And all because in the air you really feel the spirit of something light and magical.
Easter is being prepared long before it comes. However, do we know everything about this amazing day? Yes, perhaps most of us have repeatedly heard the history of the holiday, as well as the fact that the festive table should have delicious Easter cakes, pastries and decorated eggs.
What else do you need to know in order to properly meet and celebrate the bright day of Christ's Resurrection?
Let's clarify what can and cannot be done on Easter, as well as on the eve of this great holiday?
Palm Sunday
Let's start with Palm Sunday.
Surely, all believers know that Palm Sunday is considered the moment of the entry of Jesus Christ into the city of Jerusalem.
This day is celebrated exactly one week before Easter. Therefore, as for Easter, the date of Palm Sunday will be different every year. In 2018, Palm Sunday falls on April 1st.
On this day, it is customary for believers to bring into the house a symbol of this holiday - willow branches. They became the main attribute of Palm Sunday.
During a visit to a church service, willow twigs are consecrated, after which they are carried into the house, and also given to relatives and friends. The consecrated willow branches replace the palm branches with which the crowd greeted Christ's entry into Jerusalem the day before he was crucified.
According to the biblical story, Jesus rode into the city on a donkey, where he was met by people who held palm branches in their hands (in those days they were associated with healing).
It should be noted that this day is very important for Catholics.
They call this holiday Palm Sunday. As mentioned above, in the Orthodox religion, the palm tree was replaced by willow. However, the same ancient symbolism has been preserved. Indeed, in our culture, it is this willow that is credited with healing properties and magical powers.
Believers know that the consecrated willow has a special magic: it protects the home from various natural disasters, such as fires and floods, and keeps all family members from illness and various troubles.
However, of course, a branch on its own won't work. It is also important to remember a number of rules that must be followed.
What not to do on Palm Sunday
So, remember that prohibitions cannot be violated on Palm Sunday. In order to spend this day decently and correctly, as well as worthily meet the bright Easter, you need to follow some recommendations. Here are the most important ones:
On Palm Sunday, you need to forget about any kind of work. It is forbidden to work physically: put off cleaning, cooking, sewing, knitting for later. This is the same holiday as many other religious holidays. Therefore, it is not recommended to work on this day.
Also refrain from visiting entertainment establishments, such as bars and nightclubs. This day should be celebrated peacefully and quietly with the family.
On Palm Sunday, you also need to adhere to the menu prescribed by Great Lent.
About menu for holiday table should be taken care of in advance. As mentioned earlier, on this day it is recommended to give up physical work, including kitchen chores. First of all, it concerns the preparation of hot dishes.
The use of alcohol is strictly prohibited. Nevertheless, you need to remember that this is a church holiday, you should not turn it into a magnificent feast, as well as an extra reason to get drunk.
On this day, you can not swear, as well as refuse to help someone. If you are asked for something, try to do a good deed.
In addition, there is another strange modern people Recommendation: Do not comb your hair on Palm Sunday.
What to do on Palm Sunday
But in order to forget about headaches forever, there is a wonderful remedy that our grandmothers and great-grandmothers resorted to: you need to comb your hair, after which 2-3 hairs or the comb itself should be lowered into water.
On a holiday, willows should be poured with such water. At the same time, do not forget to pronounce the following magic words: "Water, pour on the ground along with a headache."
So, as already mentioned, the main event on Palm Sunday is the consecration of willow branches.
Then, after the morning church service, the branches are brought into the house so that they protect your home, as well as all household members, from various potential troubles and possible dangers.
There is another very interesting tradition: with consecrated twigs, you need to easily hit each other and at the same time, say the phrase out loud: "It's not me who beats, it's a willow! A willow whip - it beats to tears!"
It is believed that if a branch touches you, then it will certainly protect you from damage and the evil eye.
Even the buds of consecrated willow have a special healing effect. Since ancient times, the kidneys have found excellent use in folk medicine.
According to folk healers, willow buds help increase male potency. They treat and female infertility, and also contribute to the rapid onset of pregnancy.
A child was also bathed in the decoction if he showed signs of the disease, sick pets were treated with the same decoction.
This is a tool that is widely used in modern medicine.
As for the dishes on the festive table, you need to remember that now is the time of Great Lent, and, based on this, it is worth considering the menu.
But on Palm Sunday, you can still make an exception to the rule and introduce fish dishes, as well as allow yourself to drink some red wine.
In addition, on this day it is possible and even recommended to transplant home flowers. If you believe folk omens, then the houseplant transplanted on Palm Sunday will grow and bloom, and financial well-being will soon await the household.
But if the plant dries up, and its leaves fall off, most likely, material difficulties are not far off.
Holy Week
The last week before Easter is considered to be Holy Week. This week is also called Holy Week.
However, it is worth remembering that Holy Week in different times there were many other names - Red, Red, Great, Holy Week.
It is Holy Week that is considered the time preceding the crucifixion of Christ. This is a week of active preparation for the feast of Holy Pascha. Housewives start decorating houses original decor, get the most interesting recipes dishes and, of course, actively bake Easter cakes.
