Why are churches decorated with green bushes on Trinity Day? Traditions for Trinity. Birch branches on Trinity: what are they for?

Any person who follows religious traditions, should know what to do with birch branches after Trinity. Let's try to figure this issue out together.

The tradition of decorating temples, churches and houses with birch branches on Trinity Day has been around for a very long time. Let's figure out why it appeared and where the origins of this phenomenon come from.

The reasons described in open sources, two - symbolic and historical.

From a historical point of view, birch branches symbolize the Mamvru oak grove. There was an oak tree in it, where God appeared to Abraham. Not himself, but in the form of three angels. This fact is captured on icons that you can see in churches or even purchase for yourself in church shops.

Also on the Old Testament Pentecost there was a holiday. During the celebration, they remembered the day that came after the arrival of the Jews from Egypt. And it was during that period of time that Moses received from God a list of ten sacred commandments that people use to this day.

At that time it was spring, everything was blooming, and perhaps that is why the custom arose of decorating everything around with green birch branches to emphasize the importance of a long-past moment.

What is symbolic

1. During his life on earth, the son of God promised that after he left the earthly world, the Lord would send the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, to people. Forty days after Passover, Jesus departed for heaven, and ten months later the Holy Spirit showed his face in one of the houses in Jerusalem.
2. This event is very symbolic - it means the beginning of a favorable time, when God himself, in the form of the holy spirit, is constantly present on earth, filling people and the world with love, gratitude, hope for salvation and atonement for sins. His invisible presence greatly enhances the power of prayers and the response to them. This is a symbol of powerful faith, real miracles and all kinds of divine benefits.
3. During this period, even the most desperate sinner, subject to his sincere repentance, will receive God's forgiveness and can atone for all his sins. It will be like a rebirth, a transition from old life to a happier, righteous, successful person. And absolutely every sincerely repentant person can receive such a gift of fate.

Symbolism

Now let’s figure out what the image of birch branches on Trinity Day represents.

The meanings of this symbol are as follows:

1. They literally mean the rebirth of the soul, which comes to its senses after hibernation, blossoms and is renewed. Just as everything around comes to life in spring, so too does human heart. This is the most important meaning of the symbol.
2. While the branches grow on the tree, they live and feed on the energy of the tree trunk. And once you separate them from this source, they dry out over time and become lifeless. In the same way, a person who is cut off from his own family, who is on bad terms with relatives and does not believe in God, loses energy and strength. Once a lost soul is separated from God, it turns into a withered branch, as this simple symbol of the Trinity holiday once again reminds us.
3. It is also a symbol of the good energy of love, gratitude and acceptance. This energy fills a person, gives him strength to live and fulfills his desires. While a person “feeds” on divine energy, radiates emotions of unconditional love and gratitude, he gives the world the high frequencies of his positive emotions.
4. It is very important for a person to always be in touch with God, to feel his invisible support and help. Be grateful and full of love. Giving, not consuming. The holiday of Trinity is another reason to remind yourself of this.

What can you do after the holiday?

• Practice gratitude regularly. Before going to bed, mentally thank the past day for everything it has brought you. Every person who has been in your life has brought you lessons or experiences, even negative ones. Try to feel how many people God sends to you for your happy life and so that you have something to be grateful for.
• Strive to radiate unconditional love to your life, people, yourself and God. Unconditional means 100% accepting. Allow other people to be different from you, let go of expectations ( main reason all disappointments), criticism, reproaches and the desire to change someone.

Watch a video on the topic:

What you can and cannot do with birch branches after Trinity

Bright, blooming and beautiful birch branches create a very lively atmosphere on this great holiday. But many people have a logical question: what to do with all this splendor when the holiday is over and the branches dry out and take on an unsightly appearance.

1. On Trinity Sunday, decorate your windows with birch branches. This is the most suitable place, perhaps even the only one that is so symbolic. There is no need to put the branches in vases or store them in the house. Place them exclusively in window openings.
2. After the holiday, it is best to burn the used branches. Divide them into small twigs and make an impromptu fire in a safe place. Follow fire safety precautions. And it is advisable to do this alone, without the presence of strangers.

