Palm Sunday- the most important Christian holiday, celebrated by all Orthodox Christians every year. On this day, our ancestors performed special rituals, attracting prosperity and a comfortable life. Some folk signs and the rituals have been preserved and have come down to us unchanged.

The celebration of Palm Sunday is tied to the holiday of Easter: on this day, broken willow branches act as a symbol of palm branches at the Lord's entry into Jerusalem. According to tradition, on this day people break willow trees and consecrate the branches in the temple: it is believed that a bouquet of a consecrated plant can protect a house from fire, and its inhabitants from evil and witchcraft.

Folk signs for Palm Sunday

For a long time, people have noticed weather phenomena on this day and used them to judge how the entire next year would go. The most faithful of them have survived unchanged to this day.

• If the snow on the roofs has melted by Palm Sunday, May will be warm and sunny.
• If you want health for the whole year, tap your body with a willow bouquet.
• Eating a consecrated willow bud means good luck in business.
• Feeding the birds on Palm Sunday means wealth.
• Planting a new flower on the morning of Palm Sunday will bring money into your home.
• Weave willow into your hair to get rid of headaches.
• Odd number Breaking a willow twig means health, and an even number means trouble.
• Rain on this day means a chilly summer, and the sun means a dry and hot one.
• Feeding a stray dog ​​means luring happiness into the house.

• Hide the willow over front door- protect the house from thunderstorms and troubles.
• Throwing away plucked willow branches means inviting bad luck. The remaining willow from last year should be burned or placed in running water.
• If birds sing at dawn on Palm Sunday, the year will be successful.
• Finding an abandoned willow on the road and picking it up means illness.

Rituals on Palm Sunday

Orthodox Christians celebrate this day by attending a festive service. But in addition to the canonical celebration, there have long been folk rituals and beliefs that still have considerable power. Our ancestors believed that Palm Sunday was good time for rituals for happiness, love spells and rituals for well-being.

Love spell on your betrothed

It is believed that you can attract the love of the person destined for you with the help of an unconsecrated willow. For the ceremony you will need:

• red wax candle;
• two willow branches with an odd number of buds;
• Red thread;
• matches;
• thin needle.

First you need to be alone after sunset. Place everything you need on a clean tablecloth and make sure you are in all alone. Think about the person you would like to have next to you. It should be understood that we are not talking about a specific man or a specific woman: the ritual is aimed at attracting the person destined for you. Think about what you can give to your future partner and what you want in return. Imagine that the person you need is already nearby, and remember the emotions evoked by this image.

When the desired state is achieved, light the candle, saying the following words: “Fire in the candle, fire in the eyes, fire in the soul. Just as I light a candle, I call on love!”

Then take the willow and twist the branches together with the words: “As in the morning the willow is broken, so fate turns towards me, as the branches intertwine, so destinies are intertwined, as I twist the willow, so I tame fate!”

Wrap the twisted branches with red thread, tying them securely together. Afterwards, you need to prick your finger with a needle and drop three drops of your blood onto the branches, saying the words: “In my name, my Family, my blood, my destiny, I call you, destiny, I want to know your name, see your family, accept your blood! Let it be so!"

Pass the willow over the candle flame to complete the ritual. The twigs should be placed under the mattress or bed, and the candle should be allowed to burn out.

Ritual for happiness and wealth

Palm Sunday is also a great time to change your life better side. A ritual for well-being can help make every day happy and get rid of problems.

For the ceremony you will need:

• a bouquet of blessed willow;
• three church candles;
• paper and pen.

First, think about three things that you lack to be happy, and write them down on paper in as much detail as possible. Afterwards you need to divide the willow bouquet into three parts, saying for each: “Just as the willow grew, its branches stretched towards the sun, and then ended up in my hands, so my happiness grows, stretches, and ends up in my hands!”

Then place the enchanted parts of the willow under three candles and light them with the words: “As a candle burns, so does my luck fly! As soon as the candle burns out, luck will be at your shoulder.”

Next, you need to let the candles burn out, observing their flame: whichever candle burns faster, then the wish should be fulfilled first. When the candles go out, you need to combine the cinders into one and collect the willow into one bouquet. Willow twigs and candle stubs must be stored until the desired outcome is achieved.