Each of the seven days of the week leading up to Easter is of particular importance to believers. On each of these days, certain traditions were observed in Rus'.
First of all, it is worth noting that the entire Holy Week must continue to fast. This means that you can not eat meat, fish and dairy products. The food ban also includes eggs and butter.
In addition, any kind of recreational activity is prohibited during Holy Week. This week you should not sing, dance, it is best to attend church services. So you cleanse your soul as much as possible before the onset of a bright Easter.
Remember that the last week before the holiday is the most important period.
To meet Easter with dignity, you need to avoid committing evil deeds, not allowing negative thoughts and desires to arise. Try to control yourself so as not to even think about something bad. Envy, indifference, anger and vanity - all these feelings can corrode our soul, thereby bringing us great harm.
As mentioned above, it is advisable to abandon noisy entertainment events. Refuse parties and holidays, as well as too loud laughter. It should be remembered that Holy Week is a period of great sorrow.
What not to do and what can be done on Holy Week
Try to help those who need your help. Take care of the sick, the poor and the needy. Passion Week is a period of repentance, as well as doing good and kind deeds.
Believers at the same time purify the soul, and also pay attention to the transformation of their homes: they try to put it in order, tint something somewhere, whiten it, renew it, supplement it with new decorations.
In addition, products that will be present on the festive table are prepared in advance. First of all, these are Easter cakes and colored eggs.
Holy Monday
The first day of Holy Week is Great Monday.
In Rus', on this day, it was customary to restore order and arrange general cleaning. As a rule, the housewives took up the cleaning, swept out all the garbage, cleaned the inside of the room. The men were repairing the outside of the house.
Good Tuesday
On Great Tuesday, all believers remember how Christ exposed the Pharisees and scribes.
On this day, it is also customary to pay tribute to the memory of Patriarch Thomas of Constantinople. In the old days in Rus' on Good Tuesday it was customary to prepare potions for various diseases. It was believed that it was St. Thomas that drove away fevers and other diseases.
Today, modern housewives buy the products necessary for the celebration of Easter on this day.
Those who believe in the power of healing infusions today, just like their ancestors, prepare various healing potions.
As on Good Monday, it is allowed to eat raw vegetables, fruits, as well as honey and nuts. Do not forget that Great Lent continues. In addition, it is recommended to eat only in the evening.
Passion Wednesday
Cleaning continues on Wednesday. On this day, the housewives clean the rooms, wash the floors to a shine, knock out rugs and rugs. It is recommended to complete the cleaning that has begun.
On Holy Wednesday in Rus', a special ceremony was performed to ward off all kinds of ailments and diseases.
Believers scooped up a jug of water from a well, some took it from a river or barrels stored in cellars. Then by Orthodox tradition were baptized three times, after which they covered the container with water with a clean or new towel.
Exactly at 2 o'clock in the morning, the believers were baptized again three times, then poured this water on themselves, while leaving some water at the bottom. Then, clean clothes were put on the wet body (it was not wiped with a towel), and the remaining water had to be watered with domestic plants or bushes in the garden until 3 o'clock in the morning.
It was believed that the body washed in a similar way, was renewed, and after such a ritual, the person felt as if reborn.
Holy Wednesday is associated with the repentance of a sinner. Surely, every believer knows the story of when a sinner washed Jesus' feet with her tears and then anointed them with precious ointment.
In Rus', they sincerely believed that it was in this environment that the evil spirits especially raged. Therefore, women tried to ensure that their behavior was distinguished by particular severity and decency. On Holy Wednesday it was forbidden to do needlework.
In addition, dry eating continues on this day.
Clean Thursday
Well, and, of course, Thursday, which was popularly called Maundy Thursday, was considered a special day this week.
Maundy Thursday is primarily associated with the Last Supper, which Christ visited and where he established the sacrament of the Eucharist. It's about Holy Communion. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, thereby showing an example of the greatest humility and great love for them.
People also recall the story of the betrayal of the son of God by the apostle Judas Iscariot. He committed his famous betrayal for only 30 pieces of silver.
For modern people, Maundy Thursday is, first of all, a day of purity. On this day, it is customary to wake up before sunrise, wash your face, take a bath, finish cleaning your house, and also start preparing Easter treats. The hostesses begin to paint eggs, bake Easter cakes, and cook other traditional dishes.
However, one should not forget that, despite the fact that dishes for the festive table are beginning to be prepared, Great Lent is still ongoing. Therefore, believers can eat all the same raw vegetables and fruits, bread, and also drink water.
As already mentioned, the morning should start with water procedures: it is recommended to take a shower, a bath in the morning hours, since it is at this time of the day that water is endowed with a special healing power. It will relieve diseases, bring health and good luck to a person who decides on morning procedures.
After taking a bath on Maundy Thursday, be sure to put on new or clean clothes.
Also, it's important to remember that this Thursday is the last day of the big house cleaning. After Maundy Thursday, it is no longer recommended to do cleaning until next week.
