What to do with the consecrated willow? Palm Sunday. Folk omens and traditions of the holiday
WHAT TO DO WITH LAST YEAR'S PERMAN? Every time before Palm Sunday, Orthodox Christians have a question: what to do with last year's willow, which they kept all year long? And when should you get rid of it? On the eve of a 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 the willow retains its magical properties until next spring. You can perform a small ritual on Palm Sunday itself, before or immediately after Palm Sunday. There are several options for getting rid of the willow: 1. Put the old willows through the flowing water into any body of water. 2. Burn the dried willow branches. In this case, the ash must be poured out in a place where they will not trample on it. You can pour the ashes into the river. 3. If the willows have sprouted in the water, it is best to plant them in the forest or by the river. 4. You can store willows for several years. But at the same time, every year to celebrate the holiday with fresh twigs. 5. If someone dies in the coming days, the willow is placed in a coffin. 6. Some elderly people collect willows to be placed with them in the grave. 7. With a lit willow branch, you can cleanse the house, consecrate it by going around the house with this branch and prayer. 8. Take them to the Church, where they are burned with prayer. 9 .. Take it to the forest and leave it between the willow bushes. 10. If you bake in the house, then you can light it up with last year's dried willow for baking Easter cakes. 11. They sweep the corners of the house with an old willow, and then burn them, thanking them for the service. MIRACLE PROPERTIES OF THE SACRED VALVE: * When they come home from the church, they lightly beat all the household members with the consecrated willow so that they are healthy. Do not forget about all the cattle. All living things absorb the power of spring and renewal. * The willow protects the house from evil forces and spirits. * The verb is planted in the garden if there is a marriageable bride or a young guy in the house. As soon as the willow is taken, there will be a wedding. * On St. George's Day, the cattle are driven to the fields with a willow. Then he will be healthy and fruitful. * It is believed that the willow can ward off thunder, hail and clouds by tilting it towards the clouds. * Verboi reduced the destructive power of fire by throwing it into conflagration. * Willow buds were swallowed to get rid of fever, sore throat, and infertility. * Verba planted wells 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 the elders to the younger members of the family. * On the night of Palm Sunday, you can make conspiracies for headaches. To do this, the hair from a comb was dipped into water and the willow was poured with this water. The water will go to the ground along with the headache. * On Palm Sunday, the girls made a love spell on a pussy willow. When uttering a spell, the willow was laid behind the icons. You cannot throw out the conspiracy branches. * You can only "hit" with a willow on the back, wishing you health. If you have been lashed in the butt, this person wishes you sickness and evil, and it can come true. * It was only possible to cut willow branches from young trees. It is important that the trunks are free of damage and mossy bark. * You cannot pluck branches from a willow tree if there is a hollow in it. You can also not tear branches from the cemetery willow. * You can not pick branches bent over the river. It is believed that mermaids sit on them at night. Signs: * If it was frosty enough on Palm Sunday, a fairly good harvest of spring bread was expected. * If there were frosts on the night of Verbnoe, then there will be a good harvest of cabbage and cucumbers. * If there is a strong wind on Verbnoye, then the whole summer will be quite windy, there will be hurricanes and storms. And if the day is warm and quiet, the summer will be like that. * What wind is in Verbnoe, it will be like this all summer. * If the sun is shining on Palm, there will be a rich harvest of cereals and fruits. * To knock on the body with a willow on Palm Sunday, you will be healthy all year round. * The willow is the most tenacious tree. Stick a branch into the ground and a tree will grow. The tree gives the same vitality to man. * 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 about your beloved on Verbnoe, he will come to you. * If you plant a houseplant 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 desires come true. WHAT TO DO WITH THE VALLEY? How to pick willow? Pull a few branches from small young trees. Do not cut all branches from one bush. But you need so many branches to put several pieces in each room, and in the cattle quarters 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 over the vases. They do not need to be removed for two weeks. On Maundy Thursday, the branches were used as sprinklers: they were moistened with holy water and sprayed on all corners of the house. And then the branches can be used in different ways: leave until next Palm Sunday, or immediately start up the river.
Interest in Orthodox traditions is growing, and many people have a question: how and when to consecrate the willow in 2017? Fluffy twigs are usually consecrated on Lazarus Saturday, the week before Easter, as well as the next day - on Palm Sunday, when Jesus, according to legend, entered Jerusalem. In 2017, Lazarev Saturday falls on April 8, and Palm Sunday falls on April 9. For all Orthodox Christians, this is a big and significant holiday.
The Sabbath is celebrated as a confirmation of the power and love of God. It was on Saturday that Jesus resurrected his disciple Lazarus. Whoever believes will not die - so it was said. It was not only about physical life, but also about the life of the soul.
