How to deal with the branches of the consecrated willow after Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday is celebrated in the sixth week of Lent before Easter. In 2022 Palm Sunday is celebrated on April 17. An important church holiday is dedicated to the entrance of the Lord into Jerusalem. Today we will tell you why this day is associated with the willow and what signs are associated with this tree.



Palm Sunday The custom to consecrate the branches of the palm tree was introduced in the IV century. This day reminds believers of the evangelical events that took place on the eve of Christ’s suffering and resurrection. On the Sabbath Jesus raised Lazarus from Bethany, after which people believed in Christ. And on Sunday Jesus entered Jerusalem, where many pilgrims gathered before the Jewish Passover. Jesus, riding on a donkey, was greeted as the victor and greeted with palm branches. People threw branches of palm trees and their clothes on the road. Since then, there has been a Western tradition of sanctifying palm trees.



In Orthodoxy, the palm tree was replaced by verma. In Russia, the willow was endowed with positive properties, it was used to protect against evil spirits. In addition, the willow is the first shrub that opens the kidneys and welcomes Jesus Christ. Therefore, the tree became a symbol of the holiday.

On the eve of Palm Sunday, believers collect willow branches in the forest, then gather in the temple for an all-night vigil and pray, holding branches of willow in their hands. In this way Christians greet the coming Lord and greet him. After the service, consecrated branches are put in the house and store them for a year.



About how many twigs to collect, the Church does not say. There is a popular belief that the twigs should be collected as much as a person lives in a family. If a person is one, he can collect any odd number of twigs. The verb should be cut off from young trees on which the bark has not yet coarsened. It's not good to tear up the willow in the cemetery.



Last year’s faith should not be thrown away – it is sacred. Some store branches for several years and every year meet Palm Sunday with new branches. Verba can be burned, while the ashes must be scattered in a place where it will not be trampled. Willow branches can take root, in this case it is best to plant them in the ground.

The twigs can be buried in the ground or melted with them an oven for baking cookies. Also, the willow can be put on water or fed to livestock. Neither twigs nor shells of consecrated eggs can be thrown away, as this defiles the shrine.



Coming from the church, it is customary to slightly hit the willow on livestock and all households so that everyone in the house was healthy. Palm twigs are placed in vases without water and not removed for two weeks. On Holy Thursday, sprigs dipped in holy water sprinkle all corners of the house.

Verba is considered a talisman at home and a reminder that you should always be ready to meet God. Consecrated twigs protect from the evil eye, ailments and any troubles. It is customary to give branches of willow with kidneys to shy people. It is believed that the branch of the willow brings good luck on the long road, for this you need to eat one kidney from the willow. Palm Sunday is a quiet family holiday. On this day you can not sew, clean and choreograph.



The council of the Verbu editorial board can be consecrated independently, if it is not possible to come to church on this day. When sprinkling the willow with holy water, one should recite a prayer that will bring goodness and health to your home: “This willows are consecrated to the Grace of the Holy Spirit and by sprinkling this sacred water, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Amen!