And still very important point, which also needs to be taken into account: from Thursday nothing can be taken out of the house. It is not recommended to give something away, starting with insignificant things and ending with money in debt.
Good Friday
Good Friday is another special day. This is the day of mourning for the Son of God. According to biblical tradition, it was on this day that Christ was betrayed and crucified on Golgotha.
Through martyrdom, the Savior of all mankind atoned for our sins. On this day, you need to give up work, it is recommended to spend it in prayers and reading Bible stories.
There is a belief that if any illness happens on this day, it will pass very quickly, the person will definitely be cured. And any even the most serious problem will soon be easily solved. Because this day is special.
According to believers, on this day people are "helped by angels." On Friday in Rus', it was believed that the ashes taken on the Friday before Easter had magical powers and could cure many serious diseases, such as alcoholism, epilepsy, the evil eye, and depression.
However, those who find it difficult to completely refuse food can eat some bread with water. This is allowed, since not everyone can withstand the same one day without food.
From time immemorial, it was strictly forbidden to work on Good Friday. Among people there was a phrase "a bird does not nest".
Holy Saturday
Great Saturday is the eve of Holy Easter. On this day, believers remember the time when the body of Christ was in the tomb.
On Saturday, it is allowed to finish all the things that you did not have time to finish during the week. This is the day when you can still paint eggs, as well as cook other dishes that will later fall on the festive table.
On this day, believers bring colored eggs to the church to consecrate, as well as ready-made Easter cakes and pastries.
Of course, any kind of work must be completed by Sunday.
Divine services are held in temples and churches, at which Easter cakes and eggs are blessed. And in the homeland of Christ in Jerusalem, thousands of believers are watching the ceremony of the descent of the Holy Fire.
What can you do for Easter
How to spend this day with dignity? After all, Holy Easter is a special day not only for believers, but also for those who are quite far from religion.
All we can do on this day is to rejoice, treat our relatives and friends, invite them to visit us, and also pay visits to those who are much worse than you these days in order to try to help them.
On Easter you can eat any food, as well as drink wine. However, this should be done in moderation. Moderation is the main rule of any feast and not only Easter.
If you have a normal relationship with alcohol, then you can afford to drink it in small quantities. However, if you know that you won't be able to stop, it's better to give it up altogether. After all, on the feast of Holy Easter, being drunk is a great sin.
Remember that fun should be more spiritual than physical.
What not to do on Easter
So, what should not be done on the day of Holy Easter? On this day, you should not be sad, indulge in sad and sad thoughts. You can not go angry, gloomy, and also swear with others. Cursing is especially bad.
But these prohibitions do not apply exclusively to Sunday. All these rules should be observed throughout Holy Week.
This week should be an example of how a person should always behave. Regardless of whether it is a holiday or not, a person must behave decently, honestly and decently. We should always help those who need it, be kinder, use less foul language, drive away bad thoughts.
What else can not be done at Easter?
The first thing that comes to mind when it comes to Easter restrictions is a work ban. If you have a day off on Easter Sunday, you are lucky. But, unfortunately, the question of working or not on Easter does not always depend on us. If the boss confronts us with the fact that we need to go to work, we unquestioningly follow the order and go to work.
Do not worry if your schedule falls out so that you have to work on Easter. There is nothing criminal or sinful about working against your will.
After all, it is also about obedience. You are only required to conscientiously carry out your regular work. It is believed that if you honestly and truthfully fulfill your duties, the Lord will surely understand and forgive you.
As regards the prohibitions homework, it should be understood that this is not some kind of strict prohibition, the violation of which will be punished from above. We are talking about the fact that on this day it is worth giving up work in order to devote time to your family and friends.
Devote yourself to pious thoughts of God, celebrate, be with your loved ones.
The ban on working on Easter days is not canonical, it is most likely just a pious custom.
We all know that household chores and daily chores are integral parts of every person's life. And it is not always easy to give up these troubles. If you are not able to completely abandon these chores, you can devote some time to them during the holidays.
However, try to be smart about it. In order not to spend a holiday, mired in washing floors or dishes. And even more so, you should not start a general cleaning or painting on Easter. window frames. Well, you see, these things can be postponed until later.
What should be in the Easter basket
So, the bright holiday of Great Easter is coming.
Many of us follow the pleasant tradition of gathering on Easter night with our closest and dearest people, usually members of our family.
We fill our baskets with the products we have prepared in advance and go to the church service.
But what you will not find in the Easter basket: Easter cakes, eggs, meat products, fish dishes, salt, horseradish, water, wine. Each family has its own list of products that they consider necessary to place in the basket.
However, many of us fill it incorrectly. So, what should be put in the Easter basket, and what should be discarded?
You need to remember the basic rule that only 4 main elements should be present in the basket, you should not overload it with everything in a row.
KULICH
Easter cake is the main attribute of Holy Easter. It symbolizes the body of Christ, and is also a symbol of the kingdom of heaven.
