden to add a little willow decoction to the bath.
And if someone is sick in the house, you can put illuminated branches at the head of the bed - the person will feel better.

And in general, willow branches protect the house itself from troubles, intrusions of unnecessary people and other unforeseen events.

Firsthand: Archpriest Alexander Ilyashenko answers

So, with the appointment of willow for Palm Sunday, the position of the church is clear. This is a good symbol of the holiday, which reminds us of the Savior and his feat. And sometimes believers ask themselves not only the question of why willows are needed on Palm Sunday or how to consecrate them. Often people are interested: if a willow twig has taken root, is it possible to plant it on your site?

Here is what Archpriest Alexander Ilyashenko thinks:

Thus, of course, it is better for us to consecrate the willow and choose the right place in the house where to put it. But the most important thing is the person's faith, his sincere mood for the holiday. After all, any material object is a symbol that allows you to get in touch with a good tradition. And of course, the symbol exists for faith, but not vice versa.

Every time before Palm Sunday, Orthodox Christians have a question: what to do with last year's willow, which they kept all year? And when should you get rid of it? On the eve of the holiday or on Palm Sunday itself? The consecrated willow is no longer just tree branches, but a real shrine. You can't just throw it in the trash. It is believed that willow retains its magical properties until next spring.

You can conduct a small ritual on Palm Sunday itself, before it or immediately after Palm Sunday.

There are several options for getting rid of willow:

Let the old willows through the flowing water into any body of water.
Burn dried willow branches. In this case, the ashes must be poured out in a place where they will not stomp on it. You can throw the ashes into the river.
If willows sprouted in water, they are best planted in a forest or near a river.
Willows can be stored for several years. But at the same time, celebrate the holiday with fresh branches every year.
If someone dies in the coming days, then the willow is placed in the coffin.
Some older people collect willows to be laid with them in the grave.
With a lit willow branch, you can cleanse the house, sanctify it by going around the house with this branch and prayer.
Take them to the Church, where they are burned with prayer.
Take it to the forest and leave it between the willow bushes.
If there is a stove in the house, then last year's dried willow can be kindled for baking Easter cakes.

With an old willow, symbolic ones sweep around the corners of the house, and then burn it, thanking for the service.

MIRACULOUS PROPERTIES OF THE SACRED WILLOW:

Coming home from the church, consecrated with a willow, they lightly beat all the household members so that they are healthy. Do not forget about all the cattle. All living things absorb the power of spring and renewal.
Willow protects the house from evil forces and spirits.
Willow is planted in the garden if the house has a marriageable bride or a young guy. As soon as the willow is accepted, there will be a wedding.
On St. George's Day, cattle are driven out to the fields with willows. Then he will be healthy and fruitful.
It is believed that a willow can ward off thunder, hail and clouds, tilting it towards the clouds.
The willow reduced the destructive power of the fire by throwing it into the conflagration.
Willow buds were swallowed to get rid of fever, sore throat, and infertility.
Wells were lined with willows so that evil forces would not fall into the water.

FOLK TRADITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH PALM SUNDAY:

To this day, there are many signs and traditions associated with Palm Sunday. They are passed down from older to younger family members.

On the night of Palm Sunday, you can make conspiracies for headaches. To do this, the hair from the comb was dipped into water and the willow was poured with this water. The water will go into the ground along with the headache.
On Palm Sunday, the girls did a love spell on a willow. When pronouncing a spell, the willow was laid behind the icons. It is impossible to throw away the charmed branches.
You can “hit” with a willow only on the back, wishing health. If you were whipped on the back, this person wishes you sickness and evil, and it can come true.
Willow branches could only be cut from young trees. It is important that there are no damages and mossy bark on the trunks.
You can not pick branches from a willow tree if it has a hollow. It is also impossible to tear branches from a cemetery willow.
You can not tear the branches bent over the river. It is believed that mermaids sit on them at night.

Signs:

If it was frosty enough on Palm Sunday, then a fairly good harvest of spring bread was expected.
If there were frosts on the night of Verbnoye, then there will be a good harvest of cabbage and cucumbers.
If there is a strong wind on Verbnoe, then the whole summer will be quite windy, there will be hurricanes and storms. And if the day is warm and quiet, this will be the summer.
What kind of wind in Verbnoye will be like this all summer.
If the sun shines on Palmnoye, there will be a rich harvest of cereals and fruits.
Knock on the body with a willow on Palm Sunday, you will be healthy all year.
Willow is the most tenacious tree. Stick a branch into the ground and a tree will grow. A tree gives a person the same vitality.
If you eat a bud of a consecrated willow, any business will be easily solved. Of course, you can use the "magic" properties of the willow only in extreme cases.
Think of your beloved on Verbnoe, and he will come to you.
If you plant a home plant on Palm Sunday, you will be rich. But if the flower withers, you will live in poverty all your life.
The energy of Palm Sunday helps to make all wishes come true.