The biggest mistake that most people make is to attach some special, ritual meaning to birch branches. What you should definitely not do:

1. There is no need to arrange any magical rituals and “dancing with a tambourine.” Trinity is a church holiday, and the church does not approve of such actions.
2. There is also no need to use branches to make homemade tea or make amulets from them. These are superstitions that will not help you in life.
3. You also cannot throw it away like used garbage. Just like burning it demonstratively in front of everyone. It's simply disrespectful.

Let's summarize

• Used branches - burn. Alone, carefully, and without telling anyone about your intention.
• There are no rituals or ceremonies.

Since ancient times, there has been a pious custom of decorating churches and houses with greenery - birch branches, flowers - on Trinity Day.

Where does this custom come from?

Many people ask this question.

I think there are two reasons: one is church-historical, and the other is symbolic.

Historically, I think, these branches remind us of the oak grove of Mamvre, where there was an oak tree, under which the Lord, the Holy Trinity, appeared to Abraham in the form of three angels. We see this on the icons that we have on the holiday [on the lectern].

Also, the day of Jewish Pentecost, the Old Testament, on which the descent of the Holy Spirit took place on the apostles, was a holiday on which they remembered the fiftieth day after the exodus of the Jews from the land of Egypt. On the fiftieth day they approached Mount Sinai, and there the Lord gave Moses the Ten Commandments, which to this day serve as a guide for us in our lives. It was spring time, and the entire Mount Sinai was covered with flowering trees. And so, perhaps, this is why in the ancient Church there was a custom on the day of Pentecost to decorate their temples and houses with greenery, as if to find themselves again on Mount Sinai with Moses.

Undoubtedly, on the day when the disciples gathered to receive the Holy Spirit, their upper room was also decorated with greenery. In memory of this, on this day we decorate our temples with these green branches and hold flowers in our hands.

But Trinity greenery also has a symbolic meaning.

This is a soul that blossoms and turns green after winter hibernation, because it has been touched by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Here in winter the branches were bare, spring came - and greenery, leaves, and flowers appeared. There was winter and frost in our hearts, but the Holy Spirit touched us with His grace - and our heart blossomed.

A branch is fresh only when it grows on a tree, and when it is torn from the tree, it dries out in a few days. So is the human soul: as long as it holds on to the trunk, to the vine to which it is grafted, it is alive and blooming. But as soon as she breaks away from this vine, it will also dry up. The Lord Himself told us: “I am the vine, and you are the branches” (cf. John 15:5).

And while these branches hold on to this Vine, that is, Christ, they live, bloom and smell fragrant. As soon as the soul is torn away from the Vine, from Christ, it will dry up just as these trees will dry up, having been torn from their roots for several days. Let us strive to always be with God.

Let us always strive to be on the Vine, which will water our heart with beneficial juices, beneficial rays of Divine light, and the grace of the Holy Spirit. And on this holiday, with special zeal, with special feeling, let us ask God not to leave us, not to deprive us of the grace of the Holy Spirit, which was given to us at baptism, which is given to us in the Sacraments and from which we very often move away due to their sins and iniquities.

Today let us especially ask in the words of that prayer, which is habitually repeated during divine services, especially at the Divine Liturgy: “Lord, Who sent down Thy Most Holy Spirit in the third hour by Thy Apostle, do not take Him away from us, O Good One, but renew us who pray to Thee.” . Amen.
(Archpriest Boris Stark)

Read: 190 times.

In 2017, Trinity Day is celebrated on June 4. The Day of the Holy Trinity, Trinity, Pentecost, Descent of the Holy Spirit is one of the main Christian holidays, included in Orthodoxy among the twelve holidays. Orthodox Church celebrates Holy Trinity Day on the 50th day of Easter, Sunday.