Most of us are accustomed to pyramidal pasques, it is this form that resembles Golgotha, the place where Christ was crucified.
EGGS
Easter eggs are a symbol of new life.
The custom of dyeing eggs goes back to antiquity. Tradition says that Mary Magdalene turned to the ruler Tiberius. As a gift, she brought an ordinary egg and also told him the news of the resurrection of Christ.
However, Tiberius did not believe what the woman said. Moreover, according to him, "people cannot be resurrected from the dead, just as a white egg cannot suddenly turn red." Legend has it that it was after this phrase that the egg suddenly turned bright red.
DAIRY
White color is a symbol of purity and pure love. Dairy products symbolize God's love for people.
MEAT PRODUCTS
As for the presence of meat products in the basket, Christ is identified with the sacrificial lamb. He was also sacrificed in the name of mankind and for the salvation of the human soul.
In addition, horseradish root and salt are additionally placed in the Easter basket. Horseradish is associated with the homeland, and salt is associated with financial prosperity in the family.
Don't forget the candle. It should also be present in the Easter basket. If the hostess wants to show her imagination, she can decorate the basket with flowers, ribbons, consecrated willow branches, or use other decoration elements.
And the last thing: you can not take on church service alcoholic drinks. After all, religion does not approve of the use of alcohol.
Various alcoholic drinks have nothing to do with the great church holidays. Do not even put Cahors in the basket. Also make sure that it does not contain a knife or other sharp objects.
It is also worth remembering that the products that were consecrated in the church should in no case be thrown away and sent to the bucket. What to do with leftover food? It is recommended to distribute food to those who need it. And the crumbs from the Easter cake should be placed in the bird feeder.
Palm Sunday falls on a different date each year and is celebrated the week before Easter. In 2018, we will celebrate on April 1st. On this day, every Christian, having consecrated a bouquet of willow in the church, will bring it home and place it near the icon. You can not throw away, you need to store a whole year. Then burn it to get rid of the negative energy accumulated over 12 months. It is also allowed to take the plant back to the church and even down the river. And in Poland, Serbia and Belarus, willow was taken to the graves of dead ancestors. Most importantly, don't throw it away!
By the way, the holiday has several names - the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, Palm Sunday and Palm Sunday.
history of the holiday
According to tradition, in the year 30 AD, Jesus arrived in Jerusalem. People heard that shortly before that, he resurrected Lazarus and met him like a king. The path of Christ was covered with clothes and palm branches - sacred plant ancient Jews. People believed that only the palm tree transmitted magical power to the earth and influenced fertility.
Still preserved in Jerusalem "Palm Street" is named after a landmark event.
The people, who were many, spread their clothes along the road, while others cut branches from trees and laid them out along the road, says the Gospel of Matthew. - The people who walked in front and behind shouted: "Hosanna! Blessed is he who walks in the name of the Lord!"
In the northern latitudes, as is known, no tropical plants and therefore the palm tree was replaced with a willow - a harbinger of spring. No matter how cold the weather these days, even if there is still snow, but the willow is already there!
In Italy, the symbol of the holiday is olive trees. In France, rosemary.
Bouquets, no matter what they are, need to be prepared or bought the day before - on Lazarus Saturday. On Sunday, after going to church, the whole family gathered at the table. Food on the table should be lean, without foods prohibited during fasting. The exception is fish vegetable oil and some red wine. Hot meals are not allowed on Palm Sunday.
The holiday must be spent in the circle of relatives and friends, in a quiet and peaceful atmosphere, because Great Lent is still going on, and from Monday Holy Week begins, the last before Easter.
"Near little red egg!"
As on all great church holidays, you can’t work on this day either, so women prepared and cleaned the house in advance. They even tried not to comb their hair, so as not to incur trouble. By this day, housewives baked nuts from dough and gave them for health to all households, not excluding animals.
But the most healing on this day is willow. With her branches they whipped a sick person on the back, saying the words: "Not I b" u - willow b "є. For this Great day. Not far away is a red egg!". To consolidate the effect, 9 willow buds were eaten, washed down with them. holy water. True, it was not encouraged to do this often and for nothing: there is no point in abusing Divine help on such an important day.
It is useful to plant a flower or transplant a houseplant on Sunday to increase your wealth. It needs to be carefully looked after, if it wilts, there will be serious financial losses.
Women who did not have children wore amulets made of willow buds, so that "the long-awaited stork flew to them."
Girls who wanted to marry a particular guy thought about him all day, from morning until evening. If the object was "the one you need," the young lady's thoughts were somehow conveyed to her betrothed, and in the evening he came to her to invite her for a walk.
It was also believed that the willow could protect the house from the elements. A house in which there is a consecrated willow branch will not be struck by lightning. If, during a fire, a willow is thrown into the fire, it will go out faster, and the flame will not go to another building. And the branches thrown into the water during the ice drift will help to avoid large floods.
Signs
- If Palm Sunday is warm and dry, it will be summer big harvest fruits.
- The wind is blowing - waiting for a cold summer.
