- Girlish grapes. An unpretentious liana that can change shades of leaves from bright green in spring to crimson in autumn. In the fertile period, in addition to external beauty, it appears in the form of bunches of blue-black berries, if you choose the right variety, then in addition to beauty, you can make grape, jam or wine every year. It grows very quickly up to 20 m in height. It tolerates winter easily and does not require a special place for disembarkation, as it feels equally well in the shade and in the sun.
- Clematis. Despite the exotic name, it is very often found in summer cottages. Externally - long green lashes with small flowers of white, pink or purple hue. Small stars during the flowering period cover the entire area, making it unique. At the same time, the plant does not require careful maintenance and constant watering, but grows like a "weed".
- Ivy. It is classified as a poisonous plant, therefore, when planting and caring, you should observe safety measures and work with gloves. At the same time, beautiful carved green leaves can densely cover any hedge, turning it into a miracle of nature. It tolerates cold well, therefore it is common in Russia, and can also grow on the sunny or shady side of the site.
- Climbing rose. Flowers have a pleasant aroma and delicate beauty from nature. They love fertile soil, so in the spring it is worth applying mineral or special fertilizers. Rapid growth not only in height, but also in width will allow you to quickly cover the entire area of the fence, adding taunts and beauty to it. It is necessary to plant a plant at a distance of a meter from each other.
- Actinidia- a useful and unpretentious creation of nature. The beauty of the leaves and flowers results in an edible fruit that tastes like bell peppers or gooseberries. Berries are rich in vitamin C, which is so lacking in urban life. The plant reaches a height of 15 m, wrapping around the entire provided support. It tolerates frost well, surviving even in Siberia.
This is only part of the plants that can become a wonderful living pattern in the country or around a private house. Care for each variety and species is different, but not as thorough as for indoor species. Some can be pruned without letting them grow too wide.
Fast-growing climbing plants for a summer residence with a photo and a name, as well as recommendations for care
Perennial climbing plants are very diverse. When choosing an option for a summer cottage, it should be borne in mind that you do not live there permanently, as in, therefore, care for flowers and shrubs should be minimal.
Despite a little concern for living decor, many species can surpass specially grown horticultural crops in their beauty and benefits. Let's consider in detail the most popular and interesting specimens with photos and some recommendations for care.
Varieties of flowering perennial loaches for country fences
Blooming perennial loaches are an excellent option for vertical gardening of a summer cottage. They can decorate not only a fence, but also arches or even the house itself. The choice of a plant must be considered carefully so that it tolerates well the type of soil and climatic conditions. And also the appearance is important, which should correspond to the general composition of the site.
Among the most common and easy-to-care plants are:
- actinidia;
- bougainvillea;
- Chinese wisteria;
- decorative honeysuckle;
- rooting campis;
- honeysuckle;
- kirkazon;
- clematis;
- Siberian prince;
- Chinese lemongrass;
- climbing rose;
- eccremocarpus;
- echinocystis.
Let's talk about each species in more detail, including the methods of caring for plants. So that you can choose the right option for yours, below are photos of the varieties of flowers.
Actinidia: planting and caring for the plant
Actinidia belongs to the type of woody lianas. In nature, it grows in Southeast Asia and the Himalayas, as well as in the Far East. One of the varieties of the family is kiwi, the fruits of which are known to everyone.
Deciduous perennial actinidia with whole or thin leaves is used as a decorative element. It is the interesting shape of the foliage that makes this vine an excellent option for decorating fences in summer cottages. And mainly two varieties are used:
- Arguta- up to 20 m long, blooms in June and bears fruit in September. The berries are similar in taste to gooseberries.
- Kolomikta- outwardly similar to the first type, but differs in non-simultaneous ripening of fruits, which reach maturity from August to late autumn. And also the roughness of the leaves serves as an additional decor.
Thinking about what is better to choose: actinidia argut or kolomikta, summer residents rely on the taste and ripening time of the fruit. And also on small external differences of plants.
As for planting and caring for actinidia, they are common for any option:
| Purchase | It is better to purchase seedlings that are available in garden stores. When choosing, pay attention to the root system, which must be protected from wind and heat, otherwise the plant will die. Buy closed-root options under 3 years of age. |
| Disembarkation | It is necessary to buy female and male variants of the plant for pollination and obtaining fruits. Planted in partial shade. You can choose a place along or a fence. You should not place the plant near apple trees, since such a neighborhood is unacceptable. And also select an area on land to prevent waterlogging of the root system. Be sure to plant in the spring before sap flow at a distance of a meter from each other. |
| Care | Weeding is required near the plant during the period of active growth. If noticed, be sure to treat with special means. Watering is required only in dry summers. |
| Top dressing | Mineral fertilizers are used in the spring. For each m² of the plot, 35 g of nitrogen, 20 g of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are applied. Autumn feeds the soil after harvest. |
| Pruning | Proper care stimulates the growth of new shoots. it is possible at the age of 3 years, when actinidia gets stronger. Throughout the summer, you can give the desired shape. |
| Wintering | For the period of cold weather, you need to cover the plant. To do this, make a 2-3 cm layer of dry leaves around the trunk. Such care is required only for young shoots. |
By following all the recommendations, you will grow beautiful actinidia in your area, which will not only turn into a living fence, but will also bear valuable fruits rich in vitamins. To make it easier to understand the features of the plant, watch the video:
Bougainvillea: growing and caring for the garden
Bougainvillea is a small climbing shrub with thorns. It grows naturally in Brazil and blooms for 9 months in a row. Decorative options have different shapes, large and colorful flowers from lilac to white.
Such a beautiful and exotic plant does not require careful care, but the recommendations should be followed:
| Reproduction | In late spring or early summer, cuttings are cut. Then, they are placed in warm water for 3 hours, then dipped in root powder and planted in the ground. The soil is the same as for an adult plant, but peat is added instead of humus. |
| Care | This is a sun-loving plant. And for the winter, you should cover or wrap up bougainvillea, especially the root system, so that the temperature does not drop below +8 ⁰С. |
| Watering and feeding | Often stands during active growth, and spraying with warm water also has a good effect on the plant. In spring and early summer, you can apply mineral or organic fertilizers twice a week. |
| Pruning | The appearance of the flower completely depends on this process. Pruning that stimulates the growth of lateral shoots is carried out in spring and autumn. And during the summer, you can decoratively trim the ends of the branches. |
Bougainvillea is a rather thermophilic plant, so it is unlikely to be suitable for growing conditions in Siberia. But in central Russia it is quite possible to wrap a flower for the winter, and enjoy the beauty of its colors all summer long.