Begin happy life you can by following the seven spiritual laws of success. We wish you joy and only Have a good mood. Smile more often and don’t forget to press the buttons and

The Christian Church introduced the holiday of the Lord's entry into Jerusalem in the 4th century, and in Rus' it appeared in the 10th century and began to be called Palm Sunday, since the willow had the same meaning as palm branches. According to the traditions of the holiday on the eve of Palm Sunday, in ancient times, Russian people went to the banks of the river to break willow, and this was a real rite. The willow was always blessed in the church with holy water, however, this tradition has survived to this day.

In warm countries, this day is celebrated with palm branches, but in our country at this time of year the leaves on the trees have not yet bloomed. Branches of evergreen conifers have traditionally been used in burial ceremonies, so they cannot be used.

According to signs and beliefs, it was believed that the blessed willow had healing properties, so they touched people with branches, wishing them health, placed them at the head of the sick, applied them to sore spots, and whipped children so that they would not get sick during the year and grow up healthy. Crushed dried willow buds were added to various medicinal decoctions, which were used to treat wounds and skin diseases. Sometimes the buds were added to bread and other baked goods, and some baked bread in the shape of a willow twig. Palm porridge was made from the opening buds. But willow not only heals, it gives physical strength, courage and courage, so many young men made amulets and talismans for themselves from willow buds.

It was believed that if you eat a few willow buds before a long journey or some serious undertaking, then only success will await a person on his path and in his business. Icons were decorated with branches and hung in the corners of rooms, which many still do to this day. Also, amulets made from willow buds were worn by women who did not have children. According to legend, you had to eat ten kidneys five days after the end of your period, this was supposed to help in conceiving a child. To ensure that the offspring were healthy, a willow twig was placed under the feather bed, and the newlyweds were showered with buds.

Our ancestors believed that willow could impart sexual power not only to humans, but also to livestock. That is why domestic animals were lashed with a blessed willow branch, branches were hung in barns, and before the first pasture in the field, these branches were fed to the animals so that they would not be poisoned by poisonous herbs, or become victims of diseases, thieves and predatory animals. Not a single day goes by without weather-related signs. And Palm Sunday is no exception.

If it rains on Palm Sunday, expect a good harvest. This sign is based on many years of observations of our ancestors. They noticed that if on a given day it's raining, then the harvest will be simply wonderful. If, on the contrary, the weather is dry, then you may not expect a harvest. And, if the sky is cloudy, cloudy, but there is no rain, then the harvest will be quite good, but not as much as we would like. It was also believed that the willow could protect the house from natural elements. A house in which there is a consecrated willow branch will not be struck by lightning. If during a fire you throw a willow into the fire, it will go out faster and the flame will not spread to another building. And twigs thrown into the water during ice drift will help avoid large floods.

If by the next Palm Sunday there were still unused branches in the house, then under no circumstances should they be thrown away. They must be burned and thrown into a stream or river, and the water should not be stagnant. When choosing new branches, they gave preference to young trees growing near rivers. It was forbidden to take branches from trees growing near the cemetery, or on which there were nests and hollows.

Many people, believers and not, even today, on the eve of Palm Sunday, decorate their home with willow branches, because this plant gives joy and awakens spring in the heart.

Signs for Palm Sunday

If you tap a willow twig on your body, you will be healthy for a whole year. Perhaps this is the only sign that people know about today. First, a willow twig is blessed on this day in the church, and after that the twig is tapped on the body and the sentence is said: “Be as strong as the willow, as healthy as its roots and as rich as the earth.” This preference is given to the willow because it is, perhaps, the most tenacious tree that exists in nature. It is believed that even if a willow stick is stuck into the ground upside down, it will still take root and grow. It is for this reason that willow can give health to a person, because it itself is very strong.

Eat a willow bud and an important matter will be resolved. It was customary to keep consecrated willow branches for a whole year near the icon. If you have to go to important negotiations, or you are about to start a very important business for you, and you are not sure of the result, then willow will help you here too. But only the willow that was consecrated in the church on Palm Sunday will help. When going on an important task, you need to tear off three buds from a branch and eat them, washing them down with holy water, while thinking about your business. True, this property of a twig can only be used as a last resort. Constantly, don’t, it’s better not to disturb the willow, it can go sideways.