- Frost hit - the year will bring a lot of wheat.
- The number of blooming earrings also served as an indicator of the future harvest.
The Christian Church introduced the feast of the Lord's entry into Jerusalem in the 4th century, and in Rus' it appeared in the 10th century and became known as 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 willows, and this was a real ritual. Willow has always been consecrated 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 the year, the leaves on the trees have not yet blossomed. Evergreen branches coniferous plants traditionally used in burial rites, so they cannot be used.
According to signs and beliefs, it was believed that the consecrated willow has healing properties, therefore, they touched people with branches, wishing them health, put the sick at the head, applied to sore spots, 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 kidneys were added to bread and other pastries, and some baked bread in the form of a willow branch. Verb 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 before a long journey or some serious business eat a few willow buds, then only success will await a person on his way and in business. Icons were decorated with branches, they were hung in the corners of rooms, which many do to this day. Also, amulets from willow buds were worn by women who did not have children. According to the legend, it was necessary to eat ten kidneys five days after the end of menstruation, this was supposed to help in the conception of a child. And in order for the offspring to be healthy, a willow twig was placed under the featherbed, and the newlyweds were showered with buds.
Our ancestors believed that willow can give sexual power not only to humans, but also to cattle. That is why domestic animals were whipped with a consecrated willow branch, branches were hung in barns, and before the first pasture in the field, these branches were fed to animals so that they would not be poisoned by poisonous herbs, would not fall prey to diseases, thieves and predatory animals. Not a single day goes by without signs related to the weather. And Palm Sunday is no exception.
If it rains on Palm Sunday, wait good harvest. This sign is based on long-term observations of our ancestors. They noticed that if it rains on a given day, then the harvest will be just wonderful. If, on the contrary, the weather is dry, then the harvest can not be expected. And if there are clouds in the sky, it is cloudy, but there is no rain, then the harvest will be quite good, but not as we would like. It was also believed that the willow could protect the house from the elements. A house in which there is a consecrated willow branch will not be struck by lightning. If, during a fire, a willow is thrown into the fire, it will go out faster, and the flame will not go to another building. And the branches thrown into the water during the ice drift will help to avoid large floods.
If by the next holiday of Palm Sunday there were unused branches in the house, then in no case should they be thrown away. They must be burned and thrown into a stream or river, and the water should not be stagnant. Choosing new branches, preference was given to young trees growing near rivers. It was forbidden to take branches from trees growing near the cemetery, as well as on which there are nests and hollows.
Many people, believing and not very, today, on the eve of Palm Sunday, decorate their house with willow branches, because this plant gives joy and awakens spring in the heart.
Signs for Palm Sunday
Knock on the body with a willow twig- will be healthy for a whole year. Perhaps this is the only sign that people know about today. First, a willow twig is consecrated on this day in the church, and after that they tap on the body with a twig and say: “Be as strong as a willow, as healthy as its roots and as rich as the earth.” This preference is given to 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 be accepted and will grow. It is for this reason that willow will be able to give health to a person, because she herself is very strong.
Eat a willow bud- an important matter will be decided. 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 going to start a very important business 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 branch only in the very last resort. 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.
Plant a houseplant for Palm Sunday- you will be rich. It used to be thought that if it was on that day to plant indoor flower, then he will 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 lack of money.
Pet birds are not allowed outside- the witch will spoil. Perhaps, earlier in this sign they were sure, but not now. It was believed that a week before Easter, the witches began to run amok. After all, starting from Easter and all holidays, their strength temporarily decreased. So they tried to play a dirty trick, so to speak, for future use. It was believed that it was on the poultry that the witches recouped. That's just to believe this sign or not, it is not known. But in the villages, to this day, those who keep the bird on Palm Sunday try not to let it out into the street.
There are holidays that we have heard about, we know, but we do not know about the signs associated with this day. We do not worry much because we do not know what customs to observe. But when troubles happen in our life, problems appear, then we begin to think where all this comes from, and why all this is on our heads.
Beliefs on Palm Sunday
On Palm Sunday, headaches speak.
To do this, after combing your hair, remove the hairs from the comb and put them in water.
Pour this water over the willow on Palm Sunday and say:
"Water, go into the earth along with the headache."
On Palm Sunday, they make a love spell on a willow.
To do this, break the branch and say:
“As long as the willow lies behind the icon,
Until then, my husband will not stop loving me, will not forget. Amen".
Put the willow behind the icon.
Just do not throw away the charmed branch!
Remember that branches from Palm Sunday must be preserved.
They help in the treatment of many diseases!
It is customary, according to legend, on Palm Sunday to lash with a willow on the back of the one to whom you wish health.
But know that the one who lashed you on the back wishes you bad.
Since, having whipped with a willow on this great holiday, they may wish you evil, and it will come true.
Holy willow. And then they keep it in the house all year in a vase or behind icons.
An old willow that has stood for a year is swept over all corners, windows, thresholds,
thank her for her service and burn her.