To make it easier to care for bougainvillea, watch the video on the topic:
Chinese wisteria: planting and care
White or light purple flower brushes will attract the attention of passers-by to your unusual summer cottage. All summer long, wisteria gives the extraordinary beauty of inflorescences, while growing well in the open field and does not require careful maintenance.
Among all the varieties, the most popular is Chinese wisteria, the height of which reaches 20 m, and the brushes have a pleasant lilac shade and can grow up to 30 cm in length. Even if you prefer a different variety, you should pay attention to several recommendations for care:
| Disembarkation | A perennial plant requires a lot of space for good root development. At the same time, choose a place where the sun will shine openly for at least half a day on wisteria. For soil, plant in a slightly alkaline environment in early spring. |
| Care | Young shoots should be tied up so that the trunk can withstand heavy loads of flowering creepers. For the winter, the plants are wrapped by removing the shoots from the supports. |
| Watering | Do not overmoisten the soil, otherwise the root system will rot. In September, they practically stop watering wisteria so that. |
| Pruning | In early summer or late spring, the branches must be pruned for proper bud formation. Leave last year's shoots no more than 30 cm. After bud formation, the shoots should be shortened a little more (by 2 buds). |
| Wintering | Watch especially carefully for young shoots, which must be wrapped up for the winter. They are removed from the supports and laid on the ground, lightly sprinkle with earth on top and make a layer of fallen leaves. And also to lay a special material for the complete protection of the plant. |
More detailed care instructions are presented in the video:
Decorative curly honeysuckle: photo and some tips for care
Honeysuckle is a common name for Russia. Many summer residents plant this beautiful climbing plant with a growth of up to 6 m in their plots. It is perfect for vertical decoration, therefore, honeysuckle is placed along fences or next to the walls of buildings, etc.
It is unpretentious, grows quickly and gives abundant flowering in summer with a pleasant delicate aroma. Just do not taste the fruits of honeysuckle - they are inedible. There are few recommendations for care:
- Buy seedlings under the age of 3 years and without damage to the root system.
- Plant in early autumn or late spring in a hole 50 by 50 by 50 cm and at a distance of a meter from each other.
- When planting, add 100 g of superphosphate and 50 g of potash fertilizers to the soil. Drizzle with warm water.
- Honeysuckle loves moisture, so it requires water until autumn to prepare the plant for winter. Watering should be done in the evening and it is better to loosen the soil first.
- Pruning is done after the first year of life in the open field. The more often you shorten the branches, the more abundantly the plant will bloom.
- Ornamental honeysuckle does not like freezing, so the root system should be carefully covered.
Here are some interesting photo examples of plants for decorating fences and other elements of summer cottages:
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Rooting campsis: photos and breeding methods
Campsis is a beautiful and delicate plant suitable for hedging or home decoration. This perennial liana raises its tent to a height of 15 m. The shoots spiral around the support, and with age, the trunks grow stiff and resemble the outlines of fabulous trees.
The inflorescences are collected from several large orange or scarlet tubular flowers that delight the voice from June to September. Rooting campsis came from North America, and to grow such beauty it is worth following a few simple rules:
| Landing recommendations | A shrub can grow in any soil, but for abundant flowering, it is better to choose a fertile and loose soil. Before planting seedlings, it is worth fertilizing the ground in the form of humus or complex mineral compositions. The ideal time for transplanting into open ground is early April, when there will be no winter frosts. |
| Care and watering | Campsis easily tolerates drought, but for abundant flowering it is better to water regularly. Additional feeding is not required, and pruning should be done in the spring before bud formation or in the fall after the growing season. |
| Wintering | Winter hardiness of rooting campsis is average. If the frost does not exceed -20⁰С, you can not insulate, but only protect the root system with a layer of fallen leaves. |
| Reproduction | You can grow it yourself from seed, but you will have to wait seven years for the first flowering. It is easier and faster to purchase seedlings or make layering. To do this, dig in a few shoots growing close to the ground. |
Important! Rooting campsis can grow with roots in the crevices of the foundation and walls of the house, rising to the roof, therefore it is recommended to use a trellis for planting.
Here are some tips in the shrub care video:
Honeysuckle honeysuckle: photo, planting and care
Fragrant honeysuckle honeysuckle is very much in demand in the gardens of Russia. Many summer residents and owners of private houses plant this shrub for vertical gardening, decorating fences, houses, etc.
The flowers are small and graceful and look great on a hedge during flowering. There is nothing difficult in planting and caring for a plant, so even novice gardeners can cope with it. Here are some guidelines to follow:
- It is better to plant it immediately in a permanent place in well-moistened and loosened soil.
- Add fertilizers in the form of humus, peat or organic mixtures to the pit prepared for planting.
- In the process of active growth, it is worth fertilizing the vine with potassium mixtures every 2 weeks.
- The shrub tolerates heat well, but from severe frosts it is worth wrapping up the root system.
- During the fertilization period, it will be useful to mulch the soil, which reduces the rate of weed growth and maintains soil moisture.
- The liana should be shaped not only at the expense of the support, which it will wrap around, but also pruning to give the plant splendor.
Following these simple rules, you can easily grow a beautiful decor from a tent of leaves on your site. In addition to honeysuckle, there are several more common varieties:
- Brown's honeysuckle... Leaves in the form of an ellipse, the underside of which has a bluish tint. The flowers are usually red-orange in color. Blooms from June to October. With proper care, the vine can survive even the most severe frosts.
- Honeysuckle Henry... Flowers of a yellow-red hue, delighting with their beauty from July to August. The fruits are blue-black and the foliage is bright green.
- Honeysuckle Hecrotta... The liana reaches 6 m in height, and up to 4 m in width, so the plant should be planted at a distance of at least 1 m from each other. Grows upright and curls strongly. The leaves are dark bluish-green, and the flowers with a yellow-white edge. It is better to grow in partial shade. It tolerates frost well.
Choose the right variety of honeysuckle that will delight you with its beauty and aroma for a long time. Moreover, caring for the plant is minimal, which means that you will spend little effort.