On Palm Sunday, think about your loved one, he will come. Superstition? More likely. But before, a young girl, if she liked some guy and he didn’t pay any attention to her, would wait for this very day. Starting in the morning, she began to think about who was dear to her heart. Her thoughts were somehow incomprehensibly transmitted to this guy. And in the evening he came to her to invite her for a walk. In principle, it has long been proven that human thought is material. Everything we think about inevitably happens sooner or later. real life. Perhaps Palm Sunday has such an energy that allows us to bring our thoughts to life much faster than on any other day.

Plant a houseplant on Palm Sunday and you will be rich. It used to be believed that if you plant on this day indoor flower, then he will attract money into your life. In the cities, of course, they kept houseplants, but in the villages there was no time for that. But those who knew about this sign and planted indoor plants quickly got back on their feet. But this sign has several features that few people know about. Firstly, if the flower withers within a month, then you will have to live your whole life in poverty. And secondly, you only need to plant plants with large and fleshy leaves. By the way, one of these plants is now called the money tree. In order for it not to wither and grow well, you need to know the special rules for planting and caring for it. By the way, it has been noticed that in the house where the money tree grows well, there is always prosperity and there is no shortage of money.

Poultry is not allowed outside - the witch will spoil it. Perhaps earlier they were confident in this sign, but not now. It was believed that a week before Easter, witches began to go on a rampage. After all, starting from Easter and all the holidays, their power temporarily decreased. So they tried to cause mischief, so to speak, for the future. It was believed that it was on poultry that witches took revenge. But it’s not known whether to believe this sign or not. But in villages to this day, those who keep the bird try not to let it out into the street on Palm Sunday.

There are holidays that we have heard about and know about, but we do not know about the signs associated with this day. We don't worry too much because we don't know what customs to follow. But when troubles happen in our lives, problems appear, then we begin to think where all this comes from, and why all this is on our heads.

Beliefs on Palm Sunday

. Headaches are spoken of on Palm Sunday.
To do this, after combing your hair, remove the hairs from the comb and put them in water.
Pour this water over the willow tree on Palm Sunday and say:
“Water, go to the ground along with your headache.”

. On Palm Sunday they cast a love spell on a willow tree.
To do this, break a twig and say:
“As long as the willow lies behind the icon,
Until then, my husband will not stop loving me, he will not forget me. Amen".
Place the willow behind the icon.
Just don’t throw away the enchanted twig under any circumstances!

. Remember that the branches from Palm Sunday must be preserved.
They help in the treatment of many diseases!

. According to legend, on Palm Sunday it is customary to hit the back of the person you wish health with a willow.
But know that the one who slapped you on the backside wishes you harm.
Since, having lashed with willow on this great holiday, they may wish you harm, and it will come true.

. They consecrate the willow. And then they keep it in the house all year in a vase or behind icons.
With old willow that has stood for a year, they sweep all the corners, windows, thresholds,
they thank her for her service and burn her.
It is necessary to lash all domestic animals and animals on the back with the new holy willow,
Saying out loud: “Whip willow, beat me to tears,” this adds health.

. Buds, fluffy leaves from holy willow
help with female infertility and enuresis.

. Today you can bake holy willow fluffs into bread
and give to sick pets - they will be healed.

To everyone who helps their loved ones with castings
or another method to remove damage or treat,
this amulet against interception will come in handy: today you need to eat on an empty stomach
3 willow buds and wash down with holy water.
Then say:
“St. Paul waved the willow and drove away other people’s illnesses from me.
Just as it is true that Palm Sunday is celebrated, so it is true that
that other people’s illnesses don’t bother me. Amen".
If you Orthodox man, then before that you need to take communion.

Rituals. Willow and its strength.

