What are the benefits of bath brooms? Just the facts!

In ancient times, a bathhouse with bath brooms was considered one of the most effective remedies for a number of diseases.

Today, even official medicine recognizes the benefits that bath brooms bring to the body and recommends using them as a preventive measure for certain diseases.

Photos of our baths Photos of our saunas Find out the cost

Features of bath brooms

A bath broom, having healing properties, has a positive effect on the body.
For each type of broom there is a certain time for cutting it. Chopped broom at the wrong time can reduce its healing properties.
Brooms must be cut and tied correctly, otherwise it will not bring tangible benefits.
Before using a broom, it must be properly steamed in boiled water and after finishing the bath procedure, it must be dried so that it can be used repeatedly.

Steaming methods

There are several options for steaming a fir broom in a bathhouse:

Method one . The broom is immersed in a bowl of boiling water for 10 minutes, after which you can start steaming. However, despite the simplicity of this method, it has one drawback - during such a long stay in boiling water, the main part of the beneficial substances is destroyed, and, accordingly, the therapeutic effect of the broom is reduced. For this reason, it is recommended to use a different steaming method.
Method two . In this case, it is possible to preserve most of the beneficial substances contained in the fir broom. This will take a little more time. In this case, the broom needs to be filled with just hot water for three hours. Then in the steam room it is lightly dried over hot stones and then used.

Linden broom

Birch leaves contain tannins and essential oils, vitamins and flavonmides. The composition of birch broom has a complex effect on the body, disperses bile, prevents the occurrence of cramps, and in case of colds it acts as an expectorant, clearing the respiratory tract of accumulated mucus. A birch broom has the flexibility and ability of its leaves to absorb sweat.

LiveInternetLiveInternet

Quote from the message "beautiful woman"

Read in full In your quotation book or community!

In the Russian bathhouse - thanks to which everyone becomes beautiful and healthy - the broom rules! And a biting broom is worth more than money. Choose for yourself what to whip you with in order to get maximum pleasure and maximum effect.

It is best to cut branches for a broom in the thicket of the forest or on lawns. Under no circumstances cut branches from trees growing along the roadsides, as they absorb dust, dirt, harmful resins and heavy metals, which you will also get in the steam room.

Brooms should be prepared at the beginning of summer, because the leaves have already become stronger, which will help the broom serve you as long as possible. The most suitable are biennial branches growing closer to the ground.

After cutting the branches, lay them out on the balcony for two days, having first spread burlap or matting under them. Only after the branches have withered can you knit a broom.

First, decide on the size of the broom. Usually its length is 40-80 cm. Try to choose the same branches. Clear the ends of the broom a third of the length from the leaves (the so-called handle), tie tightly in two places - at the beginning and at the end of the handle, and then tie the broom handle with a rope turn to turn and be sure to wrap it with a soft cloth to avoid the formation of calluses. The hook should not be too thin or thick.

So, the broom is ready. How to properly dry and store it?

There are several methods, but a prerequisite is to dry it in the shade, because in the sun the leaves curl into tubes and burn out, lose their aroma and quickly fly off. You only have to steam this broom once, and all the leaves will float in the basin.

The best option: dry and store brooms in a cool (but not drafty), dark, dry room, hanging or folded. A dressing room or attic of a bathhouse, as well as a balcony, garage, and closet are ideal for these purposes. However, a broom suspended on a clothesline takes on the shape of a broom, and the leaves quickly fall off.

We can offer another option for storing brooms - in a haystack (this is acceptable only for residents of rural areas). To do this, the brooms are placed with the leaves inside the stack and the handles outside. In this case, the broom takes on a fan-shaped shape.

City residents can be advised to store bath brooms in the freezer, having previously packed them in a plastic bag. A frozen broom retains its properties, so when thawed, the quality is similar to a fresh one. There is no need to steam such a broom.

After use, it should be repacked in a plastic bag and put back in the freezer.

If it turns out that you have dried out the broom, do not be upset. Steam it for a short time in hot water and then place it on the heater. The steam emanating from it will steam a damaged broom.

After this, do not forget to remove the loose leaves from the hot stones, otherwise you will have to inhale not the aroma of a fragrant broom, but the fumes.

You can use the water in which the broom was steamed to wash your body and head.

There is another way to steam a dry broom. 10-15 hours before visiting the steam room, hold the broom in cold water and wrap it in a wet rag. It will become soft and the leaves will not fly off.

If a visit to the bathhouse was not planned, then you can steam the broom directly in the steam room.

To do this, lower it into a basin, fill it with boiling water and cover it so that steam does not escape from under the lid. In 10 minutes the broom will be ready.

Which broom should you choose? After all, the leaves of a particular tree have their own special healing effect. Let's look at the properties of each, and you will choose the one that is most suitable for you. Birch broom

The birch broom takes an honorable first place among brooms. Steam lovers value it not only for its strength and flexibility, but also for its healing properties.

Even the ancient Slavs used birch branches to cleanse themselves “from evil spirits.” And for good reason: due to the porous structure of the leaves, the birch broom absorbs sweat well from a steamed body and removes toxins and harmful substances.