Kirkazon Manchu: features of care
Kirkazon is a perennial vine. It has a different name - aristolochia. There are about 360 species sprouting in the tropical zone. This exotic shrub will be a wonderful decoration for any home garden.
It has lush foliage with sharp, heart-shaped tips. Differs in endurance and high growth rate. In length, one branch can reach 10 m. The flowers are creamy-brown in color, and the leaves are covered with light hairs, which give a special charm to the plant.
To grow Kirkazon vines, you should follow several rules for planting and care:
| Disembarkation | Spring and autumn are great for planting shrubs in open ground. Choose a place without direct sunlight, partial shade is best. Be sure to make a layer of rubble and sand in the pit. Cuttings under the age of 3 years take root best of all. Keep a distance of 1 m between plants. |
| Care | Be sure to regularly water the plant, make sure that the topsoil does not dry out. For an adult creeper, about 10 liters of water are required. In the summer, in the heat, the leaves are additionally sprayed. Too high branches and dried out branches should be cut off. And also feed the soil twice a season with mullein tincture at a concentration of 1 to 10. |
Here are some photo examples of how Kirkazon is used in the landscape design of various sites:
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Clematis: planting and care in the open field
Delicate clematis flowers attract the attention of many summer residents. Large flowers of a wide variety of shades, falling down in a waterfall, will be an amazing decoration for any fence. The variability of varieties allows everyone to choose the right option for themselves.
For proper care of clematis outdoors, simple guidelines should be followed:
- For planting seedlings, choose a place with a lot of sunlight, but protected from wind and waterlogged soil.
- When planting along the house, leave at least half a meter for root growth. And it is not recommended to plant along a dense metal fence, as it gives too much heat in summer.
- Feed the 60 by 60 cm dug hole with mineral fertilizers or a homemade mixture of compost, humus, garden soil and sand.
- It is worth planting in spring or summer, but choose seedlings with a closed root system and use the method of transferring from the pot into the ground.
- Water the shrub abundantly 1-2 times a week, if a strong heat is established, then increase the number of watering by 2 times.
- For wintering, all dried leaves are removed, and a "pillow" of warming is made from them for the period of cold weather.
The prince is a close relative of clematis. Liana has beautiful bell flowers and graceful foliage. Looks beautiful as a framing of a fence or terrace. It is not difficult to take care of the plant, but it is worth watering and pruning the shoots on time.
In order not to have problems with the cultivation of the Siberian prince, follow several recommendations for care:
| Planting a plant | The best time to plant is mid-May. For the vine, prepare a 60 by 60 by 60 cm hole and apply fertilizer from humus and compost, as well as some wood ash. If the acidity of the soil is increased on the site, you can add slaked lime. It is imperative to make drainage from small pebbles and sand. For planting, choose cuttings at the age of 2 years - they take root best in new conditions. |
| Watering | The prince does not like too dry soil, so watering should be carried out once a week so that the soil is well saturated up to 0.5 m deep. During strong summer heat, the number of times should be increased to 2-3 in 7 days. |
| Top dressing | Once every 2 months, replenish the balance of the soil with trace elements by applying mineral fertilizers with urea and mullein. |
| Care | It is imperative to mulch the soil: for this there are special ones that allow you to ensure the flow of oxygen, reduce the formation of weeds and avoid drying out the roots. For the winter, the plant should be covered. |
How to arrange a flower on your site? Here are some photo examples of planted vines:
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Schisandra chinensis: cultivation and care
Chinese lemongrass is a healthy and beautiful shrub with edible fruits. Liana is covered with greenery from early spring to autumn, during the flowering period it pleases with whiteness and fragrant aroma of flowers, and in autumn, bright red clusters of fruits appear against the background of yellowing foliage.
The plant is unpretentious and tolerates frost well. It is enough to follow a few recommendations for care and planting in open ground, and the perennial vine will delight you with its beauty for a long time, bringing benefits:
- It is best to plant by cuttings at the end of April. Vines are placed at a distance of a meter from each other and in pits up to 40 cm deep. The addition of mineral fertilizers is also mandatory.
- During the growing season, it is recommended to feed it once every 2-3 weeks with a mullein in a ratio of 1 to 10. The shrub begins to bloom and bear fruit only at 6-7 years of age.
- Watering should be done frequently, and the foliage should be sprayed with warm water.
- Be sure to make supports so that the vine can curl freely.
- Vine pruning is carried out only from the 3rd year of life, while the shoots are thinned, leaving only 3-6 of the strongest. It is better to shorten branches in autumn, when active flowering is over.
- For the winter, a layer of fallen leaves is laid on the soil to the trunk of young shoots. Mature vines do not need shelter.
The harvest is harvested in the fall, the berries are dried and used as a preparation of infusions or added to tea. For more information on caring for Chinese lemongrass, see the video:
White bryony is a common type of country liana. Easy to care for and unpretentious allows you to plant a plant in Russia without fear of winter cold.
To create a dense hedge, it is enough to take very little care of the vine:
- Plant a shrub on the sunny side of the site in any loosened soil. It is worth making a frame in advance, as the vine grows quickly.
- Propagated by tubers or seeds, planting them in the ground in the fall, and observing germination in the spring.
- For the winter, it is still worth covering the plant from severe frosts.
There are no requirements for watering and feeding, so even a novice gardener can grow such a hedge.
In this article:
In Old Russia, people believed in the power of amulets, relying on their protection from ailments, enemies and other misfortunes. Through their amulets, they drew the energy of nature and the Sun, never tired of thanking the Gods, who generously endowed the Russian people with unique Slavic magic symbols. All of them are carriers of information about the structure of our universe.
At the heart of Russian amulets is the Slavic symbolism associated with the Sun, such symbols are called Solar. Each of them has its own name, they have a specific power and carry a certain semantic load. The most common symbol in Russia was the Swastika, endowed with a multifaceted meaning and various variants of names. She was also called the symbol of "Light", the symbol of "Primary Fire" or "Life", "Divine symbol". Ornaments from these symbols were used to decorate household items, dwellings, and clothing. At different times in Russia Solar, this symbolism could be seen on banknotes.