WHAT TO DO WITH WILLOW?

How to collect willow?

Tear several branches from small young trees. Do not cut off all the branches from one bush. But you need enough branches to put several pieces in each room, and in livestock buildings too.

Take the branches to the church for consecration. If it is not possible to go to the temple, you can sprinkle willows with holy water at home.

And then the branches can be used in different ways: leave it until the next Palm Sunday, or immediately let it flow along the river ....

Palm Sunday has passed, now what to do with the consecrated willow? Since ancient times, Slavs have treated willow as a sacred plant. Even in pagan Rus', many rituals were associated with willow. This plant is the first to wake up after winter. Its branches, which received the first rays of the sun, become life-giving, capable of empowering a person.

That is why it was chosen as an alternative to the palm tree, which is difficult to get in Russia. Thus willow became the main attribute of one of the most important Orthodox holidays - Palm Sunday.

Here you come from the church with consecrated twigs. What to do with them now?

The first step is to “whip” all family members and all pets with them. At the same time, you need to say: “Willow whip, beat to tears.” Of course, it’s not worth hitting to tears, it’s enough symbolically to touch your back. In no case do not hit on the back, this is regarded as a wish for evil and disease.
On Palm Sunday, pies were baked with fluffy buds of consecrated willow. Such pies were healing, brought health to the family for a whole year.
Palm buds should be swallowed by those with a fever or by women who cannot conceive.
You can make a powder from the kidneys and sprinkle it on non-healing wounds.
With the help of consecrated branches, a headache was cured by tying a branch to the head.
willow twigs drove cattle into the fields, this gave it health and fertility.

The magical properties of the consecrated willow

Many magical properties and unusual abilities were attributed to the consecrated willow. For example, if you throw a branch against the wind, the thunderstorm, hail will stop, the storm will calm down. If you do the same with fire, it will go out.
Christians bypassed the old hollow willow trees. It was believed that evil spirits frolic in the branches. And in a tree by the river, a Waterman can live. But in some cases, meetings with this creature were even specifically sought. If a girl dreamed of finding her betrothed, she went to the willow by the river just before the new moon. It was necessary to tie a bright ribbon to a branch and leave without looking back. Sometimes willow trees were completely tied with ribbons.
It was believed that Vodyanoy could mourn the loneliness of the girl who turned to him, after that she would soon find her beloved and get married.
If you sincerely turn to the consecrated willow branches for help, they will definitely help. The branches were placed in a vase filled with water. Water needs to be changed daily. You need to talk with willow, talk about happiness and misfortune.
Even if the branch begins to dry out in fresh water, it means that it absorbs all your troubles, neutralizing them. These branches must be thanked and burned, taking away from your home. Better to do it in the field.
But even if the branch has taken root, do not be upset: plant it near the house and it will become your best assistant. Take care of her, water her. And then the young tree will fulfill your request.
A willow twig could make a brave man out of a coward. You just need to stick a branch between the logs of your house. Such a remedy can save a person from natural timidity.
In some regions of Russia, it used to be a custom to shower newlyweds with willow buds; this ritual was aimed at strengthening the health of the couple's offspring. Willows were also laid on a featherbed or a bed. Women wore willow amulets around their necks and ate kidneys to get pregnant.
The willow was fastened over the entrance to the pens with cattle, protecting it from evil spirits and possible diseases. If you flog cattle with willow, it is believed that they will not be poisoned by poisonous grass.
A willow branch was stuck in front of the first furrow into the plowing. And willow buds were added to the seeds in order to get a healthy and plentiful harvest.
Treasures were searched with the help of the consecrated willow. Where the buds begin to fall off, there the treasure is buried. It was necessary to dig only after a prayer, which was supposed to remove the vow of inaccessibility from the treasure.
And the willow helped to identify witches or sorcerers. When willow branches were burned, the person who asked for a light was considered an evil spirit.

What to do with last year's willow?

It is believed that willow branches have sacred properties for a year until next spring. It cannot be thrown away. You can simply let the branches flow along the river, or burn them, and pour the ashes into the river. But it is better to take it to the church, there, in a special place, they will burn it with a prayer. And you will bring new consecrated branches into the house.

Elena Frolova - Palm Sunday

Annunciation (verses by Marina Tsvetaeva)

A few words about the holiday itself

But on this day, not only willow and palm trees are consecrated in the church, but also branches of olive, boxwood, and laurel. There is a tradition to decorate large branches with sweets and fruits, as well as colored ribbons. Illuminated branches were installed at the head, near crucifixes, near fireplaces and hearths of stoves, as well as in animal stalls and other places. They can be installed simply in dry places or placed in a vase of water. Branches protect the house from the elements, diseases, quarrels.

