“Many people celebrate holidays and
know their names, but do not know the reasons,
why they were established” (St. John Chrysostom)
True virtue is always expressed in doing good, internal good motives are expressed in external signs. One example is the Palm Sunday tradition of coming to worship with willow twigs. The twig in the hands is a sign that the Lord's Entry into Jerusalem for free suffering is just as important and touching for us as for those who two thousand years ago greeted him with palm branches and shouted "Hosanna!". “And we, like boys, bear the sign of victory, We cry to the conqueror of death: Hosanna in the highest, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord,” is sung in the troparion of the holiday, that is, “And we, like those children who met You with palm branches - a symbol of victory - to You, Lord, as the Conqueror of death, we cry out "hosanna."
The Church is generally timeless. At divine services, it is almost impossible to hear anything about sacred events in the past tense, for example, that the Lord entered Jerusalem. It is less common to hear that He "went up to Jerusalem", but more often - "enters", and moreover, "today", now. In the souls of people, the gospel events are experienced each time in a new way. Therefore, they bring willows to the temple, stand with them during the service, to show that we also greet the Lord as our King and Messiah.
Unfortunately, this beautiful tradition was rethought over time in terms of external ritualism. If the liturgical texts focused on "Coming in the name of the Lord" - Christ and the people who met Him, then folk tradition the whole meaning of the holiday was reduced to the consecration of the willow. Bringing a willow to the temple (or rather, taking it out of the temple), it turns out, is no longer necessary in order to testify to the Lord one's love, but in order to stock up on a good amulet. From year to year, the same story repeats itself: during the day, when the festive Liturgy has long ended, many people come to the temple with the question: “Where are willows handed out here?” Willow is not a pity, but for some reason it always makes me sad.
In books and oral conversations, you can find a lot of advice on what to do with willow, where to put it, how many years to store it, even in what cases it is advisable to eat a willow bud. People hope to receive help from the willow, because the willow is consecrated. But if you analyze the text of the prayer, it turns out that there is not a single word in it that the willow is consecrated, its meaning boils down to the phrase: “... and us, in imitation of oneh (i.e. us, in imitation of the people who met the Lord branches), on this pre-holiday day, fronds and branches of trees in the hands of those who carry, observe and preserve. It turns out that, first of all, the Church saw not the willow, but the person himself as the object of consecration. In Trebnik - a collection of priestly prayers containing the following of the Sacraments and rites - there is not even an instruction to sprinkle the willow with holy water. This indication is in the Missal - a book containing the Liturgy, Vespers, Matins, but it appeared there later, as a reflection of the established practice.
Now, few people dare to violate the tradition of consecrating the willow, but we have no right to forget the inner meaning of this rite. You cannot focus all your attention only on the external, forgetting about the main thing: where the Lord is going and for what. Willow can (and should) bring a blessing, but it is important not only to expect a miracle from it, but to think about what the Lord expects from us. Let these thoughts come to us more often when our gaze falls on a branch of a withered willow.
The text of the prayer in Church Slavonic:
“Lord, our God, sitting on the Cherubim, restoring power and sending Your Only Begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, may He save the world with the Cross and burial and Resurrection of His, Who has now come to Jerusalem for a free passion, people sitting in darkness and the canopy of death, having received the signs of victory - branches of trees and vay, date, foreshadowing the Resurrection. Himself, Vladyka, and us, in imitation of him on this pre-holiday day of vaiya, and the branches of trees in the hands of those who carry, observe, and as they are the people and children who bring you hosanna, save, as if we were in songs and singing Spiritual, let us be vouchsafed to achieve the life-giving and three-day Resurrection, in Christ Jesus, our Lord, blessed be Thou with Him, with Thy Most Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen. »
The text of the prayer in modern Russian:
“O Lord our God, who sits on the cherubs! You raised up the Power - Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, so that He would save the world with His cross, burial and resurrection. And when He, having appeared for this, went to Jerusalem for voluntary suffering, then the people, who were in darkness and mortal darkness, taking palm and other branches of trees as symbols of life, proclaimed by them about the resurrection. Oh, Vladyka, You Yourself save and save us, like them, carrying palm and other branches of trees in their hands on this pre-holiday day; and, preserving us, make me worthy that we, with the singing of spiritual songs and hymns, like those peoples and children who sing “Hosanna” to You, meet the Three-day Life-Giving Resurrection in Christ Jesus, our Lord, with whom you are blessed together with the Most Holy, All-good and Your life-giving Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen".