The history of the culture of Russia throughout its existence was based on popular beliefs, which with their roots they deeply rooted in the past, and preserve the memory of our ancient ancestors. In those distant times, they were already striving to comprehend the secrets and subtleties of the structure of the universe. First of all, they needed this knowledge in order to protect themselves and their loved ones from possible danger. Culture changed over the centuries, beliefs and customs changed, but the memory of ancestors was not erased even after the Baptism of Rus. The loyal, wise and tolerant Orthodox Church did not destroy the traditional popular worldview; throughout the entire period of its existence, the Russian people used amulets and talismans bequeathed to them by their ancestors.
Features of the Russian folk amulet
A Russian person is devoted to his family and faithful to his land, therefore, Russian amulets, like talismans, are mostly associated with real things, familiar to each of us from childhood. Among these you can find ordinary spoons, bells, miniature hatchets, poker, broom, bast shoes, horseshoe, etc. They were widely used not only in the everyday life of the Russian people, but also in folk rituals. The people made amulets for themselves with their own hands, hoping for their protection from predatory animals, natural disasters, the "evil eye" and diseases.
Russian amulet for the home
The home for the Russian person, in terms of its significance and holiness, is in second place after the church and Orthodox churches. Even setting off on a long journey, he always took on the way a charm, created by his own hands, as a reminder of home, family and native land. The earth also acts as a kind of amulet for the house, which had to be built correctly, since the fate of the whole family depended on this.
Modern house in Russian style
In Russia, houses have always been erected in favorable energy zones and traditionally adhered to certain rules when choosing a plot of land:
- Houses were not erected in places where lightning struck.
- Areas that were previously massively abandoned by people as a result of epidemics, pestilence, war, and natural disasters were considered unfavorable.
- They never built a house in a place where human remains were found.
- The places where the cart overturned or the shaft broke were considered a mark of "unclean", they were bypassed.
According to ancient traditions, a Slav built his house with his hands by analogy with the model of our Universe, in the center of which was a Russian stove - a source of heat, food, light, and was perceived as a symbol of the Sun.
The cult of home and family hearth in Russia has always been the main one. Each element of the construction of the house was a certain symbol, as well as the decoration of the house.
Its main symbols are Russian folk amulets of the house, all of them are listed in the table below:
| Name | Symbol (association) |
Functions |
| Bake | Planet Earth. The oven was painted with special protective symbols. | A source of heat, fire, life. |
| Red corner (home iconostasis) | Planet Sun; God. | Divine protection, patronage, healing. |
| Walls | They were decorated with various symbolic wood carvings. | Physical and energy protection of the habitat |
| Roof and openings | Decorated with symbolic carvings. | They did not allow physical negative factors to enter the house, as well as from any evil spirits and evil misfortunes. |
| Entrance door | Central amulet (various amulets were placed over the door; the door itself was coated with red clay along the contour; curtains woven with patterns with special symbols were hung in the doorway). |
Home and family protection at the level: Physical (negative weather conditions, enemies, robbers); Mental (evil spirits, diseases, troubles). |
| Threshold / porch | The key element of the house was endowed with the greatest amulet power (everything was important - from its shape to decoration, including amulets that were placed under the threshold to enhance its magical properties). | In the pagan and Christian faith, he was the main protection of the home and family of a person, the keeper of the family hearth. The threshold was carefully guarded, since through it you can bring both good and bad deeds into the house. |
| Vane | More often made in the form of a rooster or horse | Amulets that warn the owners of the house about the danger and scare away evil spirits. |
The carving acted not only as a decoration, its patterns were carefully thought out and corresponded to the old Russian protective symbols. Door and window openings, roof edges, porch were decorated with carvings.
Carving is a special skill The threshold and the porch in the Russian hut were always endowed with the most powerful amulets and were additionally guarded by the owner himself. Through the threshold (or porch), you can send a lot of negativity, both to the owner of the house, and to all members of his family, to the whole family.
Many folk signs are associated with the threshold, for example, it is undesirable to just stand on the threshold, smoke or talk, transfer things or say hello across the threshold. To protect the home and family across the threshold, both Christian and pagan amulets, symbols, conspiracies and prayers were used (and are relevant now).
The blower in the Russian stove is of particular importance. This place was considered a gate through which the Unclean One can enter the house. While the stove was burning or smoldering, the blower was not closed so as not to burn out from carbon monoxide, but as soon as the last heat was extinguished in the stove, the blower was immediately closed.
Charms to protect the yard
The yard area is a part of the personal space of each family, limited by a special fence. In the old days, the fence of a house or plot was built in the form of:
- wattle fence (from a vine or brushwood), in the form of a picket fence (from low wooden slats);
- board fence;
- a powerful timber palisade several meters high.
No matter what material the fence was built from, for many centuries the yard was guarded and defended with the help of traditional amulets. These were the simplest household items, in the powerful protective energy of which our contemporaries also believe. A variety of objects were used as amulets of the courtyard, all of them were considered magical protective symbols.
Glechiks, krynki, pots
In an inverted form, they were planted on the highest rail of the fence, a wattle fence.
Clay products are still used in the manufacture of amulets Since these utensils were usually made from a natural material, clay, they were very sensitive to negative energies.
It was believed that a broken or cracked glechik on the fence indicates a negative message to the owner of the house or his entire family. In this case, they said that the glechik took on the "thin", it was not customary to take it with his bare hands. Usually it was removed with special tongs and thrown away from the house, and a whole pot was immediately hung in its place.
Old (woven) bast shoes, worn out shoes, felt boots
A shoe (felt boots or bast shoes) is an old Russian amulet with multiple meanings. For example, having met an Unclean One, it was customary to throw at him with our worn-out bast shoes and be sure to hit the target, if you didn't hit - expect trouble or trouble.
The pair of red shoes presented by the boyfriend to the girl testified to his sincere love for her, a similar gift from the parents served as a talisman so that the daughter did not stray from the “red” (right) path.
There was a tradition of throwing bast shoes at their rivals. If the bast shoe reached the goal, it was believed that by this action the girl was braving her rival from her lover, and at the same time she removed the love spell that she could do on her boyfriend.
A pair of shoes, attached to the porch or threshold, symbolized the strength and prosperity of the owner of the house, a happy family. To scare off any evil spirits and enemies, shoes or bast shoes were hung on a fence or on a post at the gate.