Birch leaves are sources of vitamins C and B3, provitamin A, phytoncides, contain essential oils, carotene.

Due to the rich content of useful substances, birch broom has a softening effect on the skin and cleanses the lungs of macrota.

Birch broom relieves fatigue and physical stress, relieves pain, and helps heal wounds.

In addition, an infusion of birch broom will help solve hair problems: strengthen it and get rid of dandruff.

It’s not for nothing that they say: birch is the tree of life, with its aroma you can breathe easily and improve your health!

Birch broom is a triple power of the healing properties of leaves, birch buds and sap. Birch leaves contain tannins, essential oil, vitamin C, carotene, and resins. Effective for aching muscles and joints after physical activity and exercise. Cleanses the skin well, accelerates the healing of wounds and abrasions, has a calming effect, and improves mood. It helps improve lung ventilation, therefore, in fact, it is indispensable for asthmatics and experienced smokers. If you knit a broom yourself, knit it from curly birch, because... its branches are flexible and lush...

For lovers of intense heat, an oak broom is an ideal option. Unlike a birch broom, an oak broom, with its large leaf and dense structure, forces steam onto the body and pushes it in front of itself. Oak leaves do not absorb sweat well, but they cleanse and strengthen the skin well.

Using an oak broom in a bathhouse can improve blood circulation and relieve physical fatigue. Oak also has anti-inflammatory properties.

An oak broom fills the steam room with a delightful aroma; such a broom can be used even by hypertensive patients, as it normalizes blood pressure.

Oak is a centuries-old tree that personifies strength and power. And it grows for 200 years, and in a bathhouse an oak broom will last longer, enough for 3-4 visits with proper drying and steaming.

Take a steam bath and absorb all the power of the tree!

Oak is a symbol of longevity, strength and physical health. Its bark and leaves are rich in tannins, so a massage with such a broom is better than any body wrap. If bath procedures are carried out regularly, blood pressure can be normalized. It is best to harvest oak broom in August or September: it is durable and has fairly wide leaves, which makes it easier to generate steam. Linden broom

A bathhouse with a linden broom is prescribed at the first symptoms of a cold. Linden leaves contain a huge amount of essential oils and bactericidal substances. Its aroma will help get rid of headaches and have a soothing, relaxing and antipyretic effect. Eucalyptus broom

The eucalyptus broom has two main advantages. Firstly, it acts as a stimulant, tones and promotes concentration. Secondly, eucalyptus is an excellent antiseptic. By putting eucalyptus infusion on a heater and inhaling the vapors, you get an inhalation effect on the larynx, trachea, and bronchi. By the way, it is not replaceable for bruises and sprains. Do not rush to steam with a broom consisting only of eucalyptus branches, because they still have a rather pungent odor. It is better to mix several branches of eucalyptus with birch, linden or oak. This should also be done because the eucalyptus branches are too thin and when swinging, a lot of effort is spent on generating steam. The broom is harvested in August.

Eucalyptus broom is an ideal combination of massage and inhalation. Massage with such a broom will help with radiculitis, illnesses, bruises, joint pain, inhalation will save you from colds and flu.

A eucalyptus broom will purify the air in the steam room and, due to the content of beneficial essential oils and phytoncides, will improve the health of the body. Eucalyptus will relieve a runny nose and sore throat.

It is useful to inhale with a eucalyptus broom, pressing it to your face and deeply inhaling the fresh aroma.

Eucalyptus essential oil contained in the leaves is used to heal wounds.

Willow broom Willow broom is for women: it has a very good effect on the skin, stimulates regeneration processes, helps maintain youthful skin, a proven remedy for colds, sore backs and rheumatism. A willow broom cannot be stored for a long time for future use - it must be used within a year, otherwise the willow wood will lose its freshness.

If there are wounds on the skin, inflamed acne, or rheumatism is completely tormented, go to the willow tree, break some twigs and tie a broom. And then with this willow broom and go to the bathhouse, take a steam bath from the heart!

After the first session, the skin will become noticeably cleaner. And after 5-6 baths with a willow broom, you can forget about rheumatism, at least not so often. A broom made from willow branches was previously used to treat colds and to preserve youthful skin. It was believed that willow (willow, willow, willow, vine) patronizes women. Women who steam with a willow broom become especially beautiful and attractive

Willow has one more advantage - it grows almost everywhere, even beyond the Arctic Circle and in the highlands. And even more so in the middle zone. If the bathhouse is located near a pond, stick a couple of willow twigs into the ground and in a year or two there will be no problems with the branches. You just need to choose one-year-old branches, dense but flexible, with a lot of leaves

Viburnum broom

A bonus to the viburnum broom will be viburnum juice. Viburnum, by its action, is capable of mobilizing the internal forces of the body, so this broom is good for long-lasting colds or coughs. Branches for brooms were prepared in late spring or summer, when the leaves had fully blossomed, but the berries were still small. Only the youngest and thinnest branches were taken for the broom, and they were dried quickly in a well-ventilated, cool room to preserve the beneficial substances in the leaves. But the best, of course, are fresh viburnum brooms. They steam with such a broom in a special way. Firstly, the broom is soaked in lukewarm water and kept in the dressing room until the very moment of steaming. Secondly, they steam with a viburnum broom during the second and third passes (at the very end of the steaming), lying on the lowest shelf. All this is necessary in order to preserve beneficial substances in the branches and leaves, which are very quickly destroyed at high temperatures. And after the procedure - vitamin viburnum juice! Elderberry broom

When steaming with an elderberry broom, try to heat the bath not hot, otherwise the healing effect will disappear. This broom will help you get rid of migraines and colds forever. Fragrant brooms (as well as brooms made from currant or cherry branches) are not brewed, because... there is a high probability of getting burned - the leaves will instantly cook, become sticky and heavy. The most important thing is to organize the bath procedure correctly, then it will take place with maximum comfort and the desired effect.