On Trinity Day in Orthodox churches One of the most solemn and beautiful services of the year is taking place. After the liturgy, Great Vespers is served, at which stichera glorifying the descent of the Holy Spirit are sung, and the priest reads three special lengthy prayers:
- about the Church;
- for the salvation of all those who pray;
- about the repose of the souls of all the departed (including those “held in hell”).
While reading these prayers, everyone (including the clergy) kneels - this ends the post-Easter period, during which no kneeling or prostration is performed in churches.

According to Russian tradition, the floor of the temple and the houses of believers on the Day of the Holy Trinity is covered with freshly cut grass, the icons are decorated with birch branches, and the color of the vestments is green, depicting the life-giving and renewing power of the Holy Spirit. Trinity is a very beautiful and beloved holiday among the people.

Rituals for Trinity

Trinity Day is one of the most important holidays at Eastern Slavs, especially loved by girls. In the folk tradition, Trinity Day is included in the Semitsko-Trinity holiday complex, which included Semik (the seventh Thursday after Easter two days before Trinity), Trinity Saturday, and Trinity Day. In general, the holidays were called “Green Christmastide”. The main components of the Semik-Trinity festivities were rituals associated with the cult of vegetation, maiden festivities, maiden initiations, commemoration of the drowned or all the dead.

U Slavic peoples The holiday of the Holy Trinity is also closely connected with seeing off spring and welcoming summer:

• During Trinity (Semitic) week, girls 7-12 years old they broke birch branches and decorated the house with them outside and inside.
• Thursday (the next day) children's morning fed scrambled eggs, which was then a traditional dish: it symbolized the bright summer sun. Then children went into the forest to curl a birch tree: it was decorated with ribbons, beads, flowers; The branches were tied in pairs and braided. Children danced around the decorated birch tree, sang songs, and had a festive meal.
• On Saturday, on the eve of the Holy Trinity, the Slavs have one of the main memorial days. This day is often called “stuffy Saturday” or parent’s day.
• On the day of the Holy Trinity, everyone went to church with flowers and birch branches. On this day, houses and temples were decorated with a green carpet of leaves and flowers. After the festive service in the church, the youth went to develop a birch tree. It was believed that if this is not done, the birch tree may be offended. After the birch tree had developed, they repeated the meal, again danced in circles and sang songs. Then the tree was cut down and carried around the village singing. Often the birch tree could also be sent down the river, believing that the tree would give its strength to the first shoots in the field.

Traditions for Trinity

As usual in Russia, Orthodox holidays are closely intertwined with folk traditions:

So, leaving the church, people tried to grab grass from under your feet, to mix with hay, boil with water and drink as a healing medicine. Some made wreaths from the leaves of the trees that stood in the church and used them as amulets.

Beautiful Trinity tradition Decorating houses and temples with branches, grass, and flowers has been around for centuries. The ritual of decorating for Trinity is not accidental. In folk tradition, greenery symbolizes life on Trinity Day. By tradition, decorating houses on Trinity Day with branches, herbs and flowers, people express joy and gratitude to God for reviving them through baptism in new life.

Historically, to decorate temples and houses, according to folk traditions, birch branches are used. We can say that the Trinity holiday without a birch is the same as celebrating Christmas without a tree. At the same time, in some areas the tradition of decorating houses and churches on Trinity Day may be slightly different and oak, maple, rowan can be used for decoration...

The people revered Trinity as a great holiday, they carefully prepared for it: they washed and cleaned the house and yard, put out the dough to prepare dishes for festive table, harvested greens. On this day, pies and loaves were baked, wreaths made of birch (in the south made of maple) and flowers were made, guests were invited, and young people held parties in the forests and meadows.

The girls wore their best outfits, often sewn specifically for these holidays. Everywhere heads were decorated with wreaths of herbs and flowers. Dressy girls usually walked during a general meeting of the people - the so-called "bride's viewing". For a long time it was believed good omen to get married on Trinity. The wedding took place in the fall, on the Feast of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary. Many people still think it helps. family life: those married on Trinity, they say, will live in love, joy and wealth.