If an unlucky child grew up in the family, he was forced to put on old sandals of that family member who was considered positive and hard-working; by this action of a child who had gotten out of hand, they tried to return to the true path.
A pair of symbolic shoes were presented to the young for a wedding, so that they lived together happily and as long as possible. The theme of shoes is also found in many beliefs and fortune-telling. For example, there was a long-standing custom of divination by the groom. To do this, the girl, standing in the courtyard with her back to the gate, threw bast shoes over them onto the street. Then she watched as the bast lay down - his sock, as a rule, indicated the direction from where the groom's arrival should be expected.
If a person wanted to travel, but could not decide exactly where to go, it was also customary to throw bast shoes out of the gate. In the direction where the sock pointed, the man set off.
Horseshoe
In addition to the decorative function, the horseshoe in Russian culture and traditions has always been used as an effective amulet / amulet. In many countries, it is a symbol of happiness, with a deep meaning rooted in a long history.
Made of iron, forged on fire by a blacksmith, purified by fire, resembling a young moon in shape (also a symbolic element), a horseshoe was once an expensive pleasure. Finding it for a simple poor peasant was considered happiness, since expensive iron appeared in the house, which could be expensively sold or reforged into nails, a scraper, a knife or other necessary item. Later, when iron was no longer such a rare thing, the tradition to take care of the found horseshoe "for good luck" was preserved.
In every European country, you can find a legend about a horseshoe, in Christian culture the very legend and tradition to take care of the found horseshoe is most likely borrowed from the ancient pagan culture of the Celts. They believed that a horseshoe attached above the front door would protect their home from the invasion of otherworldly forces.
In our time, the horseshoe as a talisman has not lost its significance. Nowadays, the horseshoe is endowed with multiple symbols, which can be found in the table below:
| Location | Function | The value of the amulet |
| "Horns" down above the door to the house, on the gates, on the pillars of the central gate | Protective (from the evil eye, damage, bad message and ill-wishers) | The guest, having passed through the gate, "lost" his bad thoughts and was disarmed if he came with bad intentions |
| "Horns" up above the door to the house, on the gates, on the pillars of the central gate. | Talisman of wealth, happiness and prosperity | Brings good luck, material and financial well-being to the house |
| On the door (from the inside of it, "horns" up) | Protective bioenergetic | Equalizes energy flows, reducing the strength of geopathogenic zones in the house |
| Inside the car | Protective | Prevents accidents, vehicle breakdowns and various unpleasant traffic incidents |
| On the windowsill (on the first moonlit night, "horns" into the room) | Talisman of wealth / good luck, money talisman | Promotes an increase in financial position, attracting money and rapid financial growth |
| In the ground near the wall of the house (bury from the northwest side) | Talisman of good luck | Brings good luck in business, support in any endeavors |
Fishnet
It was thrown from above on a fence, palisade or wattle fence, believing that the Unclean One would get entangled in it and would not be able to enter the house. It was also assumed that evil words and thoughts of ill-wishers would not be able to pass through this network.
Toads, mice and other reptiles entangled in the net testified that one of the ill-wishers was taking negative magical actions against the owner of the house and his family.
Broom
Exposed at the threshold, a broom scared away evil spirits, drove away ill-wishers from the house. It was believed that if, after an unpleasant guest leaving your house, you sweep a path in his footsteps with a broom, this person will never appear in your house. It should be noted that the broom was not only the shore, through it you can cause considerable harm to the family, therefore in some families it was preferred to hide it from prying hands and eyes. Usually the head of the family made a broom-amulet with his own hands.
Nowadays, you can often see a broom in apartments with a broom upside down. For prosperity in the house, it was customary to put a broom in the kitchen "on the handle" with a broom up. Nowadays, for this purpose, a small decorative broom is more often used, on which gifts are fixed - several grains of various cereals, corn grains, real coins, yellow flowers (as a symbol of the Sun, gold) and so on. Left in the kitchen as a decoration, such a decorative amulet broom brings material stability and prosperity to the house.
Touching a broom with your hands in someone else's house was considered wrong, such a guest could be suspected of ill will and more allowed into the house.
Panel-amulet
Such a panel was specially made in each family, so they were all unique and not similar to each other. Each hostess made her own panel, decorating it with the symbols that were most needed to improve the life of her family.
With the help of special symbols of patterns, such panels protected the house from unkind people, brought good luck for the family, health, patrons, promoted mutual understanding, love and care for each other of all household members.
Embroidery
The embroidered symbols could be seen not only on clothes, but also on bed linen, towels, towels, tablecloths, curtains, shoes and head jewelry. A young girl, getting married, had to have all these things sewn and embroidered by her hands in her dowry.
Girls began to get used to handicrafts from an early age. The more a girl had a dowry, prepared by her, the more hard-working she was considered and was more desirable in the groom's house.
Bag
In Russia, the bag has always been considered a symbol of the preservation of wealth. This symbolism dates back to ancient times, when social inequality was the norm, as a result of which beggars wandered across Russia with outstretched hand. Behind them was a knapsack (a homemade bag) with all their simple belongings.
This amulet should not be touched by strangers. For every beggar, such a knapsack was a real treasure. At the same time, rich people also kept their gold and jewelry in bags, but sewn from expensive fabric and embroidered with gold / silver thread, embroidered with stones or embroidered with patterns.
Nowadays, it is customary to place a symbolic bag in the kitchen or in the money zone of the house, decorating it with their own embroidered patterns, which necessarily include some key magical symbols. It can be decorated with various symbols, depending on the result that should be obtained - increasing wealth, maintaining existing wealth, etc. Coins for wealth, magical dry herbs for protection and other items corresponding to the wishes of the owner of the house are placed inside the bag.
Painting on wood, plaster, metal
Painting with colorful symbolic patterns of gates, walls of the house (outside / inside), door and window openings, benches (at the gate and in the yard), stove, barn, barn and cart was also a talisman.
The theme of solar signs was especially popular, attracting warmth, joy, life, health and happiness to the house.
Fruitful amulet
This Russian amulet symbolized the generous gifts of nature, was used as a talisman of family welfare and was a good decorative element in the decoration of the house. As a "rural" decor, it is still found today in dwellings, the interior of which is made in the "country" style. Often for this purpose, a decorative amulet broom, decorated with special symbols, is also used.