Why is the willow consecrated
Christ arrived in the city astride a donkey, in front of him people laid out the branches of a palm tree as a sign of respect and recognition. Previously, only local rulers who arrived from the battlefield with victory were greeted in this way. For Jerusalem, the palm is not an exotic plant, and branches could be obtained without problems. In the domestic open spaces, the palm tree was replaced by a willow or willow. Even among the Slavs, this plant was revered as an image of love of life, her buds woke up earlier than others from winter sleep.
Often before the holiday on the shelves you can find ready-made bundles of pussy willow with beautiful shaggy balls. To help them bloom better, prudent sellers cut them off in advance and put them in the water. If you want to do it yourself, choose healthy young twigs with buds. Make a small stitch so that it fits in the palm of your hand. Our ancestors went to the forest for twigs on Saturday before the sun came up. Do not cut branches that are too long - about thirty centimeters is quite enough, maybe a little smaller, but in fact, their size does not really matter. Please note that this consecrated bouquet should stand in the house for a whole year. Tie the twigs with a narrow ribbon so they don't fall apart, and when you get home, you can put them in some water.
How the willow is holy
Traditionally, the twigs can be consecrated on Saturday after evening service or after Sunday morning. But often priests, going to a meeting, bless the willow for the parishioners throughout the day. After reading the prayers, the branches are irrigated with special holy water. Often, parishioners are in vain upset because, in their opinion, not enough water got on their branches or not at all. These worries are in vain, bunches of willow are sanctified not by water, but by the grace of the Holy Spirit. All the twigs that are brought from the temple after the service become your talisman for the whole year.
After sanctifying the willow, jokingly, whip your household members, according to legend, this will give them good health. Also, our ancestors lashed livestock in a similar way, and on Maundy Thursday they even gave blessed twigs to chew. But such a practice is not universally encouraged, it is believed that it is not worth giving to animals what is consecrated as food, it is like a desecration. Also, in no case should you throw out a bundle of willow with garbage when it dries.
The Verb should be left in the house for a year. After this time, you can put it into a stream or river, or dig it in the four corners of the land. Consecrated branches will save you from the riot of elements and thunderstorms. They must be placed in front of the holy image. Previously, the branches were decorated with ribbons, but now this is not at all necessary. Beekeepers sometimes stick twigs around the perimeter of the apiary to collect a lot of honey and make the bees swarm better.
On a holiday Sunday, you should visit the service and take a break from work. It is advisable not to indulge in worldly revelry, to pray, to refuse to watch television programs and to be imbued with the bright joy of the holiday. Let the consecrated willow protect your home from bad weather and the elements!
Every time before Palm Sunday, Orthodox Christians have a question: what to do with last year's willow, which they kept all year long? And when should you get rid of it? On the eve of a holiday or on Palm Sunday itself?
A few words about the holiday itself
Palm Sunday is a holiday dedicated to 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 Resurrection. Why Palm Sunday? When Jesus entered the Holy City, people covered the path with freshly cut palm branches. This tradition was adopted in the East during the meeting of important persons. In Russia, in the absence of a palm tree, they use the willow.
But on this day in the church they consecrate not only a willow and a palm tree, but also branches of an olive, boxwood, and laurel. There is a tradition to decorate large branches with sweets and fruits, as well as colored ribbons. Lighted branches were installed at the head of the bed, 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 - again Palm Sunday, you need to consecrate fresh pussy willows. And what to do with the old, last year? And when should you get rid of them? 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 the willow retains its magical properties until next spring.
You can perform a small ritual on Palm Sunday itself, before or immediately after Palm Sunday. There are several options for getting rid of the willow.
Launch old willows through flowing water into any body of water.
Burn the dried willow branches. In this case, the ash must be poured out in a place where they will not trample on it. You can pour the ashes into the river.
If the willows have sprouted in water, they are best planted in a forest or by a river.
You can store willows for several years. But at the same time, every year to celebrate the holiday with fresh twigs.
If someone dies in the coming days, the willow is placed in a coffin.
Some elderly people collect willows to be placed with them in the grave.
With a lit willow branch, you can cleanse the house, consecrate 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 you can light it up with last year's dried willow for baking cakes.
They sweep the corners in the house with an old willow, and then burn them, thanking them for the service.
Miraculous properties of the consecrated willow:
Arriving home from church, with a consecrated 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.
The willow protects the house from evil forces and spirits.
The verb is planted in the garden if there is a marriageable bride or a young guy in the house. As soon as the willow is taken, there will be a wedding.
On St. George's Day, the cattle are driven into the fields with a willow. Then he will be healthy and fruitful.
It is believed that the willow can ward off thunder, hail and clouds by tilting it towards the clouds.