On this day, roes were baked for the girls - round cakes with eggs in the form of a wreath. These roe deer along with scrambled eggs, pies, kvass made up a ritual meal, which the girls arranged in the grove after curling the birch tree, that is, decorating it with ribbons, flowers, and weaving wreaths from its thin branches.

The girls worshiped through these wreaths- they came up in pairs, kissed each other, sometimes changed pectoral crosses and they said: Let’s kiss, godfather, let’s kiss, we won’t fight with you, we’ll be friends forever. For the ritual of nepotism curled the tops of two birch trees, intertwined them with each other. Then the girls split into pairs and walked under these birch trees, hugging and kissing. Having thought about each other, they formed one big round dance and sang trinity songs. Then we went to the river. When we approached the river, everyone threw their wreaths into the water and used them to tell fortunes about future fate. After this, the birch tree was cut down and carried to the village with songs, they placed it in the center of the street, they danced around the birch tree and sang special, Trinity songs.

What not to do on Trinity Sunday - popular beliefs

A whole cycle of beliefs and prohibitions was associated with the Trinity Days, the violation of which was strictly prohibited under the threat of misfortune:

• It was forbidden to make birch brooms on Trinity;
• for a week it was forbidden to fence the fence or repair harrows so that “ugly-looking domestic animals would not be born”;
• it was strictly forbidden to work on the first three days of Trinity - however, you can prepare food, as well as invite guests to a festive meal;
• It was impossible to go to the forest for a week, to swim - it was undesirable to swim on Trinity Day, because, as our ancestors believed, that Trinity Day belongs to mermaids - if you swim, the ancient Slavs believed, you will go to the bottom. Starting from the “Green Christmastide” and until Peter’s Day (July 12), mermaids come out of the pools, hide in the forests, in the trees, luring travelers with their laughter.

Signs for Trinity

There are other beliefs and traditions for the Trinity. Let's now find out what signs there are on Trinity Day.

• If it rains on Trinity, then expect a mushroom harvest.
• Flowers and healing herbs, collected on such a day are considered healing and can cure any ailment.
• It is believed that from Monday - Holy Spirit Day there will be no more frosts, warm days are coming.
• On the Day of the Holy Spirit, it is customary to give away all the change to the poor, thereby protecting yourself from adversity and illness.
• There was also such a belief, fair man could find a treasure, as if hearing its call from the depths of the earth.
• There was a belief that plants on Trinity are given a special magical power , which was reflected in the custom of collecting medicinal herbs on Trinity night.

Trinity Celebration

Trinity passes noisily and cheerfully. In the morning everyone rushes to the temple for the festive service. And after it they organize folk fun with round dances, games, and songs. Loaves were definitely prepared. They invited guests to a festive dinner and gave each other gifts. Fairs were held in some areas. With the revival of faith in Russia, the traditions of celebration are also being revived Orthodox holidays. And already in our time, folk festivities are organized in the cities of the country on Trinity Day.

There are many interesting symbols associated with the Feast of the Holy Trinity (Day of the Descent of the Holy Spirit or Pentecost). For example, why do they decorate the temple with birch trees on Trinity Sunday? And in general, what do greens and the Holy Spirit have to do with it?

Detailed answers to these questions, as well as explanations from the clergy, are presented in our article.

Trinity is always celebrated on the 50th day after Easter, which also falls on a Sunday: June 16, 2019, June 7, 2020, June 20, 2021, etc. On this day, special festive services are held, when all the clergy dress in special ceremonial green robes.

And it is customary to decorate the temple with birch branches, wildflowers and generally fresh greenery. Why did this happen? The answer is quite simple, but it cannot be contained in one sentence.

During his lifetime, Christ promised that after his death God would send the Comforter to earth - the Holy Spirit. On the 40th day after Easter, the Savior ascended to heaven, and a decade later, the promise was actually fulfilled: the Spirit descended on the followers of Jesus, who were in one of the houses of Jerusalem.