For its manufacture, nuts, dried flowers, garlic knots, rose hips, spikelets of wheat, beans, a small pumpkin, bright ribbons are usually used (they tie up the entire composition). A braid should be braided from colored ribbons, with its flowers it symbolizes a joyful and happy life, in length and thickness - longevity. The lighter of the above symbolic elements are woven into it, the heavier ones can be fixed with glue or sewn, fixing to the ribbons with threads.
Each such element corresponds to certain symbols that differ in their characteristic magical properties:
| Element | Value in the amulet |
| Broom | Pure base |
| Scythe | Longevity |
| Bag | Wealth, abundance, wealth |
| Spoon | Wealth |
| Onions / hot peppers / garlic / | Protects from evil spirits |
| Cereals and flour products | Wealth, hospitality and good location of the owner of the house (the tradition of meeting guests with a loaf / bread and salt) |
| Bump, coins | Business success, financial well-being, wealth |
| Sunflower seeds | Symbolizes children in the family |
| Beans / peas | Friendship, mutual assistance, peacefulness |
| Dried flowers (in a bouquet) | Harmony, beauty, protection from evil spirits and "bad" people |
| Cereals | La, and the well-being of family relationships |
| Female and male figurines | Inseparability of marital / family ties |
| Corn | Children's health in the family |
| Small house | Happy family, cozy home |
| Jug | Healthy family, family well-being, prosperity |
| Immortelle | Long and happy life |
| Bay leaf | Success in business, fame, respect from others, respect in the family |
| Poppy | Fulfillment of secret desires |
There is a huge variety of Russian folk amulets, for the manufacture of which a variety of symbolic elements are used. The table above lists only basic and fairly common symbols.
The Russian people have always carefully and respectfully treated the gifts of Mother Nature, believed in the existence of her mythical creatures inhabiting all four elements - fire, water, earth and air. There are many legends and fairy tales in Russian culture about kikimors, water, wood gobies, brownies and other evil spirits. The attitude of the Russian person to these natural creatures is twofold.
He tried to befriend some of them, to appease some, to buy off some of them, and some of them had to be bypassed so as not to anger him with his presence on their territory. Some representatives of the Unclean were often taken as assistants to solve various life tasks and everyday problems. At the same time, Russian people have always made amulets to protect themselves and their homes from evil spirits, he used long-known folk symbols to create them. A curious character is the brownie, it was believed that this creature lives in every house.
Brownie
Being the soul of the house, its talisman and amulet, the Brownie patronized the people living in it. The grief was for the owner who did not suit him, the Brownie tried in all his ways to drive him out of the house, could attract other creatures from evil spirits to this process. He demanded respect for himself, it always depended on this whether he would consider the residents of the house his friends and whether this family would live in prosperity and tranquility. It is noteworthy that with the hands of an unwanted owner, he could have done a big misfortune in the house.
Sometimes the Domovoy got so used to the head of the family that when the family moved to a new place of residence, he tried to move with the people, hiding in some household item. More often than not, the person himself offered the Domovushka to move with him, offering him a broom, a bread spatula or a broom with the words:
Housemate neighbor, here's a noble sleigh, go to a new house with us!
The options for making a brownie amulet are limited only by your imagination The brownie sleeps during the day, and at night he wakes up and walks around the house, checking if everything is in order. He was always given a specific corner in the house, where the owner forbade all household members to go, so as not to anger the Brownie with his actions. In this place it was impossible for children to play, put any things, make noise, sit, this place belonged to Domovoy. In each house, the Little Housewife could occupy different places, his favorite place should be found, as a rule, it was the warmest, driest and quietest corner. Sometimes he himself willingly suggested and indicated his presence.
The Brownie is noisy - he knocks at night, confuses the mane of horses, hides the small things necessary for the owner. To return a thing hidden by him (a thing that you cannot find in the place where you left it the day before), you should throw a coin into the room with the words:
Housemate neighbor, here's a coin for you to play, and give me my / mine (name of the thing).
After that, you need to leave the room for a couple of minutes and close the door. After this time, you will find the lost thing in the place where you left it and looked at it several times before, but did not see it.
Nowadays, the Brownie theme is very popular - it is a magnificent element of apartment decor and at the same time an effective and powerful amulet. Each Housemaker must contain 12 symbolic items. They are symbols such as dried berries, dough products, dried flowers and other symbols. Its base can be any, but more often a wooden spoon, wreath, horseshoe, bag or broom are used for this.
The brownie is the spirit of the house, it is a mischievous and mischievous creature, but always kind and ready to help the owner manage the household, protect the house and family. Often Domovushka warned the head of the family about the impending disaster. It is necessary to make friends with this creature and not forget about it, leave food, give some things, throwing them into its corner.
If you cannot find its presence in your home, make it yourself, this is the best and most powerful amulet for your home.
Amulets to protect the child
At a time when medicine was not yet so developed as to save a person's life from an elementary cold, he relied only on the mercy of God and the magical protection of amulets and talismans.
The pectoral cross was considered the very first and strongest protective amulet for a child. They tried to put it on a child even during childbirth in order to protect an unbaptized baby from evil forces, since the Guardian Angel appears in children only at the age of one year, and according to some beliefs, at the time of baptism.
The child received his next amulet from Mother Nature herself - this was his first milk tooth, which, during the change of teeth, had to be hidden and kept throughout his life as a talisman or talisman / amulet. Until the moment when the child was toothless, he was considered an easy prey of evil spirits, so it was not customary to leave him alone for a single minute.
An important and powerful amulet for him was a shackle - a kind of hanging cradle, bast or made of a vine, of wood or wooden slats, with a canopy sewn from the mother's skirt.
Inside such a shake, two knives “crosswise” or scissors (opened in the form of a cross) were hidden under a children's mattress. There was also placed a handwritten version of the prayer "Holy relics" from the 90th psalm or, at choice - a prayer (also written by hand) to the "Honest Cross".
From evil spirits that penetrate into the house at night, the baby was protected with the help of amulets. For example, a broom for the night "on the handle" on the doorstep to the baby's room, an alternative was an ax, also set on the threshold at night with the blade up.
Protective dolls-motanks There was a custom to deliberately smear the child's face with soot from the oven so that unclean spirits would not recognize him and take him away. The skin was also smeared with soot in the projection of the child's joints and bones, which form a sacred cross.