It is necessary to whip with a new sacred willow on the back of all domestic and animal,
to say out loud: “Willow-whip, beat to tears,” this adds health.
Buds, pussies from holy willow
help with female infertility and enuresis.
Today you can bake holy willow fluffies into bread
and give sick pets - they will be healed.
To everyone who helps their loved ones with castings
or by 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 drink holy water.
Then say:
“St. Paul waved the willow, he drove away other people’s diseases from me.
How true is that Palm Sunday revere, it's true
that other people's diseases do not stick to me. Amen".
If you are an Orthodox person, then before that you need to take communion.
Rites. Willow and its power
Willow to this day is a significant plant in the folk-Orthodox culture of Russians. It gave the name "Palm Sunday" to the twelfth church feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, celebrated on the last Sunday before Easter. According to the Gospel, Jesus Christ was heading 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, who 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 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 willow, and the week before the holiday they began to call "Verbnaya", "Verbnitsa".
Ideas about unusual properties willows, however, are rooted in pre-Christian, pagan times. This plant, like birch, in folk culture was associated with the idea of rapid growth, health, life force, fertility. These ideas are based on the fact that the willow opens its buds before 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 widely used in the calendar rituals of Russian peasants. Even though Palm Sunday was church holiday, on this day, numerous rituals were performed with willow, which were based on archaic beliefs. It was customary to go to the forest 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 sanctify the willow on the same day for the evening service or on Sunday morning. The consecrated branches were placed in the front corner on the goddess or placed behind the icons, where they were kept until Yegoriev's day or the whole year. In Siberia, a “teremok” was made of straw for willow, 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 of the household members, and most often the children, was hit with it, as it was believed, "for health." At the same time, they said: “The willow is red, beat to tears, be healthy!”, Or: “It’s not me who beats - the willow beats, the willow whip beats to tears.” In many localities, for the same purpose, cattle were whipped with a willow, or a twig or buds of a plant were allowed to eat.
In the Central Russian zone, in order for the sheep to “fed”, they were fed with a special loaf or bread, in which willow buds were baked. In some places, the shape of the kidneys was given to ritual cookies, which on Lazarus Saturday were brought to the church for consecration along with willow cookies. In the Kostroma province, it was called "lambs", in Moscow - "lambs", "grandmothers" or "akatushki", in Ryazan - "nuts", "kytka". Cookies were baked according to the number of cattle and poultry, and in some local traditions - for all household members. In the Ryazan region, feeding sheep on Palm Sunday with cookies, they believed that they would bring a pair of lambs each, and the holiday itself was called "lamb".
Consecrated branches were placed everywhere among the Russians and are still placed in a red corner next to the icons. Previously, willows were kept until Yegoriev's Day or all year. Throwing it away after whipping cattle was considered a sin. Usually these branches were stuck in a barn under the roof, “so that the cattle would not wander,” or they were thrown into the river, “letting them through the water”; sometimes they were burned in a furnace. The Belarusians kept the willow for the whole year behind the icons until the new Holy Monday. On the same day, it was burned and a new consecrated willow was placed near the images. Upon transition to new house part of the willow branches were left in the old house, and half was transferred to the new one.
On Egoriev's Day, in many places, each cattle was hit with a willow during the ceremony of the first pasture for grazing, and after pasture they were fed to it, believing that these actions would ensure a good offspring and protect them from wild animals during the entire grazing season. They acted in a similar way on the day of Nikola Veshny: on this day, and especially when driving horses at night, the first of the season, they were whipped with willow branches.
On Ivan Kupala in Volhynia and Podolia, a tree or a willow branch was used as a festive attribute: the girls decorated the plant with flowers and danced around it, and after a while the guys broke into the girl's circle, grabbed the willow and tore it apart. This rite is close in its meaning to the numerous agricultural rituals of the East Slavic tradition with the use of a stuffed animal made of plant material, and its purpose is to influence the forces of nature so that the harvest is successful.
As can be understood from the above examples, magic functions were attributed to the willow in the popular mind. Willow branches consecrated on Palm Sunday were endowed with special power. The productive properties of the plant are evident from having magical meaning sentences that were pronounced when whipping children with a willow: “Grow like a willow!”, “As a willow grows, so do you grow!” In some areas, barren women ate the buds of consecrated willow in the hope that it would help them to have a child. The beekeepers stuck willow branches around the apiary so that the bees swarm well, more bee colonies would be born, and they would bring honey and wax to the owner in abundance.