Willow is still a significant plant in the folk Orthodox culture of Russians. It gave the name “Palm Sunday” to the church’s twelfth feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, celebrated on the last Sunday before Easter. According to the Gospel, Jesus Christ went with his disciples from Bethany, where he raised Lazarus, to Jerusalem to celebrate Easter there. On the way to the city, Christ saw a donkey tied to a tree, on which he rode into the city. The inhabitants of Jerusalem, having learned about the miracle of the resurrection of Lazarus, enthusiastically greeted the Savior with palm branches called “vaii” and a song of praise. On the road along which Jesus was traveling, people threw palm branches and spread out their clothes. In memory of this event, in Christian churches on the day of the holiday it is customary to consecrate decorated tree branches. Among the Russians, the place of the palm branch was taken by the willow, and the week before the holiday began to be called “Verbna”, “Verbnitsa”.

Ideas about the unusual properties of willow, however, go back to pre-Christian, pagan times. This plant, like birch, in folk culture associated with the idea of ​​rapid growth, health, vitality, fertility. These ideas are based on the fact that willow blooms its buds earlier than other plants. A blossoming tree symbolized the coming spring and, according to mythological consciousness, could convey health, strength and beauty to humans and domestic animals.

Willow was quite widely used in calendar rituals of Russian peasants. Despite the fact that Palm Sunday was a church holiday, numerous rituals with willow were performed on this day, based on archaic beliefs. It was customary to go to the forest to pick willows before sunrise on Lazarus Saturday, on the eve of Palm Sunday. The brought branches were often immediately decorated with paper flowers and ribbons, but sometimes this was done only after their consecration or on the eve of Easter. They went to church to bless the willow on the same day for the evening service or on Sunday morning. The consecrated branches were placed in the front corner of the shrine or placed behind the icons, where they were kept until St. Yegoryev's day or all year. In Siberia, a “teremok” was made of straw for the willow tree, decorated with rags, ribbons and hung in front of the icon.

Upon arrival home after the consecration of the willow, and sometimes right next to the church, each member of the household, and most often children, was hit with it, as it was believed, “for health.” At the same time they said: “The willow is red, hit until you cry, be healthy!”, or: “I don’t hit - the willow hits, the willow hits until you cry.” In many areas, for the same purpose, cattle were whipped with willow or given a twig or buds of the plant to eat.

In the Central Russian zone, in order for sheep to be “fed”, they were fed with a special loaf or bread in which willow buds were baked. In some places, the shape of kidneys was given to ritual cookies, which on Lazarus Saturday were brought to church for blessing along with willow cookies. In the Kostroma province it was called “lamb”, in Moscow - “lamb”, “granny” or “akatushki”, in Ryazan - “nuts”, “kytka”. Cookies were baked according to the number of livestock and poultry, and in some local traditions- and for all household members. In the Ryazan region, when feeding sheep with cookies on Palm Sunday, it was believed that they would each bring a pair of lambs, and the holiday itself was called “lamb holiday.”

The Russians everywhere placed and still place blessed branches in the red corner next to the icons. Previously, willow was stored until St. Yegoriev's day or all year. Throwing it away after whipping cattle was considered a sin. Usually these branches were stuck in the barn under the roof, “so that the cattle would not wander,” or thrown into the river, “let them float on the water”; sometimes they burned it in a furnace. Belarusians kept willow all year behind icons until the new Holy Monday. On the same day they burned it and placed a new consecrated willow near the images. When going to new house Some of the willow branches were left in the old house, and half were transferred to the new one.

On Yegoryev Day, in many localities, each cattle was hit with a willow during the ritual of the first pasture for grazing, and after pasture they fed it, believing that these actions would ensure a good offspring and protect them from wild animals throughout the grazing season. They did the same on the day of St. Nicholas the Great: on this day, and especially when driving the horses out at night, the first of the season, they were lashed with willow branches.

On Ivan Kupala in Volyn and Podolia, a willow tree or branch was used as a festive attribute: girls decorated the plant with flowers and danced around it, and after a while the boys burst into the girls’ circle, grabbed the willow and tore it apart. This ritual is close in its meaning to numerous agricultural rituals of the East Slavic tradition using stuffed animals plant material, and his goal is to influence the forces of nature so that the harvest succeeds.

As can be understood from the examples given, willow in popular consciousness magical functions were attributed. Willow branches blessed on Palm Sunday were endowed with special powers. The producing properties of the plant are obvious from its magical meaning sentences that were pronounced when children were whipped with willow: “Grow like a willow!”, “As the willow grows, so do you grow!” In some areas, barren women ate the buds of the blessed willow in the hope that it would help them give birth to a child. The beekeepers stuck willow branches around the apiary so that the bees would swarm well, more bee colonies would be born, and they would bring the owner honey and wax in abundance.

In the Penza province there was a ritual of calling out to young women, in which it is obvious that a positive meaning was attributed to the willow. At midnight on the eve of Palm Sunday, young people went around the houses where the newlyweds lived and shouted near the gate:
“Open it, open it, young one, hit it with a camel, give it more health than before.” The young woman unlocked the gate, and the crowd entered singing: “If only there would be a harvest of grain, multiplying livestock.” Everyone sleeping in the hut was lightly hit with a willow, saying: “We hit to be healthy,” and also: “Get up early, hit the ram.” The last to be whipped was the young one as she bowed, escorting the singing youth out of the gate.

The productive power of the willow was also used directly in agricultural rituals. So, after the first pasture of livestock, the twigs could be broken and scattered across the field, and the buds could be crushed into grain intended for sowing. In the Smolensk region, part of the willow brought after cattle pasture was stuck into the ground in a grain field - “so that the earth would come to life faster”, “so that the rye would grow well and grow fluffy, like a willow”; the other part was hidden behind the icon - “so that the cattle would return home.” Here the housewife threw the rod, which she used to drive out the cattle, into the manure in the barn; at the same time, she jumped as high as possible “so that flax would be born.” In some places, willow branches were stuck in the four corners of the field to protect the crops.

The Christian Church introduced the holiday of the Lord's entry into Jerusalem in the 4th century, and in Rus' it appeared in the 10th century and began to be called Palm Sunday, since the willow tree had such...

The Christian Church introduced the holiday of the Lord's entry into Jerusalem in the 4th century, and in Rus' it appeared in the 10th century and began to be called Palm Sunday, since the willow had the same meaning as palm branches.

According to the traditions of the holiday on the eve of Palm Sunday, in ancient times, Russian people went to the banks of the river to break willow, and this was a real rite. The willow was always blessed in the church with holy water, however, this tradition has survived to this day.

In warm countries, this day is celebrated with palm branches, but in our country at this time of year the leaves on the trees have not yet bloomed. Branches of evergreen conifers have traditionally been used in burial ceremonies, so they cannot be used.

According to signs and beliefs, it was believed that the blessed willow had healing properties, so they touched people with branches, wishing them health, placed them at the head of the sick, applied them to sore spots, and whipped children so that they would not get sick during the year and grow up healthy.

Crushed dried willow buds were added to various medicinal decoctions, which were used to treat wounds and skin diseases. Sometimes the buds were added to bread and other baked goods, and some baked bread in the shape of a willow twig. Palm porridge was made from the opening buds. But willow not only heals, it gives physical strength, courage and courage, so many young men made amulets and talismans for themselves from willow buds.

• It was believed that if you eat a few willow buds before a long journey or some serious undertaking, then only success will await a person on his path and in his business. Icons were decorated with branches and hung in the corners of rooms, which many still do to this day. Also, amulets made from willow buds were worn by women who did not have children. According to legend, you had to eat ten kidneys five days after the end of your period, this was supposed to help in conceiving a child. To ensure that the offspring were healthy, a willow twig was placed under the feather bed, and the newlyweds were showered with buds.
• Our ancestors believed that willow could impart sexual power not only to humans, but also to livestock. That is why domestic animals were lashed with a blessed willow branch, branches were hung in barns, and before the first pasture in the field, these branches were fed to the animals so that they would not be poisoned by poisonous herbs, or become victims of diseases, thieves and predatory animals. Not a single day goes by without weather-related signs. And Palm Sunday is no exception.
• If it rains on Palm Sunday, expect a good harvest. This sign is based on many years of observations of our ancestors. They noticed that if it rains on a given day, the harvest will be simply wonderful. If, on the contrary, the weather is dry, then you may not expect a harvest. And, if the sky is cloudy, cloudy, but there is no rain, then the harvest will be quite good, but not as much as we would like.
• It was also believed that the willow could protect the house from natural elements. A house in which there is a consecrated willow branch will not be struck by lightning. If during a fire you throw a willow into the fire, it will go out faster and the flame will not spread to another building. And twigs thrown into the water during ice drift will help avoid large floods.