This is usually done on Lazarus Saturday, before Palm Sunday. It is celebrated a week before Easter, as well as the next day. In 2017, Lazarus Saturday falls on April 8, but those who did not have time to bless the willow should go to the temple and do it on Sunday. It is better to find out in advance in the temple what time it costs to come to illuminate the willow, since the time is different in all temples. You can find out exactly when the willow is consecrated in the church from the priest or parishioners, who often attend services. Usually these are women of retirement age who do not miss a single service. The priest on the eve of the holiday usually says when it is worth lighting the willow and what time to come to the temple. Some parishes write a big announcement. In any case, information is available almost everywhere.
Why consecrate willow
This tradition is associated with Christian holiday when Jesus came to Jerusalem on a donkey and everyone revered him and laid palm branches and flowers at his feet. However, since palm trees do not grow in our country, willow branches were used. In spring, it is one of the first trees to leaf out. Sometimes they use willow with knobs. There is no fundamental difference what exactly to choose for lighting. The main thing is the very appearance of a person in the temple and the fact that he decided to consecrate the willow.
Many people serve in the temple on this day. However, not everyone, for health reasons, will be able to withstand a two-hour service. It is for this reason that people working on this day, those who are busy various affairs or worries, they can simply come only for consecration. To do this, you need to buy a candle in the temple, make a small donation to the temple, buy a willow and stand in line with other believers. When a priest appears, you need to light a church candle and substitute a willow for him, so that drops of water fall on it. After the priest departs, you need to go home with the willow. good omen if you can carry the candle home without it going out. It is believed that after this the grace from the temple will be in the house, and no one will get sick for a year.
Under no circumstances should it be thrown away. During the year, dried branches are stored until the next Palm Sunday. On the day when you brought the branches home, you need to put them in a vase and place them on the table or in the red corner with icons. After that, all family members sit down at the table or believing guests to celebrate the holiday.
On Palm Sunday, the fast is relaxed: you can drink a moderate amount of wine and eat fish and seafood. However, cottage cheese, milk, eggs or cream should not be eaten for another week. A fish table can also be very tasty and healthy. Here are the main dishes and products that can take place on the festive table.
1. Dried pike perch. It can be used as an addition to potato dishes. It is very tasty and goes well with a variety of foods.
2. Mussels in oil. It can be used as an independent snack, or just an addition to various salads and snacks. They have a bright taste and add spice to any salad.
3. Red fish steak with garlic sauce. Appetizing and very tasty dish fast food for the microwave. You just need to heat the steak for 5 to 10 minutes so that its aroma can be heard in the room, then buy a creamy garlic or cheese sauce, squeeze some garlic into it and add chopped olives. Serve in portions as independent dish. There are sets of such steaks in supermarkets and large hypermarkets. From them you can cook a delicious dinner for the whole family. Such fish is rich in various amino acids and omega-3, which allows you to restore strength before the end of the fast.
4. Crab sticks. You can use them on their own or simply add them to your favorite salad. The dish will be very tasty and appetizing with them. They go great with rice, dill, canned corn and soy sauce.
5. Shrimps. It can be used as an independent dish (shish kebab in the microwave), fried in a pan or simply boiled in dill, like crayfish. A wonderful dish that gives a feeling of fullness and at the same time normalizes the level of protein in the body.