A belt embroidered with protective symbols was worn to a child when he reached the age of one year. It was a beautiful family ritual, to which neighbors and friends were not invited, but only the godparents of the baby. He was solemnly girded with this belt, which was supposed to strengthen his protection outside the home.
The baby's mother, with her caring hands, sewed a belt in advance and embroidered it with a protective pattern, the symbols of which were always passed on to the new generation of the family. In the event of the death or sudden death of the baby, this belt, intended only for him, was buried with him.
At the age of seven, it was customary for a child to pin an ordinary pin to his clothes (head down), but more often girls wore it.
As a talisman, the boys had to carry some sharp object in their pockets - a nail, a planing knife, an awl handed to him by his father's hands.
For many centuries, the Russian person surrounded his home, himself and his loved ones with amulets. Nowadays, we use the same protective symbols, however, we often wear them in the form of pendants and other jewelry. Today, along with man-made amulets, you can buy a ready-made Russian amulet or jewelry with the corresponding symbolism. Over time, many amulets have lost their relevance, some have transformed and took on a new form, but the belief in their magical power has not disappeared from the Russian people.
From the editorial board... In continuation of the material about the shrines of Athos, at the numerous requests of friends of our museum site, especially readers, a small note about the miraculous vine of St. Simeon the Myrrh-streaming in the Serbian monastery of Khilandar ( see photo). She became famous for her healing power to resolve the sterility of spouses, which has become a mass phenomenon today, as evidenced by the crowds of suffering women at the belt of the Most Holy Theotokos, brought to Russia from Mount Athos:
It should be noted that both the "belts" of the Theotokos from Vatopedi, and the bones of the vine of St. Simeon the Myrrh-streaming from Khilandar can be completely unimpeded as an Athos blessing to all who wish to get rid of the disease, if you send your request by mail to the address of these monasteries ( see below).
Blessing of the Serbian Royal Lavra, the monastery of HILENDAR. Holy Mount Athos
On the southern side of the Hilendar cathedral church of the Presentation of the Most Holy Theotokos, every pilgrim is struck by a highly overgrown and highly branched vine, bent over and forming, as it were, a gazebo from its branches ( see photo). Its stem comes out of the wall at a height of one and a half meters from the ground, from the tomb of St. Simeon (Stephen Nemani), which is located next to the same wall, on the inside of the temple ( see photo).
The Hilendar tradition about this 800-year-old vine says: “When seven years have passed since the death of St. Simeon (February 13, 1200) and when St. to promote the reconciliation of their warring brothers, the monks of Hilendar wept inconsolably. Then Saint Simeon appeared in a dream to Abbot Methodius and said that his relics needed to be transferred to their homeland, but a vine would grow from his empty tomb as a consolation for the Hilendar brothers; and as long as it bears fruit, his blessing will rest on Hilendar. "
The fact that this vine has survived to this day and that every year, without exception, it bears rich fruit, although it receives no other care besides pruning, and no measures are taken against Phyloxera or other diseases and pests, is a great the miracle of God is thus a great moral consolation and spiritual encouragement for our Hilendar brotherhood and for all Serb believers in general.
But this vine is not only exceptional for this reason. It also has another property. From her fruits, the sterility of the spouses is resolved, who by faith and prayer accept this miraculous remedy .
The oldest surviving legend about this dates back to 1585, when a Turk brought his first-born son to leave him in Hilendar to serve God, for he received it, like his other children, after eating the grapes of St. Simeon.
Since then and to this day, our holy monastery has been continuously distributing this miraculous grape to pilgrims or delivering by mail to those who will turn to it with a letter. Once upon a time, pilgrims from Russia came in droves to the Holy Mountain and asked for these grapes in great numbers. Now they are asking for it from all over Greece, because, especially recently, the results from its use are amazing.
It will be useful here to cite an incident that is instructive for those who will ever want to partake of the grapes of St. Simeon. It will be about Mrs. Catherine R. from Thessaloniki, who proposed to her husband to ask for the grapes of St. Simeon from Hilendar. But he did not agree to this, for he lacked faith... However, his wife labored herself in other ways to get this grape and began to act according to the leadership on its use, fulfilling that part of the duties that, according to the leadership, her husband was supposed to fulfill. When the Lord blessed them with the first conception, this woman told her husband about her act; and since then, this family, driven by a sense of gratitude, has been in constant contact with our monastery.
And the Serbs from ancient times, when the Chnlendar monks walked around their people, knew about this miraculous grape. Our Hilendar still has guides to its use printed in the old days. But in recent decades, the Serbs have not asked for it, and the younger generations no longer know about it.
After the screening of the "Film about Hilendar", our compatriots both at home and abroad have recently learned everything they need to know about the vine of St. Simeon. The first person who, after watching this film, asked for grapes from this vine, and then received children, was brother Nicholas J. from Worcester (England).
Since now the demand for the grapes of St. Simeon has increased from the Serbian side, the management of our monastery decided in a new form to publish that old guide on the use of this miraculous grape.
Since the people of our time have become weakened by faith, and every miracle, not excluding this, manifested through the grapes of St. Simeon requires strong faith, then before using this miraculous grape, you need to prepare yourself accordingly.
Here is just one example of this. Recently, again in Thessaloniki, there was such an incident. One priest, who had no children, took, passing through our Hilendar, from the grapes of St. Simeon, but hesitated to use it. Once a certain parishioner asked him to get her this grape, and he willingly gave her his. Some time later, one Sunday, after the Holy Liturgy, this woman, all illuminated with joy, again thanked this priest for that gift. “... If I had faith and I would have children today ", - this priest told us not long ago when he was passing through our monastery again.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR FUCKET SPOUSES SELECTED FROM THE SACRED SCRIPTURE
There is no better textbook for teaching faith than the Holy Scriptures, and there is no better place and time to live by faith than our everyday life. Our Lord Jesus Christ always asked the one over whom he performed the miracle of healing: "Do you believe?" Or, after healing, He said to the healed one: "Your faith has saved you!" So, our faith is always a precondition for the Lord to manifest His power over us.
We therefore recommend reading the 11th chapter of the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Jews for teaching faith, which especially speaks of faith, its power and its significance in our life. It is also necessary to read and parallel passages given in the margins of this chapter.