In the Penza province, there was a ritual of hailing the young, in which it is obvious that the willow was assigned a positive meaning. At midnight on the eve of Palm Sunday, the youth went around the houses where the newlyweds lived and shouted at the gates:
“Open, open, young, beat with a willow, give health more than before.” The young woman unlocked the gate, and the crowd entered with a song: “There would be a harvest of bread, multiplication of cattle.” Everyone sleeping in the hut was lightly hit with a willow, saying: “We beat to be healthy,” and also: “Get up early, beat the ram.” The young one was last whipped when 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 cattle pasture, 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 the pasture of cattle was stuck into the ground in a grain field - “so that the earth comes to life faster”, “so that the rye is well born and grows fluffy, like a willow”; the other part was hidden behind an icon - "so that the cattle would return home." Here the mistress of the rod, with which she drove the cattle, threw it into the dung in the barn; at the same time, she jumped as high as possible, "so that flax was born." In some places, willow branches were stuck in the four corners of the field to protect the crops. In the Tambov province, for this purpose, willows were generally planted in the field. In Belarus, with the consecrated willow, they went out to the first plowing of the spring field and to the plowing of virgin lands.
In addition to producing willow, it was endowed with healing properties, which were used both for preventive purposes and directly in folk medical practice. In the Yenisei province, consecrated willow was fed to cows and sheep on Maundy Thursday - Thursday on Holy Week, at the same time they said: “I don’t give, but a talnik. As the willow does not dry, so you, my God-given cattle, do not dry. Willow, not even consecrated, was also widely used to treat people.
In the Kuban, willow was used in the treatment of childhood diseases. To do this, early in the morning, before sunrise, they went to the river and cut the willow three times, nine branches each. At the same time, they counted three times from nine to one. Arriving home, lowered into hot water one bundle of nine branches and bathed the child near the window, from which the sunrise was visible. At noon, they put a second bunch of willow in hot water and bathed the child near the window, in front of which the sun stood at that moment. In the evening, when the sun was setting, the same actions were performed with the last bunch of branches in front of a window looking to the west. At the end, all willow branches with water were taken to the river and poured out with a prayer so that they floated on the water. It was believed that the disease would recede. In the Vitebsk region, sick cattle were fumigated with willow, ground it into powder and covered their wounds, made a decoction from it and drank it from various diseases, and also used it as a lotion from tumors and bruises.
Protective qualities were attributed to willow in folk culture. All Eastern Slavs widely believed that a consecrated branch could protect against thunderstorms, storms, and other natural disasters, from evil spirits and diseases. 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. It was widely believed that the willow stored in the red corner would protect the house and the entire household from thunder and lightning. During the hail, Belarusians put a bunch of consecrated willow on the windowsill in order to pacify the elements and avoid hail in the grain fields.
Along with the fact that the willow is widely used in the ritual sphere and is an attribute of one of the biggest Christian holidays, in popular beliefs it belongs to the trees cursed by God. According to legend, the tormentors of Christ made pins from it to fasten the cross. For this, willow, according to popular belief, is subject to turning by worms, and devils sit in a dry willow. In this regard, the well-known Ukrainian proverb is indicative: “I fell in love like the devil with a dry willow.” According to Belarusians, the devil sits on the willow, especially the old one - dry and hollow, from Epiphany to Palm Sunday. In the spring, the devils warm themselves on the willow, and after it is consecrated on a holiday, they fall into the water, and therefore from Palm Sunday to Easter you cannot drink water scooped up under the willow.
It is a well-known fact that proper care of indoor plants prolongs their lifespan. One of the factors proper care is a transplant into a larger pot with fresh soil. The intervals between transplants are different for all plants, but nevertheless, in this article we will try to systematize these data and consider the basic principles and rules for proper transplantation.
Majority perennials needs to be repotted once a year or every two years, some slow-growing plants can be repotted every three years.
There are three main types of transplant, depending on how much land has been replaced:
- Complete transplant. During such a transplant, the entire earth is replaced, be sure to clean the roots of the plants from the old earth.
- Partial transplant. For such a transplant, the roots should not be disturbed, it is enough to replace the soil around the rhizome.
- Replacing the top layer. This type of transplant is suitable for situations where it is enough to “sprinkle” the bare root of the plant or when it is necessary to remove upper layer and fill the vacated place with fresh soil.
The main stages of transplanting houseplants
Now let's focus on the basic steps for transplanting. indoor plants.
- Preparing the pot for transplanting
If you have chosen a clay pot, then in order to get rid of the burnt lime inside, before transplanting, it should be filled with water and allowed to stand for a day. If you decide to use an old pot, then just rinse and dry it.
- Putting on the first layer
In order for the flower to develop successfully after planting, when transplanting plants, it is recommended to create in a pot drainage system. And this will be right, since drainage will smooth out small misses in watering. For these purposes, suitable: expanded clay, pieces of brick or shards.
- We take the plant out of the old pot
To do this, you can water the plant abundantly an hour before transplanting, then the flower outlet will easily come out.
- We clean the roots
With our hands, carefully clean the roots of the plant from the upper earth, trying not to damage them. If the plant has rotten roots, then it is better to remove them.
- We plant a plant
We take a new pot with drainage and lower the plant to a layer of earth so that the root collar is just below the edges of the pot. And we fill the remaining space between the old earthen clod and the walls of the pot with a new moistened substrate.
- We compact the earth around the plant
After the compaction procedure, which can be done by hand, fresh earth should be added.