6. Fish baked with spices. A great holiday dish. There are many lean recipes on how to cook it quickly and efficiently.
7. Wine. From alcoholic beverages, on Palm Sunday it is best to use red wine, expensive champagne or liquor.
What not to do with willow
First of all, consecrated branches should not be thrown into the trash or donated, especially to strangers. Otherwise, grace may leave the house. Willow, which has already stood in the house for a year, is not thrown into the trash, but burned in a fire, like many holy things and objects. Do not give it to small children or use it for household needs. What else can not be done on this day - read in our article
On Sunday, seven days before Easter, in all cities and villages you can meet joyful and inspired people with bouquets of willow vines. With jokes and sayings: "It's not me who beats - the willow beats," they joyfully pronounce the wishes of health and happiness to each other. What kind of event is celebrated in this way?
During Great Lent, before Passion Week and after Lazarus Saturday, the time comes to celebrate the Lord's Entry into Jerusalem. This event is described in the Gospels of Mark, Matthew, John and Luke. Jesus on that day entered the holy city not on a horse, as was expected of him, but on a donkey, because the donkey at that time was a symbol of peace, and the war horse meant "warlike intentions." The whole crowd joyfully greeted him as the Messiah, greeting him with palm branches and laurel branches and strewn the path with flowers. After all, it was said in the traditions that the Messiah would save them, as they thought, from the slavery and oppression of Rome.
However, in this bright holiday there is also a kind of “bitterness”. After all, these same people, who greeted him at the entrance to Jerusalem in just a week, will demand his crucifixion and death, because they considered that he did not live up to their expectations. And only after the Resurrection of Jesus, people realized that he came to save them not from the oppression of the Romans, but from the enemy “within himself” and “trampling death by death” gave hope for the salvation of their souls from sin and death.
On this holiday, people go to church with willows, since palm branches are not available in our area, and the first tree that “awakened” after winter is a willow. Believers illuminate the willow vines, personifying the meeting of the Lord with their action and purifying their thoughts during Passion Week to celebrate the Great Day of the Resurrection of Christ. According to the Charter on this day, despite strict post allowed to eat fish dishes.
The people are very fond of this holiday, many traditions and beliefs are associated with it.
According to traditions, on the eve of Palm Sunday, it is necessary to break the willow twigs that grow on the river bank. Willow has long been considered a sacred tree in Russia and its vines were endowed with a magical symbol of purification. During the church service early in the morning, the priest “blesses the vayi”, sprinkling it three times and saying a special prayer: “This vaiya is sanctified by the grace of the Most Holy Spirit by sprinkling this sacred water, in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
After the consecration in the church, people carried the branches home and performed the rite of cleansing with willow, giving their household members health and beauty. To do this, they whipped their relatives with branches, saying: “I don’t beat - the willow beats. Be tall like a willow, be healthy like water, be rich like earth.” The children were woken up by beating willow twigs with a slander: “The willow brought health! As willow grows, so do you grow! In some areas, the guys beat their girls with willows so that they were nimble, healthy, gave birth well, because the willow was a symbol of fertility. In the old days, they believed that by swallowing consecrated willow buds on this day, one could be cured of infertility.
In the villages, domestic animals were also whipped with willows when they were driven out to pasture so that they were healthy, prolific and grew well.
The consecrated willow is considered by the people the strongest amulet. She was hung under the icons in the house to protect the house from evil spirits, fires and floods; they put a sick child in the font, protecting him from damage and the evil eye; "Stuck" in the field at the first plowing in order to save the crop from death. Whoever wanted to get rid of cowardice had to drive a willow peg into the wall of the house early in the morning, she helped to overcome shyness.
The consecrated willow kept its healing properties whole year. If there are willow branches from last year, you need to burn them or throw them into the river, but so that the water is not stagnant.
Meeting this bright holiday with a bit of sadness, each person should remember mercy and philanthropy and meet with dignity holy week before the bright feast of the Resurrection of Christ.
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 Russia 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.
You probably noticed that the willow buds are not the same in color and shape:
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. Wherein total 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.
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.
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 ancient tradition. And here are some interesting beliefs that have come to us from time immemorial:
And in general, willow branches protect the house itself from troubles, intrusions of unnecessary people and other unforeseen events.
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.
