Advertising

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.

Why birch branches on Trinity: where did the tradition come from?

Trinity is always celebrated on the 50th day after Easter, which also falls on a Sunday: May 27, 2018, June 16, 2019, 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 at least two reasons could be given here.

One of them is associated with a 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 it can be found not only in rural areas, but also in the open spaces 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 for a whole year, and after that 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 of 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 is interesting that greenery in general and specifically birch branches on Trinity Sunday have become an 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 on such a bright holiday there is no point in putting things in order at the grave.

Moreover, on the eve of the celebration comes a special Trinity Parents' 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 is ahead, the time for vacations and many bright moments, the portal website writes. There is no such person who would not rejoice at the arrival of something bright and kind (both literally and figuratively). Therefore, Trinity is a holiday for everyone.

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. The Orthodox Church celebrates Trinity Day on the 50th day after Easter, Sunday.

On Trinity Day, one of the most solemn and beautiful services of the year is held in Orthodox churches. 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 among the Eastern Slavs, especially loved by girls. In folk tradition, Trinity Day is part of 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.

Among the Slavic peoples, the holiday of the Holy Trinity is also closely associated 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 a birch tree could also be sent down the river, believing that the tree would give up 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. Traditionally, decorating houses on Trinity Sunday with branches, herbs and flowers, people express joy and gratitude to God for reviving them through baptism into a 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 dough to prepare dishes for the festive table, and prepared herbs. 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. Dressed up girls usually walked around 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 still believe that this 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 exchanged pectoral crosses and said: Let's kiss each other, godfather, let's kiss each other, we won't quarrel 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 a treat, as well as invite guests to a festive meal;
• It was impossible to go to the forest for a week, to swim - swimming on Trinity Day is undesirable, 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 medicinal 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 that an honest person could find a treasure, as if hearing its call from the depths of the earth.
• There was a belief that plants on Trinity are endowed with special magical powers, 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 celebrating Orthodox holidays are also being revived. And already in our time, folk festivities are organized in the cities of the country on Trinity Day.

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

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 we will especially ask in the words of that prayer, which is usually 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. From a sermon on the Day of the Holy Spirit, 1981“My whole life is a miracle.” – M., 2007 – PSTGU.

Trinity is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter, when, according to the Gospel, the Holy Spirit appeared to the apostles. There are many rituals, customs and ceremonies associated with this holiday.

Trinity is a very beautiful and joyful holiday. Houses and temples are decorated with branches, grass, and flowers on this day. But special attention is paid to the birch tree on Trinity Day. The birch tree has become a symbol of the holiday, probably because it is one of the first to dress in bright, elegant greenery. It is no coincidence that there was a belief that the birch tree has a special growth power that a person can use. How can you ask a birch tree for this power? There are many ancient rites and rituals on this score.

Why are birch branches braided in pigtails on Trinity Sunday?

On Trinity Sunday, the birch tree was “buried” - young branches were cut and drowned in water or taken out to a grain field. They believed that such a sacrifice to higher powers would bring fertility to the earth.

They also “curled” the birch tree. This ritual came to us from ancient times. The girls braided 3 branches and secured them with a red ribbon or strong grass. It was believed that this would bring happiness in love, health and longevity to relatives. For the same purpose, on Trinity Sunday they made an infusion of birch leaves, which had healing properties. Our ancestors also used tree branches as a talisman against evil spirits. To this day, in villages, elderly women stick birch branches into the corners of their houses so that their purity and healing spirit are transferred to the walls.

Green Christmastide

Trinity Day can rightfully be called “green Christmastide.” On this day, parishioners held masses in churches with bouquets of meadow flowers or tree branches. Wildflowers that had been in the church were dried and stored behind the icons for various needs: they were placed under fresh hay and in the granary to prevent mice, in beds to protect against shrews and other pests, in the attic to prevent fire.

According to legend, not only consecrated herbs had miraculous properties. On Trinity Sunday, girls usually collected morning dew and washed their faces with it for beauty and health. But you should remember that some things should not be done on Trinity. There is a belief that mermaids living in river pools come out of the water this week.

From the “green Christmas time” to mermaids walk in the forests, calling lonely travelers to them with their hooting and laughter. Swimming at this time was strictly forbidden, because mermaids could lure them in and drown them. According to legend, mermaids are afraid of the smell of wormwood. Therefore, the branches of this plant were carried with them for the purpose of protection.

The bravest girls dared to come to the river on Trinity evening to tell fortunes using a flower wreath woven the day before. They threw him into the water and observed:

• it’s bad if the wreath drowns: you won’t get married for a long time;
• if the wreath floats calmly with the flow, then there will be a wedding this year.

Trinity: a ritual for love

According to tradition, a festive dinner was held on Trinity Sunday, to which neighbors and relatives were invited. The table was certainly covered with a tablecloth. After dinner, the tablecloth was not washed, but was placed under the spouses’ bed at night. This simple ritual will help strengthen love and understanding between husband and wife. After washing, the tablecloth was not used until the next Trinity.

10.06.2014

What associations do you have when, movingly, you contemplate a young talent, with a tiny finger tapping on the piano keys “No one to break a birch tree, no one to break a curly tree”? Did you know that a simple musical exercise contains pagan ideas about the forces of nature, ancient beliefs and customs associated with plants and mermaids, seeing off spring and welcoming summer, and also the celebration of the great Christian holiday - Trinity? A young birch is a symbol of the twelfth summer holiday, awakening, bestowing health and harvest, blessing all living things.

In the past, this day was celebrated especially colorfully and solemnly - parishioners came to church services with branches of young birch, bouquets of fragrant spring flowers and herbs prepared for Lenten Wednesday. After the liturgy, we went home for a festive meal with the obligatory scrambled eggs, and then it was time for fun festivities. One of the folk customs, which has pre-Christian roots, includes a cycle of actions associated with a white-trunked tree. They chose a beautiful low (often far from other trees) birch, some of its branches were bent to the ground and secured with the help of grass growing around, the top was “broken”, other branches were “braided”, decorated with flowers, wreaths and ribbons.

Sometimes they connected the tops of two adjacent birch trees. After this, the holiday continued with songs and round dances (“There was a birch tree in the field…”) around the decorated tree. Then there was a ritual meal in the fresh air with food brought in advance. It was imperative to place a dish with a treat in front of the tree, which the birds would later peck. In some areas, the ritual was performed earlier, on Semik, on Thursday, and was called the “meeting of mermaids.” It was believed that water maidens came ashore at this time to water the earth and plants with life-giving moisture, and then rested, swaying on the branches of a birch tree. Swimming on Trinity Sunday was prohibited - “mermaids will tickle you.”

On Monday, the Day of the Holy Spirit, the reverse ritual of “developing” the birch tree was performed so that the tree “would not be offended.” This is a strange explanation, considering that after the decorations were removed from the tree and the branches were straightened, it was cut down, dressed in a girl’s outfit - a long white embroidered shirt, and worn around the village in women’s attire all day. Often a teenage girl was hidden under a long dress. She, hidden from view, carried the tree, supporting it by the trunk. It seemed as if the birch was moving on its own. It all ended with the tree being drowned in a pond or burned at the stake, thus destroying the mermaid (who “sits on the branches”).

Today, ancient rituals and traditions are returning to us, which can be approached creatively and with concern for the environment. For example, in a ritual with curling and, especially, development, you can leave some of the decoration, fun picnics and do without chopping the green beauty. What about mermaids? Let them remain in fairy tales, legends, poems and songs, giving all Trinity rites a charming mystical aura.