- Watering the plant
This step does not apply to all plants, for example, flowers accustomed to dry soil do not need to be watered after transplantation, they just need to be planted in a slightly moistened substrate. This applies to orchids, Crassulaceae and cacti.
What soil should the plants be transplanted into?
Thanks to the huge selection in garden stores, there is no need to prepare the substrate yourself, you can buy everything you need in the garden departments. So that the soil in the pot with the plant does not compact, coarse-grained sand, small pebbles, sawdust, charcoal, and even foam plastic balls are added to the finished mixture. 
Your task is to clarify for which plants this or that land is suitable, what fertilizers have already been added to it, you also need to pay attention to its composition, acidity and shelf life. It is better to give preference to trusted manufacturers.
Land from the garden is rarely suitable for transplanting houseplants, moreover, it is often infested with pests or pathogens.
How to choose the right pot for transplanting?
When transplanting a plant, preference should be given to a container larger in diameter by 3-4 centimeters from the previous one. There are three types of containers for planting: pot, planter and container. The pot can be made of clay or plastic, the former has a porous structure, due to which it is the best home for a plant, but a plastic pot is very durable.
There are drainage holes in the pot, but they are not in the planter, so do not confuse them when buying, when correct use the first is inserted into the second.
The container, as a rule, also has a solid bottom. Several pots are placed in it or several plants are planted. 
When is the best time to transplant plants?
For each plant, the optimal transplant time is different, for example, the beginning of summer is suitable for conifers, at the same time azaleas and camellias are transplanted. Bulbous plants are transplanted at the end of the dormant period; for cacti, the optimal time is the beginning of winter.
Young plants are transplanted every year, adults - every few years. 
In order to check if your plant needs a transplant, you need to get it out of the pot, after watering it well. If the pot is cramped for the plant, then the earthen ball that was in the pot will be densely braided with roots, and the earth itself will hardly be visible at the same time. If the roots are not very densely braided with an earthen ball, then such a plant does not yet need to be transplanted.
Whether this or that plant needs a transplant can be understood, firstly, by the state of their root system: the roots come out of the drainage hole, and the earthen ball is completely braided by them (this can be seen by removing the plant from the pot). Secondly, it can be decided depending on the size, age and growth rate. Young and fast-growing species are transplanted annually. Large and slow-growing - once every 2-3 years.
Plants in very large containers are transplanted quite rarely (once every 5 years). But at the same time, it is necessary to change the top layer of the earth quite often, since it is here that, due to the poor quality of irrigation water and constant top dressing, it accumulates a large number of salts.
When transplanting, you need to follow a few simple rules:
The new pot should be only a few centimeters larger than the earthy clod. The opinion that the larger the pot, the better plant will develop, erroneously. In fact, only that part of the soil that is actively penetrated by roots works, the rest of the volume turns sour, a large number of pathogenic bacteria that negatively affect the development of plants are formed here. Ideally, there should be a distance equal to two fingers (in width) between the earthy clod and the walls of the new pot.
A month before transplantation, the plant must be fed with a solution of urea, since after transplantation this can be done no earlier than in 2–3 weeks and the plants may starve.
The day before the transplant, indoor flowers are watered abundantly.
In some plants, in the process of growth, a large mass of roots is formed, which, like felt, are braided around an earthen lump (asparagus, chlorophytum). In this case, you need to cut off part of the roots from the bottom, and if necessary, from the sides.
If the plants have grown strongly, it is in the spring that it is time to start dividing them. Each delenka is planted in a separate pot, observing all of the above rules. In the first time after transplantation, it is recommended to spray the plants more often (with settled water), and once every 7–10 days, additionally spray with Epin, increasing their resistance.
To give indoor flowers a certain shape and regulate their growth, the shoots are cut and pinched. And it is best to do this again in April-May, since the growth of new shoots will have to increase daylight hours. By the way, it is possible to carry out not only formative pruning, but also sanitary pruning, removing all old, damaged, overgrown shoots over the winter. A mandatory rule is that pruning is carried out on a kidney directed outward. Otherwise, the overgrown shoots will be directed inside the bush, which is not only ugly, but also harmful to plants - they will receive less light and develop worse.
If you need to rejuvenate a plant (for example, a ficus that has grown in one stem for several years), then it is cut quite heavily, removing most shoots. They also do with overwintered pelargoniums, fuchsias, indoor roses. On each shoot, no more than 3-5 buds are left.
In the spring they are heavily pruned and many ampelous plants(ivy, philodendrons, syngoniums, tradescantia), in which weak shoots form in winter due to lack of light. They are trying to cut them off for the so-called "last year's growth", that is, over the leaves that formed at the end of last summer. After that, as a rule, strong shoots are formed that make up the skeleton of the plant. Trim with a sharp knife or pruner.
The shoots of plants with a small increase, as well as the shoots of individual species that need to be given a certain shape, are pinched. In this case, only the top is removed. They usually pinch by hand, during the entire active growth period, that is, from April to the end of July. Later, this should not be done, since young shoots will form with a decreasing daylight hours and this will adversely affect their quality.