Verba reduced the destructive power of fire by throwing it into the conflagration.
The pussy willow buds were swallowed to get rid of fever, sore throat, and infertility.
They planted wells with a verb 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 the elders to the younger members of the family.
On the night of Palm Sunday, you can make conspiracies for headaches. To do this, the hair from a comb was dipped into water and the willow was poured with this water. The water will go to the ground along with the headache.
On Palm Sunday, the girls made a love spell on a pussy willow. When uttering a spell, the willow was laid behind the icons. You cannot throw out the conspiracy branches.
You can only "hit" with a willow on the back, wishing you health. If you have been lashed in the butt, this person wishes you sickness and evil, and it can come true.
It was only possible to cut willow branches from young trees. It is important that the trunks are free of damage and mossy bark.
You cannot pluck branches from a willow tree if there is a hollow in it. You can also not tear branches from the 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, a fairly good harvest of spring crops was expected.
If there were frosts on the night of Verbnoe, then there will be a good harvest of cabbage and cucumbers.
If there is a strong wind on Verbnoye, then the whole summer will be quite windy, there will be hurricanes and storms. And if the day is warm and quiet, the summer will be like that.
What wind is in Verbnoe, it will be like this all summer.
If the sun shines on Verbnoye, there will be a rich harvest of cereals and fruits.
To knock on the body with a willow on Palm Sunday, you will be healthy all year round.
The willow is the most tenacious tree. Stick a branch into the ground and a tree will grow. The tree gives the same vitality to man.
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 about your beloved on Verbnoe, he will come to you.
If you plant a houseplant 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 desires a reality.
What to do with the willow?
How to pick willow? Pull a few branches from small young trees. Do not cut all branches from one bush. But you need so many branches to put several pieces in each room, and in the cattle quarters 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 over the vases. They do not need to be removed for two weeks. On Maundy Thursday, the branches were used as sprinklers: they were moistened with holy water and sprayed on all corners of the house. And then the branches can be used in different ways: leave until next Palm Sunday, or immediately start up the river.
The history of the Feast of the Lord's Entry 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 Bright Resurrection of Christ, in memory of the solemn Entry of the Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem - the main city of the 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 (Vai week, Flower-bearing week, Palm Sunday) is one of the 12 main holidays of the Orthodox Church. The service recalls the evangelical events of the solemn entry of our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem on the eve of the suffering of the Cross. The inhabitants 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 that day, Christ rode into Jerusalem on a young colt. 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. The people learned that Jesus, who had raised Lazarus, was going to the city. A lot of people came out to meet him. People spread their clothes, which they had taken off, on his way. Others carried palm branches in their hands - a symbol of victory, triumphantly exclaiming: "Hosanna (salvation) to the Son of David!" - this is how it was customary for the Jews to meet kings and victors. Only Christ alone knew that the path, now dotted with palm branches, leads to the Cross and Calvary.
Entering the Temple, Jesus drove the merchants out of it 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 the nights outside the city.
The people relentlessly followed Jesus, and the chief priests, the elders of the people, the scribes looked for an opportunity to destroy Him.
Palm Sunday
The Christian Church introduced the Feast of the Lord's Entry into Jerusalem in the 4th century, and it came to Russia in the 10th century and began to be called Palm Sunday, since the willow here played the same role as the palm tree, palm branches. The willow was consecrated and is now being consecrated in the church with holy water.
According to church tradition, on the feast of the Lord's Entry into Jerusalem, believers stand at the service with willow twigs in their hands. Therefore, the holiday is called Palm Sunday. The willows replace the fronds - palm branches that 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 an all-night vigil on Saturday, willows are consecrated by sprinkling with holy water after reciting a special prayer. However, even on Sunday morning services, people stand with willow branches and lighted candles, and after the Liturgy, sprinkling takes place.
The willow is consecrated by the grace of the Holy Spirit, so you shouldn't worry about how much water has got into the twig. A drop of holy water or a liter - it doesn't matter, the willow is consecrated.
By touching this shrine, a person receives sanctification. Christians on this day come to the temple to pray, remember the solemn meeting of Jesus in Jerusalem and bring a piece of this holiday home.
Before the holiday, old branches are burned, and new ones are placed next to the icons.
Why are willow branches consecrated?
On the willow, buds appear earlier than other trees.
Since ancient times, the verb has been credited with magical power to promote fertility and future harvest. It was also believed that the willow has the ability to give health and sexual energy to people and livestock, to protect from diseases and cleanse from evil spirits.
In addition, the willow is credited with the power to protect houses from fire, fields from hail, to stop a storm, to recognize sorcerers and witches, and to discover treasures. Willow "earrings" are swallowed in order to protect themselves from illness and drive away any ailment. This shrine also drives away demons. During a thunderstorm, it saves from being hit by lightning, so the twigs were placed on the windowsill.