The pious tradition of consecrating willows is performed at the festive All-Night Vigil. After reading the Gospel, the priest incense willows, reads a prayer and sprinkles the branches with holy water. During the consecration of the willows, a prayer is read: “These willows are consecrated, by the Grace of the All-Holy Spirit and the sprinkling of this sacred water, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen!" (So you can consecrate the willow yourself, if for some reason you good reasons you can't go to church - only women during critical days this cannot be done - it is better to ask to read a prayer and sprinkle the willow of someone from the household).
But, if, for example, someone asked you to consecrate a willow for him, this is not 
nothing wrong, just make a separate bouquet right away. I often saw how they consecrate whole armfuls ... This is useless - here the quantity does not pass into quality. Moreover, as I already mentioned, you can’t distribute consecrated willow from your bouquet to anyone (this does not apply to your household).
He brought a healthy one, they said: “As a willow grows, so do you grow.”
That same evening, I became ill, and I collapsed on the bed in powerlessness. I slept for a long time, but the dream was very heavy. The next morning my heart was seized, then my head hurt all day and it got worse and worse. Natalya Ivanovna, I don't understand how it could happen to me! I wear a cross all the time, and I have protection, but here is such a misfortune!
Like Palm Sunday in joy to the whole Orthodox world, So I would be in joy to My dear, servant of God (name). How the Christian people are waiting for the ringing of the bells for the festive mass, So the servant of God (name) would be waiting for me, waiting for me, looking for me in the crowd of people, looking out the window, looking everywhere, and would rush, and rush on the opposite path, and pull to my hands are white. As the Palm Feast will not be forgotten by the Church, So the Servant of God (name) will never forget me. Amen.
Right now you can transform your destiny!
Many believed that a consecrated willow could stop a summer thunderstorm,and thrown into the flame - help with a fire.
If you have to go to important negotiations or are you going to begin 
very important thing for you, and you are not sure of the result, then the 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 matter, you need to tear off three buds from a branch and eat them, drinking holy water, while thinking about your business. True, you can use this property of a twig only in the most extreme case. Constantly, it is not necessary, it is 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, but he did not pay any attention to her, she was waiting for this particular day. Starting in the morning, she began to think about who is dear to her heart. Her thoughts in some incomprehensible way were 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 that we think about, sooner or later necessarily happens in 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.
It used to be that if you plant an indoor flower on this day, then it attract money into your life. In the cities, of course, houseplants were kept, but in the villages it was not up to that. But those who knew about this sign, and planted indoor plants, very quickly got to their feet.But this sign has several features that few people know about. Firstly, if the flower wilts within a month, then you have to live your whole life in poverty. And secondly, you need to plant only 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 was noticed that in the house where Money Tree grows well, there is always prosperity and there is no shortage of money.
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 having drunk the holy water, start weaving 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 oldest member of the family, holding a wreath in front of the icon Mother of God, will read: « Saint Paul waved the willow, drove away enemies from us. Just as it is true that Palm Sunday is celebrated, it is true that evil people they won't come. Amen". 3 times. A wreath to keep the year at the icons.
Willow in traditional medicine
Willow bark contains vitamin C, carbohydrates, cellulose, glycoside salicin, lignin, anthocyanins, flavones, catechins, tannins ... Willow bark is harvested on the eve of spring or at the very beginning of March before flowering and during sap flow. The tree should not be old or too young. Trees 6-8 years old are considered the most healing. The bark is removed carefully, cut into pieces, dried in the sun, and then dried in a dryer or oven at a temperature of 50-60 degrees until it breaks easily. The shelf life of the bark is 4 years.
With inflammation of the mouth and throat, decoctions are used for rinsing.
You will learn:
how to do Thursday salt, bread, a candle and fire (Sacred fire), which are then used for various ceremonies throughout the year
what to do on clean thursdayfor health and wealth;
how to get married, be loved and beautiful;
rituals to get rid of negativity and bad habits(alcoholism, drug addiction)
a rite to destroy the evil intentions of any enemy (I will reveal the secret that this ritual can be done not only on Clean Thursday)
You will receive plots:
