Palm Sunday: the essence of the holiday. Palm Sunday holiday

Every year before Easter, Palm Sunday is celebrated. This is one of the main Orthodox holidays, which marks the entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. Palm Sunday symbolizes the recognition of Jesus Christ as the Savior and a prototype of the entry of the Son of Man into heaven.

In Rus', this holiday began to be celebrated only in the 10th century. The symbol of this holiday is willow branches; they were consecrated in a church or temple and distributed to passers-by, and they also decorated the house with them. There are many different traditions and rituals associated with this holiday, some of which are still observed today.

Signs of Palm Sunday

Some signs are also associated with this day, let's get acquainted with some of them:

• In those distant times, the male half of humanity made talismans from willow on this day, which they then carried with them for a whole year. It was believed that they gave strength and made a man brave and courageous.
• Healing properties were also attributed to willow buds, so they were used to prepare decoctions, teas, and were also added to food.
• For success in upcoming endeavors, you need to eat a couple of willow buds before starting.
• For childless women, they were supposed to make neck jewelry from willow earrings, and they also had to eat a few buds.
• In order for livestock to produce numerous offspring, willow branches were laid out in barns, and the buds were added to the feed.
• Rain on Palm Sunday was considered a good omen, meaning there would be a good harvest.
• Last year's twigs couldn't just be thrown away; they had to be burned and the ashes poured into the river.
• It was forbidden to cut branches from willows that grew in or near the cemetery.

Currently, there is a tradition that you should decorate your house with twigs, but buds are not added to decorations, and especially to food. According to folk signs, from which direction the wind will blow on Palm Sunday, it will be like this all summer. If the weather is clear and warm on this day, then expect a good harvest, and frost promises an excellent harvest of spring grain.

Palm Sunday Rites

On this day in ancient times, people observed many rituals, let's get acquainted with some of them:

• If you had a severe headache, you had to comb your hair, remove a few hairs from the comb, throw them into water, into which you put willow branches.
• On Palm Sunday, women performed many love spells, for example, to save the family and the love of their husband, they had to break willow branches and put them behind the icon. As long as they lie there, the husband will not stop loving.
• Light stitches with twigs bring happiness and health, so if you wanted to wish this for someone, you had to lightly stitch with willow.
• To cleanse the house of evil spirits and bad karma, the branches were dipped in holy water and sprinkled throughout the house.
• To protect against fire, it was necessary to burn a willow twig.
• To ensure that there was always prosperity in the house, an illuminated willow branch was lowered into the river.
• If you stick a willow into the roof of a house, you will be provided with reliable protection from evil forces and all sorts of troubles. Nowadays, you can hang a branch above the door in your apartment, then there will always be peace and quiet in the house.
• It has long been a custom that you cannot work on this day, especially washing and mopping the floor.
• Previously, on Palm Sunday, cookies were baked with the addition of willow buds and treated to neighbors and friends.

Of course, most of all these customs have long since sunk into the past, but the holiday is always celebrated.

Palm Sunday customs

Currently, some of them are also observed:

• If you lash your body with willow branches, your health will not be disturbed all year long. Some people still observe this ritual today; they knock on themselves and their loved ones with a blessed twig and at the same time read the “Our Father.” The willow has always been considered a tenacious, strong tree, and on this day it transfers its strength to man.
• If on this day a girl remembered her beloved from the very morning, then by the evening she would definitely meet with him. Oddly enough, it always worked.
• On Palm Sunday, indoor plants were planted in the house; it was believed that this would bring prosperity. But it was necessary to remember that if the plant dries out, the family will face poverty, so they chose sprouts with a strong stem and a lot of leaves. It was from then on that it became customary to plant a money tree for this holiday.

What should you not do on Palm Sunday?

Not only was it forbidden to work on this day, but it was also forbidden to take pets outside. It was believed that evil spirits could harm them.

Currently, almost all the customs and traditions of this holiday are not observed, but Palm Sunday exists, and most people celebrate it, visit churches on this day and wish each other health and prosperity.

The tradition of celebrating Palm Sunday arose several centuries ago. This holiday, significant for all Orthodox Christians, signifies the coming to Jerusalem of Jesus, the Messiah and savior of human souls.

The traditional willow, which is consecrated on this holiday, was not chosen by chance. The Son of God was greeted with palm branches, and in our climate the first beacon of spring was always the willow, a symbol of rebirth.

Traditions and customs on Palm Sunday

The day before, on Lazarus Saturday, Orthodox Christians went into the forest and broke willow branches. They were taken to the temple for the festive service and consecrated. These bouquets were always placed near icons at home in order to ward off troubles and misfortunes from all household members.

The ritual that came to us from our ancestors has been preserved unchanged: it was customary to whip each other with willow branches in order to expel illness and negativity from the body. Willow buds were often baked along with bread, which they then treated to their loved ones. They also gave willow buds to livestock to ward off disease, mortality, and to ensure a good offspring.

On Palm Sunday, priests call on Orthodox people to devote time to prayer, reflection on their actions, and communication with loved ones and relatives. During the holiday, Lent continues, so you should refrain from entertainment.

Another ancient tradition is to place illuminated willow branches in the hands of the deceased. According to legends, such a ritual allowed the soul of the deceased to be cleansed of sins and appear before the Savior with a symbol of rebirth and sinlessness in his hands.

On this day, relaxation in food intake is also allowed. Ahead of Christians is Holy Week, the strictest, therefore, on the holiday Sunday it is allowed to eat fish.

The centuries-old tradition, which is still used today, makes it possible to enlist the support of the Higher Powers and gain well-being and prosperity for the whole year. To do this, you need to bake Lenten bread for each family member, and put a coin in one. The one who gets this filling will find happiness and good luck.

On Palm Sunday, women dreaming of having a child swallowed several willow buds in the hope of soon becoming pregnant and bearing a healthy child.

Last year's willow branches were burned. They accumulated negative energy, which the consecrated branches collected throughout the year. Such a ritual also helped to cleanse the house of the remnants of negativity, because you can put not only firewood in the fire, but also things that have gone out of use.

On Sunday, it was traditional to plant a new plant and place it on the windowsill in the main room. It was believed that it would attract wealth to the house, and also contribute to a bountiful harvest in the fields and gardens.

Also, on this day, our ancestors locked up poultry and did not allow it to roam freely around the yard. It was believed that rampaging evil forces seek to harm humans and attack weak and defenseless birds. People believed that the temporary lull of evil spirits began with Easter, and a week before it, it went on rampage.

Palm Sunday has traditionally been associated with the symbol of new life. This also meant procreation. On the holiday, girls thought about their lovers or imagined possible suitors. According to legends, the first man from another family to enter the house was a harbinger of an imminent marriage.

Folk signs on this holiday are still popular today. Remember that during strict fasting it is important to devote time to spiritual growth and enlightenment, therefore priests prohibit any fortune telling and other ways to change your destiny. Spend this holiday with your closest people and enjoy the warmth of communication. We wish you happiness, and do not forget to press the buttons and

09.04.2017 05:12

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As Palm Sunday approaches, signs become especially important and significant. At this time, it is customary to make forecasts almost a year in advance about the weather and the future harvest.

Lazarev Saturday

Another holiday celebrated on Saturday of Palm Week is the Resurrection of Lazarus.

They sent news to Jesus that his friend and associate Lazarus from Bethany was seriously ill, and they asked him to hurry. It was not clear why Christ was in no hurry. And only after the news that Lazarus had died did he set off.

When he arrived in Bethany, four days had already passed since his death. The relatives and friends of the deceased were in deep sorrow. Jesus prayed earnestly near the cave where Lazarus was buried.

He cried out to God to perform a miracle. After the prayer, the stone blocking the entrance was moved away, and those present saw the miracle of the resurrection. 4 days ago Lazarus turned out to be alive.

Christians have been celebrating Lazarus Saturday since the 4th century. Three and a half centuries later, a certain canon for holding services on this day was developed. Chants during the service do not indicate an accidental miracle, but an important symbol of strengthening faith.

After sunset, during the evening service, willow branches begin to be blessed. This is the beginning of the celebration of Palm Sunday.

Palm Sunday holiday

As already written above, Palm Sunday, according to church canons, begins on Saturday evening. But the main services and the blessing of the willow are held on Sunday.

Among other things, in Rus' this holiday symbolizes the awakening of nature after a long winter. It is not for nothing that the northern Slavs chose the willow as a symbol of this day. The tree is a harbinger of spring. As soon as the sun warms the air, fluffy lumps hatch into the light. They are the ones who give faith in warm days to come.