If by the next Palm Sunday there were still unused branches in the house, then under no circumstances should they be thrown away. They must be burned and thrown into a stream or river, and the water should not be stagnant. When choosing new branches, they gave preference to young trees growing near rivers. It was forbidden to take branches from trees growing near the cemetery, or on which there were nests and hollows.

Many people, believers and not, even today, on the eve of Palm Sunday, decorate their home with willow branches, because this plant gives joy and awakens spring in the heart.

On April 1, 2018 Palm Sunday - signs, traditions, rituals Palm Sunday began to be celebrated in the 10th century. In fact, it is celebrated on the last Sunday before Easter.

Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. When Jesus entered the city, many people came out to the gate to greet him. Everyone had palm branches in their hands. Since palm trees are very rare in Russia, and there are many willows and willows, and this is also the first tree that blooms amazingly beautiful fluffy flowers in the spring, we took willow branches. So they decided to celebrate the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem with willow branches. People brought twigs to the temple, the priest blessed them, and the satisfied flock took the valuables home with them.

Palm Sunday is a big bright holiday. It is followed by the strictest week of Lent. Folk signs and rituals are associated with Verbny.

Tap your body with a willow twig - you will be healthy for a whole year. First, a willow twig is blessed on this day in the church, and after that the twig is tapped on the body and the sentence is said: “Be as strong as the willow, as healthy as its roots and as rich as the earth.”

Parents always jokingly “flogged”» with willow branches of their children. This preference is given to the willow because it is, perhaps, the most tenacious tree that exists in nature.

It is believed that even if a willow stick is stuck into the ground upside down, it will still take root and grow. It is for this reason that willow can give health to a person, because it itself is very strong. For example, a sick person can take a consecrated one in church a willow branch and move it over those points of the body that particularly bother you, saying: “Holy Spirit, enter through the willow and take away the disease. The willow will come and the disease will take away.”

What if you suffer from insomnia? , then you need to put a willow twig at the head of the bed and before going to bed, looking at it, say: “Holy angels, take care of my sleep, holy willow, drive away the undead.” In Rus' it was considered if swallow nine pussy willow catkins(from a branch consecrated in the temple), then you can protect yourself from fever, and in general drive away any illness.

If a woman could not get pregnant , she was again advised to eat consecrated willow cones - they were considered the surest remedy for infertility.

Eat a willow bud and an important matter will be resolved. Blessed willow branches It was customary to keep it near the icon for a whole year. If you have to go to important negotiations, or you are about to start a very important business for you, and you are not sure of the result, then willow will help you here too. But only the willow that was consecrated in the church on Palm Sunday will help.

Going on an important mission, you need to tear off three buds from a branch and eat washing them down with holy water, while thinking about their business. True, this property of a twig can only be used as a last resort. Constantly, don’t, it’s better not to disturb the willow, it can go sideways.

On Palm Sunday think about your loved one, he will come. A young girl, if she liked some guy, but he didn’t pay any attention to her, she was waiting for this very day. Starting in the morning, she began to think about who was dear to her heart. Her thoughts were somehow incomprehensibly transmitted to this guy. And in the evening he came to her to invite her for a walk. In principle, it has long been proven that human thought is material. Everything we think about inevitably happens in real life sooner or later. Perhaps on Palm Sunday such energy that allows you to realize our thoughts come to life much faster than on any other day.

Plant a houseplant on Palm Sunday and you'll be rich. Previously, it was believed that if you plant an indoor flower on this day, it would attract money into your life. In cities, of course, they kept indoor plants, but in villages there was no time for that. But those who knew about this sign and planted indoor plants quickly got back on their feet. But this sign has several features that few people know about. Firstly, if the flower withers within a month, then you will have to live your whole life in poverty. And secondly, you only need to plant plants with large and fleshy leaves. The best plant for this is the one with the name "Money Tree". Rain, even a little, on Palm Sunday - to a good harvest.