So, a year has passed, tomorrow is Palm Sunday again, you need to consecrate fresh willows. And what to do with the old, last year's? And when should you get rid of them? consecrated willow- this is no longer just tree branches, but a real shrine. You can't just throw it in the trash. It is believed that willow retains its magical properties until next spring.

It is possible on Palm Sunday itself, before it, or immediately conduct a small ritual. There are several options for getting rid of willow.

Let the old willows through the flowing water into any body of water.
Burn dried willow branches. In this case, the ashes must be poured out in a place where they will not stomp on it. You can throw the ashes into the river.
If willows sprouted in water, they are best planted in a forest or near a river.
Willows can be stored for several years. But at the same time, celebrate the holiday with fresh branches every year.
If someone dies in the coming days, then the willow is placed in the coffin.
Some older people collect willows to be laid with them in the grave.
With a lit willow branch, you can cleanse the house, sanctify it by going around the house with this branch and prayer.
Take them to the Church, where they are burned with prayer.
Take it to the forest and leave it between the willow bushes.
If there is a stove in the house, then last year's dried willow can be kindled for baking Easter cakes.
With an old willow, symbolic ones sweep around the corners of the house, and then burn it, thanking for the service.

The miraculous properties of the consecrated willow:

When they come home from church, they lightly beat all the household members so that they are healthy. Do not forget about all the cattle. All living things absorb the power of spring and renewal.
Willow protects the house from evil forces and spirits.
Willow is planted in the garden if the house has a marriageable bride or a young guy. As soon as the willow is accepted, there will be a wedding.
On St. George's Day, cattle are driven out to the fields with willows. Then he will be healthy and fruitful.
It is believed that a willow can ward off thunder, hail and clouds, tilting it towards the clouds.
The willow reduced the destructive power of the fire by throwing it into the conflagration.
Willow buds were swallowed to get rid of fever, sore throat, and infertility.
Wells were lined with willows so that evil forces would not fall into the water.

Folk traditions associated with Palm Sunday

To this day, there are many signs and traditions associated with Palm Sunday. They are passed down from older to younger family members.

On the night of Palm Sunday, you can make conspiracies from headaches. To do this, the hair from the comb was dipped into water and the willow was poured with this water. The water will go into the ground along with the headache.
On Palm Sunday, the girls did a love spell on willow. When pronouncing a spell, the willow was laid behind the icons. It is impossible to throw away the charmed branches.
You can only “hit” with a willow on the back, wishing health. If you were whipped on the back, this person wishes you sickness and evil, and it can come true.
It was possible to cut willow branches only from young trees.. It is important that there are no damages and mossy bark on the trunks.
You can not pick branches from a willow tree if it has a hollow. It is also impossible to tear branches from a cemetery willow.
You can not tear the branches bent over the river. It is believed that mermaids sit on them at night.

Signs

If it was frosty enough on Palm Sunday, then a fairly good harvest of spring bread was expected.
If there were frosts on the night of Verbnoye, then there will be a good harvest of cabbage and cucumbers.
If there is a strong wind on Verbnoe, then the whole summer will be quite windy, there will be hurricanes and storms. And if the day is warm and quiet, this will be the summer.
What kind of wind in Verbnoye will be like this all summer.
If the sun shines on Palmnoye, there will be a rich harvest of cereals and fruits.
Knock on the body with a willow on Palm Sunday, you will be healthy all year.
Willow is the most tenacious tree. Stick a branch into the ground and a tree will grow. A tree gives a person the same vitality.
If you eat a bud of a consecrated willow, any business will be easily solved. Of course, you can use the "magic" properties of the willow only in extreme cases.
Think of your beloved on Verbnoe, and he will come to you.
If you plant a home plant on Palm Sunday, you will be rich. But if the flower withers, you will live in poverty all your life.
The energy of Palm Sunday helps to make all wishes come true.

What to do with willow?

How to collect willow? Tear several branches from small young trees. Do not cut off all the branches from one bush. But you need enough branches to put several pieces in each room, and in livestock buildings too. Take the branches to the church for consecration. If it is not possible to go to the temple, you can sprinkle willows with holy water at home.

Arrange the branches in vases. They do not need to be removed for two weeks. On Maundy Thursday, the branches were used as sprinkles: they were moistened with holy water and sprinkled on all corners of the house. And then the branches can be used in different ways: leave it until the next Palm Sunday, or immediately let it flow along the river.

Elena Frolova - Palm Sunday

Annunciation - Elena Frolova (verses by Marina Tsvetaeva)

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