Orthodox Christians joyfully celebrate Palm Sunday. How is this day celebrated in Russia? People of any age go to the nearest church on Sunday morning to bless willow branches. Churched parishioners stand at the service, performing prayers and participating in chants. Upon returning home, it is customary to lightly whip the household with willow with wishes of health and grace.

Blessed branches are placed next to icons, braided into braids, made into amulets, and nailed to outbuildings. A year later, on the eve of a new holiday, the willow is burned.

If you know the exact date of the celebration, you can prepare in advance. How to calculate what date Palm Sunday will be celebrated in a given year? To determine the date, you need to know what day Easter will be. Exactly one week before the Resurrection of the Lord, the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem is celebrated.

What not to do

Palm Sunday is a significant holiday for Christians. Any work on this day is undesirable. Some don't even recommend cooking. In the modern world, everything has become much simpler. There are services and professions that require daily work, regardless of calendar dates. But if there is no particular need for something, then it is better, of course, to postpone it.

In the old days, women were forbidden to comb their hair on this day, just like on the Annunciation. It is clear that this is hardly possible now. Although owners of long curls can observe the ban. Hair braided into a braid, covered with a scarf on top, can easily go a day without combing.

What other prohibitions exist on Palm Sunday? What is completely unacceptable is to indulge in gluttony. The end of the sixth week of fasting does not imply a rich feast. A little wine, Lenten dishes cooked with vegetable oil, fish - these are the basis of the festive table.

Holiday traditions

The main and main tradition of the holiday is the blessing of willow branches. It is believed that there should be exactly as many of them as there are people in the family. Some peoples use these branches to weave family amulets. Their strength is great. They protect the house from unkind people and fire, save from hurricanes and floods, from poverty, despondency and disease.

On Palm Sunday, signs for the weather and harvest are especially reliable. They are supported by families for generations. This is especially important for residents involved in agriculture.

The tradition of putting coins in bread comes from Belarus. In this way, you can determine who will have good luck and prosperity all year long.

In some areas, it is customary to place consecrated branches in the coffin of the deceased. This tradition goes back to the very beginning of Christianity. It is believed that thanks to the willow you can enter the gates of heaven and greet the Savior there. Among other things, the willow tree is a symbol of life and awakening.

Palm markets are traditional. Children especially love this entertainment, since the main product is sweets. In addition, pleasant little things for the household are offered and the same willow, collected in bouquets and decorated with ribbons and paper angels.

A tree grown from a blessed branch increases wealth in the house. Therefore, bouquets brought from church are placed in water and carefully monitored to see if roots appear.

Rituals and customs

Many folk signs on Palm Sunday have long grown into rites, customs and rituals.

If you live near a river, try lowering a willow branch into the water. If it floats away from you, then in the near future an increase in wealth in the house is expected.

Branches attached to the roof will protect the inhabitants of the house from illness and mental anguish.

Whipping children with branches on holiday is the most common ritual. With every blow, a wish for health is spoken.

Here is another custom for increasing wealth. Even if there is a complete ban on doing anything on this day, it is still recommended to plant a houseplant with thick round leaves. If the flower is accepted and grows rapidly, you can be sure that wealth will come to the house.

Rituals on Palm Sunday are traditions that go back centuries. Whether to believe them or comply with them is something everyone decides for themselves. For some, this is a principle of life, and for others, it is just a beautiful addition to a day off.

Use of consecrated willow in folk medicine

It has long been believed that willow contains enormous healing power. Sprinkling with holy water increases it several times. How can you use twigs brought from church on Palm Sunday? What to do with them to improve health? Here are some examples of the use of willow for medicinal purposes:

• By taking a decoction of the branches, you can get rid of headaches, fever, temperature, and insomnia.
• Rubbing the decoction into sore spots relieves rheumatic pain.
• Willow infusion with vodka will help cope with intestinal infections and disorders.
• The leaves are capable of healing wounds.
• Swallowing consecrated blossoming buds helps with infertility.
• Babies sleep more peacefully after bathing in water infused with willow branches.

Willow is used in folk medicine wherever it grows and enjoys well-deserved respect.

Folk signs

Folk signs for Palm Sunday have long come into use. They are passed down from elders to younger ones and become part of our lives.

Calm, sunny weather promises a warm, windless summer and a rich harvest. A strong wind promised cool weather.