But since our faith is supported and multiplied by fervent prayer, special attention should be paid to it. Those who live in prayer communion with the Lord take His promises from the Holy Scriptures, such as, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you "(Matt. 7: 7) or" Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive, and it will be done for you "(Mark 11:24), and they ask the Lord - but they ask persistently! - that He would fulfill these promises on them. And He, being our Heavenly Father, always willingly does this to us, for the Lord Jesus Christ says to us in the Holy Gospel: “So if you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give good things to those who ask Him "(Matthew 7:11).
And our holy fathers Simeon and Sava were moved by strong faith to leave worldly glory and come to the Holy Mountain and from their Hilendar, again with faith, to revive all their Serbian people, serving them to this day before the Lord. Let them, too, for you, sterile parents, be an example and encouragement to believe in the fulfillment of your parental desire to have children. Pray to them that they support your faith and supplement your prayer with their intercession before the throne of the Most High Life-Giver.
We implore the spouses whom the Lord, after eating the grape of St. Simeon, blessed them with children, to inform our Office of this, so that from time to time printed messages about this will strengthen the faith of other childless spouses.
Those who wish, by God's blessing, to have the fruit of their womb, should turn with prayers to Saint Simeon the Myrrh-streaming, who, after leaving his Serbian kingdom, was an ascetic on the Holy Mount of Athos. He built the monastery of Hilendar, in which, after many great labors during his pious life, he died; and for this he received from God the gift of working miracles: to resolve the sterility of those spouses who resort to him with faith.
For this, grapes and twigs are taken from the vine that miraculously grew from the very tomb of St. Simeon. You need to take three grapes and one piece of a cut vine. This slice is dipped in half an oka (650 grams) of consecrated water, and both spouses drink this water on an empty stomach for 40 days. Then the spouse eats one grape, and the spouse the remaining two. During these 40 days, the spouses must adhere to the following rule: eat only fast food and do fifty bows every day: 25 in the morning with the prayer "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us" and 25 in the evening with the prayer "Reverend Father Simeone, pray to God about Us". Whoever wishes can double the bows, i.e. add another fifty bows a day with the prayer "Most Holy Theotokos, save us." During all this time, the spouses must have a separate bed. After these 40 days, the spouses must confess and partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, and then the Lord according to their faith with his blessing he bestows the fruit of their womb.
After conception, during the entire pregnancy and feeding of the child, the spouses must completely end marital relations and live in purity. From the life of the prophet Samuel, we see that his mother Anna nursed her son Samuel for three years, living during all this time separately from her marital bed in cleanliness, and after that she had more children, although everyone considered her barren, for “where she wants God, the rank of nature is conquered, "and the birth of children is a gift from God, not a human invention, for the Lord says:" With it, create man and create spirit in man. " The Apostle commands parents to abide in fasting and prayer and to subordinate marital pleasures to higher goals, so that “those who have wives may be as if they had not” (1 Cor. 7:29). After that, he convinces the spouses not to be slaves to the flesh, but to live in the spirit, for all Christians are called by God not to impurity, but to holiness.
Let's look at animals that, according to the law of nature, given to them by God even during the creation of the whole world, and to this day strictly observe this law in absolute accuracy, because after the conception of the fetus, they do not allow copulation, not only after the release of the burden, but also during the entire time of feeding the baby. ... And a person, as you yourself see, becomes to some extent a bitter cattle and, indulging in passionate lust, forgets about his dignity given to him by God, Who created him in his own image and in his own likeness - and thereby violates the law God's damage to nature and this causes the righteous wrath of God on his offspring. The consequences of the righteous anger of God are also the following: unfaithfulness of spouses, frustration and all sorrow, incurable diseases from which children suffer, the early and premature death of a husband or wife, as well as children dear to them. And who could list the terrible manifestations of God's wrath over spouses who have lost the fear of God and have moved along the path of fleshly wisdom, which is the enemy of God, and over those who do not obey God and His law. Such kill their children and their offspring up to the third and fourth generation and deprive themselves forever of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Spouses must, even before their infertility are resolved, strictly follow the church rules and follow the church rules established for spouses, namely: marital beds must be separated from one another on the night before holidays and Sundays, on the eve of Wednesday and Friday, during all four established The Church fasts, especially during the Great Lent, i.e. Great Lent. The rest of the time they can use in chastity and fear of God for married life. For the Lord gave a man a wife as a help for living together, and blessed them, and said: "Grow and multiply"; but not for the sake of lustful lust, which knows neither time nor measure in its intemperance.
Therefore, we ask you, blessed Christians, our spiritual children in Christ Jesus and our dear brothers in baptism: keep your holy marriage in all the purity and righteousness of God, following all the commandments of God, and then the Heavenly Father of soul and body will resolve your infertility, and you will see on the blessing of the Almighty to his family. And for doing the deeds of your mercy to needy brothers in Christ, you will not only receive the gift of bearing children, but you will also inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, promised to those who love God, and you will be in communion with all deeds of mercy that please God, in which our True Lord Jesus Christ will help us. , by the intercession of the Most Pure and Most Blessed of Her Mother, the Virgin Mary, the prayers of Saint Simeon the Myrrh-streaming, the miracle worker, and all the saints of Athos: may we all inherit the blessed end of life and pass from this temporary life into eternal life, where we will glorify the All-Holy Name of the Most Holy, Life-Giving and Inseparable until the century Trinity, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, who will be glory forever and ever. Amen.
(Edition of the Hilendar Monastery. Holy Mount Athos. 1966)
Khilandar Monastery Address: MONASTERE HILANDAR 63086, KARYES, MOUNT ATHOS, GREECE Phone: 8-10-30-23770-23797
In order to get the grapes of the healing vine, you just need to write a letter to Athos and tell in it the names of the spouses in Holy Baptism. The monks don't need any money - it's completely free. In about a month and a half, an envelope with 3 berries will come from Athos, with detailed instructions in Russian on how to eat them and with a message that the brothers of the Khilandar monastery began 40 days to intensively pray to God for the suffering, so that the Lord would release them from the burden this ailment. The only thing that is required is to pay for the postal parcel (within a dollar) upon receipt by mail. And the brothers of Khilandar ask that when you have a baby begged from God, inform them about it and, if possible, send a photo (see video: http://video.yandex.ru/users/rublev-museum/view/14 /).
Blog of the research team of the Andrei Rublev Museum.