The main tradition of Palm Sunday is blessing of branches willows in churches. It is believed that these branches will protect houses from fires and floods throughout the year, and their owners from poverty, disease and adversity.

If you have not prepared twigs in advance and they were not consecrated in the church, but If you really want to have a consecrated willow, don’t despair. There are two ways: 1. Go to any Temple in the morning and buy twigs there. 2. If you overslept, feel free to go for a walk and look for bushes with burgundy branches and fuzz on them. If you don’t find it with burgundy ones, but see a tree with gray branches and yellow fluff, it’s a willow. Also good. Since in fact it doesn’t matter: willow or willow, consider that they are one and the same.

Bring the twigs into the house and may everything be safe for you! The signs of the holiday, of course, are also associated with magical properties, which are attributed to willow. It is believed that if before Palm Sunday many willow “earrings” appear (buds have blossomed), then the whole year will be fruitful, fertile and rich in good events.

There are several simple rituals, which you can perform on Palm Sunday. Firstly, "let go"» consecrated willow on the water. The twig will float away - goodness and prosperity will “float” to the house.

Burning of a blessed willow branch protects the house from fire. And the blessed branch, stuck in the roof of the house(you can also attach it in the upper corner of the ceiling) will become a talisman of your health and peace of mind.

If you want to wish a person good luck and good luck, lightly whip him with a willow twig. There is no better blessing to be found on this holiday. On Palm Sunday, it is customary not only to perform rituals, but also speak.

If you want to improve your health and get rid of for headaches, the day before holiday, comb your hair, dip a couple of hairs in water and pour it over the willow. Diseases will go into the ground along with the water.

Also with the help of a willow spell you can attract money. On the eve of the holiday (on Lazarus Saturday), take left hand a willow twig, and with the right one cross yourself and read “Our Father.” Then ask the Almighty to save you from financial problems and send prosperity to your home. The enchanted twig must be blessed in church on Sunday.

Family amulet (for Palm Sunday) It is done once a year on Palm Sunday. To do this, you will need as many willow branches as there are people in the family. Early in the morning, at dawn, cut off the branches, then go to the morning service and bless them. Arriving home and drinking holy water, begin to weave a braid from the vines, mentally imagining at this time how all the household members joined hands and formed a circle. After completing the work, let the eldest member of the family, holding a wreath in front of the icon Mother of God, will read: “ Saint Paul waved his willow and drove away our enemies. Just as it is true that Palm Sunday is celebrated, it is also true that evil people they won't bother you. Amen". 3 times. Keep the wreath near the icons for a year. Amen.

What should you not do on Palm Sunday? Palm Sunday is a great holiday. You cannot work on this day. Also, do not prepare hot dishes (all meals should be prepared in advance). Do not forget that Palm Sunday is celebrated on Lent. The table should be very moderate: in addition to the foods allowed by Lent, you can only eat fish. And on Palm Sunday you can’t comb your hair. Therefore, the health ritual mentioned above should be performed only on the eve of the holiday.

What signs still exist for Palm Sunday?

The wind that blows on such a day will accompany you all summer.

If the weather is clear and warm, according to one sign, the harvest of fruits and grains will be good.

There is a belief that willow can pacify fire, hail and drive away storms. All you have to do is put the branches on the windowsill, or throw them against the wind, or throw them into the fire.

The history of the holiday of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, why and why Orthodox Christians consecrate willow branches, what power is attributed to it, you will learn by reading the article.

Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem

A week before the celebration of the Holy Resurrection of Christ, in memory of the solemn Entry of the Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem - main city Holy Land - before his Passion on the Cross, the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem is celebrated.

The Feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (Week Week, Flower Week, Palm Sunday) is one of the 12 main holidays Orthodox Church. The service recalls the gospel events of the solemn entry of our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem on the eve of the sufferings on the cross. Residents of the holy city greeted Christ as the Messiah - with palm branches in their hands, hence the original name of the holiday - “Palm Sunday”.