A cold but clear day gave hope for spring crop yields.

A frost-free Palm Sunday increases the chance of an abundance of fruit.

The number of blossoming earrings also served as an indicator of the future harvest.

And on this day it is customary to mentally call on your loved one, and the meeting will definitely take place.

Every year for many centuries in a row, the church opens its doors to everyone who believes in salvation. Palm Sunday is a holiday symbolizing the power of faith and its revival. Willow branches and bouquets bring peace and protection to the house. Following the first rays of sunshine, hope for the best arises in our hearts. And even though this day is fraught with a lot of sadness, it is still a harbinger of the Bright Resurrection of Christ and the salvation of all mankind.

Greetings, friends!

Here I again decided to run through various holidays, and since the closest and most significant one will be on April 9 this year, that is, very soon, I will dwell on it. That's right, we will talk about Palm Sunday (aka Palm Sunday). But I will not look at this day from the angle we are accustomed to; I want to remember distant times and traditions and beliefs that we have almost forgotten.

But more on this below, but for now a little introductory information (for the general picture, so to speak).

Palm Sunday in Christianity

Another name for this holiday is the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. Believers began to celebrate it back in the 4th century, but it came to us only in the 10th century, and it was here that it was named Palm Sunday.

On this day, Jesus Christ rode a donkey (a donkey in this context is a symbol of peace, as opposed to horses) entered Jerusalem. He was greeted by a noisy and joyful crowd: people threw palm branches at the feet of the donkey on which the Savior rode (there were no palm trees in our area, so we replaced the palm branches with willow, since evergreen spruce branches were associated with funeral rites, and in addition not a single willow tree had yet sprouted its buds), some even spread out their clothes in order to honor Christ. After all, rumors about the miracles performed by Jesus quickly reached the walls of Jerusalem, and now people were waiting for new miracles: they hoped that Christ would put an end to the Roman occupation and avenge the children of Israel.

However, their expectations were not met, and we all remember very well how it all ended. Hence the taste of tragedy in this day.

On the eve of this holiday, the entire Orthodox world goes to church to bless willow branches, which they then bring home, keep all year, decorate icons with them, hang them in the corners of rooms, and so on, but more on that below.

The forgotten meaning and ritual of “Willow Whip”

But still, we should not forget that in the pre-Christian era, the willow already had its own sacred meaning and was already associated with a pagan ritual that had a very telling name - “Willow Whip”. The church simply took and slightly altered some things. But let's go back to pagan times.

Let me remind you that for our ancestors, procreation was very important: after all, the number of children in the family depended on the number of hands of the master (the more, the better), and the ranks of valiant warriors were replenished. Consequently, the likelihood of dying from the machinations of enemies or hunger decreased. And the willow, just the same, among the Slavs was a symbol of fertility and rapid growth: since this is the very first plant that awakens after winter sleep, comes to life, opens buds. The willow awakens itself, full of strength, and can still convey its health and beauty to people and animals.

On this day, the guys lightly whipped the girls on the legs with willow branches - thereby symbolizing fertilization (hence the name - Willow Whip).

There are many traditions and rituals associated with Palm Sunday and willow. Of course, some of them have already been lost in time, however, some are still alive. So:

1. We went to collect willow on Lazarus Saturday(on the eve of the holiday) and always before sunrise;
2. And it had to be consecrated on the same day in the evening (or on Sunday morning);
3. Willow branches were decorated with ribbons and paper flowers(sometimes this was done after the consecration in the church);
4. Also, willow branches were placed near the icons and left there either for the whole year or until St. Yegoryev's Day. In some regions of Russia, for these purposes, a special “teremok” was built from straw, which was decorated and hung in front of the icons;
5. After Yegoryev's Day, willow branches were stored in a stable By sticking them under the roof, it was believed that this would help protect livestock from loss. Since it was a sin to throw them away, sometimes the willow branches were burned, and sometimes they were thrown into the water;
6. Livestock were given a willow twig or buds to eat. It was believed that this would give health;
7. In some areas of the country, willow buds were baked into bread and fed to animals., our ancestors believed that this would increase the number of livestock;
8. For the same purpose, in some regions cookies were baked in the shape of willow buds.(and they baked according to the number of livestock and poultry, and sometimes household members), then they blessed it in the church;

   In the Kostroma province it (the cookie) was called “lamb”, in the Moscow province it was called “lamb”, “babashki” or “akatushki”, in the Ryazan province it was “nuts”, “kytka”.