The appearance of the Holy Spirit means the onset of a time of grace, when God himself is constantly present on earth (after all, the Spirit is the third person of the Trinity). Now he is always invisibly with us, which means that every person can pray to him with a simple prayer, and he will be heard. This event is a symbol of life-giving faith, a great miracle and blessing that the Lord sent.

Even a sinful soul can sincerely repent and ask for forgiveness, after which it will receive it in full. It turns out that any person can, as it were, be reborn from an unrighteous life to salvation. Moreover, you can receive this priceless gift completely freely - personal merits and professional achievements do not play any role in this matter.

Thus, the holiday of Trinity symbolizes the rebirth of the soul and the fulfillment of the will of God. And what is associated with rebirth, if you think about nature? Of course, spring is a time when the sun shines brighter and the landscape outside becomes greener.

Why the temple is decorated with grass and birch on Trinity Sunday: commentary from a clergyman

Answers to this question have already been repeatedly given by priests. For example, Archpriest Boris Stark back in 1981 said that here we can cite at least two reasons.

One of them is connected with the legendary historical event, and the other is purely symbolic, but no less important. Below is a rather detailed commentary on the question of why the temple is decorated with birch and grass on Trinity.

Why do they decorate the house with birch branches on Trinity Sunday?

Well, why on Trinity Sunday the temple and home are decorated with birch branches - the answer is also obvious. Birch is generally a sacred symbol of our country, without any exaggeration.

This tree is one of the most common, and you can find it not only in rural areas, but also in the vastness of a noisy city. That’s why many people pluck young birch branches on Trinity Sunday, make wreaths out of them, or simply gather them into an armful and carry them into the house.

You can first consecrate the greenery in the temple, and then put this unique bouquet next to the icon or in the most prominent place in the house.

How to decorate a house with birch branches

So, it’s clear why houses are decorated with birch branches on Trinity Sunday. But how to do that? Here you can give full play to your imagination. The branches can simply be placed in a vase and placed on the table.

You can put young greens on the dining table. By the way, it’s a good idea to decorate it with green napkins, dishes of the same color and decorative elements (figurines, vases).

You can also make a real green garland by hanging it from the ceiling, as has been customary to do for many centuries.

It is customary to store birch branches picked on Trinity whole year, and then they can be replaced with new ones. By the way, this bouquet should not be thrown away like ordinary garbage. You just need to carefully collect them and take them to nature or send them down the river - i.e. put them where no one would trample or drive over them.

THIS IS INTERESTING

The tradition of decorating a home with birch branches on Trinity Day closely intersects with the main symbol Palm Sunday– a willow branch with swollen buds.

In fact, the willow represents the coming spring, and the birch represents summer. Whether these traditions developed at the same time or not, even if this is a mere coincidence, it is at least quite remarkable.

Birch branches on Trinity: folk traditions

It’s interesting that greenery in general and specifically birch branches became interesting symbol not only in church tradition, but also in folk rituals.

Girls, for example, wove wreaths of greenery and wildflowers, floated them on water and told fortunes about their betrothed. The signs were as follows: if the wreath floats - there will be a wedding soon, if it stays in place - you need to wait, if it sinks - some difficult test is coming. It was also customary to keep birch branches next to the icon throughout the year so that it would bring happiness and prosperity to the house.

Many housewives tried to make a broom out of them, which could be used to clean the room, as well as in the cemetery, where they also wanted to go on Trinity Day. It must be said that this tradition hardly deserves attention, because in such a Holy holiday There is no point in putting things in order at the grave.

Moreover, on the eve of the celebration there comes a special Trinity parent's Saturday, when you can remember your departed loved ones and clean up the cemetery. And Trinity is a festive day: everything has its time.

The Feast of Pentecost almost always falls at the beginning of summer or the end of spring - the most cherished time of the year, when the warm season lies ahead, the time for vacations and many bright moments. There is no such person who would not rejoice at the arrival of something bright and good (both directly and figuratively). Therefore, Trinity is a holiday for everyone.