In ancient Russia, the preparation of pussy willow branches was a kind of ritual. On the eve of Palm Sunday, the Russians set off to break willow on the banks near the flowing rivers.
Coming from the church with a consecrated willow, it was customary to lash their children with it, while saying: "The willow is a whip, it beats to tears, the willow is red, it is not in vain."
You also need to whip yourself in order to replenish your health, while you should say: "I'm not hitting, the willow beats."
Newlyweds or young girls were also flogged with a consecrated willow so that healthy children would be born to them.
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 lack, on Palm Sunday, upon arrival from Matins, drive a peg of the consecrated willow into the wall of their house.
According to the weather in Palm Sunday, they judged the future harvest. Good weather these days portends a rich harvest.
After Palm Sunday, Holy Week begins. Every day of her, step by step, gradually marks the last days of the earthly life of the Savior. The church these days recalls 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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The main symbol of the great Christian holiday Palm Sunday is the consecrated willow, as well as willow branches with the first leaves that appear on them. In Russia, the consecrated willow has always been credited with miraculous properties. It was believed that she helps to heal from diseases and drives away unhappiness from home all year round. But what to do with last year's willow?
Many Orthodox Christians, especially those who are just beginning to comprehend religion, are interested in the question of what to do with the willow after Palm Sunday. After all, the consecrated willow is not just branches, but already a shrine, which symbolizes the entry of the Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem.
Interestingly, since the inception of Christianity, the celebration of Palm Sunday, or as it is called by Catholics and Protestants, Palm Sunday has not changed. In Russia, at the very beginning of spring, and even in summer, it was difficult to find palm branches, which, according to the legend, the Jews met Jesus Christ. Therefore, this symbol of the holiday in the Slavic territories was replaced by willow and willow branches, which are available in large quantities in early spring.
Every year, new branches of willow are consecrated in churches and temples, but what to do with the willow from last year? First, we must remember that the twigs consecrated this year must be left at home for a whole year: before the next Easter. They decorate the house with branches. You can arrange them in all rooms, put them in the red corner. Willow bouquets at home on the eve of Easter remind us that the Bright Sunday of Christ will happen very soon.
The pussy willow illuminated during the holiday will protect the house and its inhabitants from problems and hardships throughout the year. Various rituals can also be performed with pussy willow branches to cope with diseases, conceive a child, and even influence the weather and the elements. Secondly, before you start planting fresh willow, you need to understand where to put the willow from last year. In no case should you just throw it away! 
When and how to get rid of last year's willow
A year later, on Palm Sunday, after the consecration of new branches, it is time for certain rituals to get rid of old bouquets. There are several scenarios for action, of which you can choose the most convenient for a particular case:
1. You can simply collect all the branches that are at home and burn them. Ashes from burnt branches must be poured out in places where people will not walk on it. For example, a good place for baking is under a tree in your own garden or in the thicket of the forest. Also, a good opportunity to get rid of the ash is to pour it into the flowing river.
2. You don't have to burn the twigs, but simply gather them all together and float along the rebbe with a turbulent current. It is important not to throw the willow into stagnant bodies of water, but to use rivers and streams for disposal, in which there is a mandatory current.
3. It happens that the willow has time to germinate in a year. If it so happens that the branches have roots, then the best way to get rid of them is to plant. Such trees should not be planted in your own yard, because there is a belief that then someone will die in the house. It is best to plant the shoots in a forest or near a river.
4. You can also take last year's branches to the church. There they are burned with the reading of the appropriate prayers.
5. Alternatively, you can burn the branches in your own oven. At the same time, in the heat, which will turn out, it is good to bake Easter cakes and pies.
These are the most appropriate options for what to do with the willow after Palm Sunday. The new pussy willow has magical qualities that can be used for your own purposes. 
Palm Sunday Traditions:
We have already written about, but we will also remember the traditions.
* It is believed that the consecrated willow will bring health to a person if they hit him on the back with a bouquet.
* Willow can cure infertility. A woman needs to make a belt out of pussy willow or eat several already blossoming buds on Palm Sunday.
* If you spread the willow in the corners of the room, as well as near the front door, then it will save the house from the penetration of evil spirits.
* The willow will help to protect the house from fire and thunderstorms throughout the year.
* If you hang the willow in the barn, then the cattle will delight you with health and offspring.
* The willow will also help in the execution of important matters. If you want to succeed in some very important matter, you can even swallow one bud of the consecrated willow.
* If a girl makes a wish to meet her fiancé on Palm Sunday, then it will definitely come true.
* If you plant a houseplant on this day, it will bring wealth. It is very successful to plant flowers like a money tree on this day.