9. Also, on Yegoryev’s day, it was customary to hit cattle with a willow branch., and then feed her this twig. This ritual contributed to the growth of livestock;
10. On the holiday of Ivan Kupala, a tree (and sometimes just branches) of a willow was used in a festive ritual: the girls decorated it and danced around it, sang, and then the boys ran into the circle of the dance and tore the tree apart. It was believed that such a ritual would help increase harvests;
11. Let me remind you that willow is a plant that is identified with fertility. Therefore, infertile women sometimes ate a willow bud (this was supposed to help them conceive a child);
12. In some provinces of our country there was a ritual with an interesting name - “calling out young women.” Its meaning was that on the eve of Palm Sunday (at midnight) young people went to the homes of the newlyweds. Standing at the gate, they shouted: “Open it, open it, young one, beat it with a camel, give it more health than before.” The young woman unlocked the gate and let this whole cheerful crowd into the house, where the singing continued: “There would be a harvest of grain, multiplication of livestock.” With all this, all household members were lightly lashed with willow twigs, saying: “We beat to be healthy” or “Get up early, beat the ram.” The last to be whipped was the young one as she saw off the singers;
13. If willow branches are broken and scattered across the field, and the buds are crushed into grain before sowing, this should increase the yield;
14. For this purpose, willow branches were stuck in the corners of the fields(and sometimes they simply planted a tree in the field). This not only contributed to a good harvest, but also protected the crops;
15. Verba treated children: To do this, you had to go to the river and pick willow branches (you had to go before sunrise, and pick nine branches three times to get three bunches, each with nine branches). After arriving home, one bunch was placed in hot water and the child was bathed in it (it was necessary to bathe in front of the window from which the sunrise was visible). At noon, the same actions were performed with the second bunch of willow (only the window chosen was the one in front of which the sun was located). Well, and accordingly, the third beam was used at sunset: the same actions, but on the western window, from which the sunset was visible. It was believed that after all these manipulations the disease subsided;
16. They burned willow and fumigated cattle with this smoke;
17. The twigs and buds were ground and used as lotions for bruises and tumors. Sometimes they sprinkled this powder on the wounds of livestock;
18. Our ancestors attributed protective properties to willow: the Slavs believed that the willow could protect from thunderstorms, storms, and some other natural disasters (and sometimes even from evil spirits);

The Russians in the Tambov province believed that a willow thrown against the wind could drive away a storm, and thrown into a fire could pacify it. People everywhere believed that the willow stored in the red corner would protect the house and the entire household from thunder and lightning. During hail, Belarusians placed a bunch of consecrated willow on the windowsill to pacify the elements and avoid hail in the grain fields.

Signs for Palm Sunday

Basically, all the signs of this day are related to the weather, harvest, health and procreation (to one degree or another):

• The wind that blows on such a day will accompany you all summer;
• If you tap a willow twig on your body, you will be healthy for a whole year;
• If the weather is clear and warm, the fruit harvest will be good;
• When it's frosty on Verbnaya, spring bread will be good;
• Eat a willow bud - an important matter will be decided;
• On Palm Sunday, think about your loved one, he will come. This is especially interesting, young girls often used this superstition. It was believed that if a guy doesn’t pay attention to you, but really likes you, then you need to think hard about him all day, and in the evening he will come and ask you to go for a walk;
• Plant a houseplant on Palm Sunday and you will be rich;
• Poultry is not allowed outside - the witch will spoil it. This sign stems from the belief that a week before Easter, witches began to zealously harm people. Of course, their strength these days was not great, but it was still necessary to play it safe.

Well, that's probably all. Of course, I have not collected all the signs and customs; there are so many of them that the material needs to be divided into several separate articles (and, frankly speaking, I did not want this). Well, I could simply have overlooked something, so you can safely complement me in the comments.

See you again, friends!

N.B. In writing this article, I relied on several sites:

• sotok.net (huge and informative article);
• nexplorer.ru;
• svarogday.com;

• mk.ru;
• wikipedia.org;
• Well, she added what she knew about that day.

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. And 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 the 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 desired. 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 branches thrown into the water during ice drift will help avoid large floods. If by the next Palm Sunday there were unused branches left 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

Beliefs on Palm Sunday