On this day, Christ rode into Jerusalem on a young donkey. The day before, He performed the miracle of the resurrection of the holy righteous Lazarus, who lived with his sisters Martha and Mary in the village of Bethany near Jerusalem and died four days before Jesus came to Bethany.

The news of the resurrection of Lazarus spread throughout Jerusalem. People learned that Jesus, who raised Lazarus, was coming into the city. Many people came out to meet him. People spread the clothes they had taken off along his path. Others carried palm branches in their hands - a symbol of victory, solemnly exclaiming: “Hosanna (salvation) to the Son of David!” - this is how the Jews customarily greeted kings and victors. Only Christ alone knew that the path now strewn with palm branches leads to the Cross and Golgotha.

Entering the Temple, Jesus drove out the merchants and began to heal the blind and lame. People, seeing the miracles of Christ, began to glorify him even more. In the following days, Jesus preached in the Temple and spent his nights outside the city.

The people relentlessly followed Jesus, and the high priests, elders of the people, and scribes looked for an opportunity to destroy Him.

Palm Sunday

The Christian Church introduced the holiday of the Lord's entry into Jerusalem in the 4th century, and it came to Rus' in the 10th century and began to be called Palm Sunday, since the willow here played the same role as the palm tree and palm branches. The willow was and is now being blessed in the church with holy water.

By church tradition On the Feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, believers stand at the service with willow branches in their hands. That's why the holiday is called Palm Sunday. Willows replace the fronds - palm branches, which were held in the hands of the inhabitants of Jerusalem who met Christ. Believers seem to meet the invisibly coming Lord.

On the eve of Palm Sunday, at the all-night vigil on Saturday, willows are consecrated by sprinkling with holy water after reading a special prayer. However, on Sunday, at the morning service, people stand with willow branches and lighted candles, and after the Liturgy, sprinkling is carried out.

The willow is sanctified by the grace of the Holy Spirit, so there is no need to worry about how much water gets into the twig. A drop of holy water or a liter - it doesn’t matter, the willow is consecrated.

By coming into contact with this shrine, a person receives sanctification. Christians come to church on this day to pray, remember the solemn meeting of Jesus in Jerusalem and bring a piece of this holiday to their home.

Before the holiday, old branches are burned, and new ones are placed next to the icons.

Why are willow branches blessed?

Buds appear on willows earlier than other trees.

Since ancient times, willow has been attributed Magic force promote fertility and future harvests. It was also believed that willow had the ability to impart health and sexual energy to people and livestock, protect against diseases and cleanse from evil spirits.

In addition, the willow is credited with the power to protect houses from fire, fields from hail, stop a storm, recognize sorcerers and witches, and discover treasures. Willow “earrings” are swallowed in order to protect oneself from illness and drive away any illness. This shrine also drives away demons. During a thunderstorm it protects against lightning, so the branches were placed on the windowsill.

In ancient times in Rus', preparing willow branches was a kind of ritual. On the eve of Palm Sunday, Russians went to break willow trees on the banks near flowing rivers.

Coming from church with a blessed willow, it was customary to whip their children with it, saying: “The willow is a whip, it hits you to tears, the willow is red, it doesn’t hit in vain.”

You need to whip yourself to replenish your health, and you should say: “I don’t beat, it’s the willow that beats.”

Newlyweds or young girls were also beaten with blessed willow so that they would have healthy children.

There is an opinion that a consecrated willow, thrown against the wind, drives away a storm, thrown into a flame stops the effect of fire, and stuck in a field saves crops.

Cowardly people who want to get rid of their shortcomings need to drive a peg of a blessed willow tree into the wall of their house on Palm Sunday, upon arrival from Matins.

The weather during Palm Week was used to judge the future harvest. Good weather these days foretells a rich harvest.

After Palm Sunday, Holy Week begins. Every day, step by step, gradually means last days earthly life of the Savior. The Church these days remembers the Gospel events, and in the first three days all four Gospels are read on the clock: Matthew and Mark on Monday, Luke and John on Tuesday and Wednesday.

For our own sake, these days we must collect all our thoughts and feelings and purify them. You can read how to do this on the website.

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