Laurel is a symbol of victory and eternal life.

Laurel contains many essential and fatty oils that have medicinal properties, and is rich in beneficial microelements and tannins.

Using a bay broom in a bath will relieve fatigue, strengthen the immune system, remove waste and toxins, and soften the skin.

The main and very important feature is the preservation of the healing properties of laurel even in a dried state. Moreover, laurel is rich in phytoncides, substances that fight bacteria. Even the tuberculosis bacillus is suppressed with the help of laurel. To enhance the effect, a laurel broom is pressed to the face during the bath procedure and the vapor is inhaled for several minutes.

In addition to its medicinal qualities, laurel broom also creates a unique fragrant aroma in a bathhouse.

The wormwood broom came to us from the south, where most of the territory is occupied by steppes and there are almost no forests.

Wormwood is a specific herb with a pronounced spicy aroma and bitter taste. But its bitterness does not at all reduce the healing properties of this plant. Wormwood contains essential oils, glycosides, and phytoncides.

It has great medicinal value - the use of wormwood broom restores metabolism, relaxes, relieves fatigue and nervous tension.

Wormwood purifies the air in a steam room due to the aldehydes and other carbonyl compounds it contains. It also rejuvenates the skin well, refreshes and gives strength. Recommended for inhalation.

In Rus', wormwood was used as a remedy for evil spirits - on the night before Ivan Kupala, wreaths were always woven from wormwood.

Bitter, but very useful!

Fir occupies one of the first places among conifers in terms of healing properties. A fir broom is excellent for massage, especially effective for rheumatism, pain in the spine, and radiculitis.

The pleasant fresh aroma of fir will help relieve cold symptoms, cleanse the lungs, and relieve inflammation.

Using a fir broom will soften and rejuvenate the skin due to the content of fir oil used in medicine.

A fir broom disinfects the air, promotes sweating and increases blood circulation due to the effect of resinous substances.

And how nice it is to relax on a cold winter evening, bathing in the aromas of the freshest fir!

How to steam with a broom correctly? It is better to take a steam bath together. The most correct body position when soaring is lying on a bench. But if lying down is not possible, then sit with your legs raised to body level. There are several ways to steam with a broom. One of them is: one person lies on the bench with his stomach, and the second begins to lightly stroke the body from head to toe with a broom. In the opposite direction, one broom strokes one side, and the second - the other side, then along the pelvic sides, thighs of the legs and calf muscles to the feet - this should be done 3 to 4 times in a row. Then the brooms must be lifted so that they capture the hot steam, and lowered onto the lower back, pressing the brooms with your hands for a few seconds. Repeat the same manipulations in the area of the back blades and knee joints. Repeat the set of movements 3 to 4 times. The next method of vaping is called tapping. This type of steaming with a broom should be performed with quick quilting movements with the end part of the bath broom. To begin with, you need to make light strokes in all directions of the back, lower back, pelvis, thighs, calf muscles and feet, and finish with faster quilting. This procedure should be carried out for no more than one or two minutes on one side of the body and the same amount of time on the other side. After this, you should move on to stronger whipping in combination with a compress. You should start from the back. The broom is lifted, capturing the warm steam, and a few light blows are given to the back muscles, and then the broom is pressed with your hand. This should also be done over the entire body, excluding the face and popliteal fossae. If it is necessary to warm up the knee joints in order to restore impaired functions or improve their elasticity, a broom is applied to them in turn, and the shins are bent until the heel touches the pelvis. This type of compress is very useful for muscle pain, radiculitis, injuries, myositis, etc. After the compresses, I do a stretch - the brooms are placed on the lower back and spread to the sides: one broom moves to the feet, the other to the head. After steaming, rubbing is done. Lightly pressing on the foliage on the broom, rub the lower back, pelvic area and back with circular or dashed movements.

If you are in the bathhouse without a partner, then you need to take turns steaming your legs, chest, and arms, moving the broom from the hands to the shoulder joint. The chest, pelvic area and back can float on their own if you lie on one side and then roll over to the other side. You need to finish vaping by rubbing

.Steaming with a broom

General recommendations when using a broom in a steam room

1. When entering the steam room, it is advisable to wear a felt cap, especially when you intend to steam with a broom.

2. There is no need to whip yourself with a broom as hard as you can, movements should be soft, flexible, the broom should barely touch the body, pumping up steam.

3. The leaves of the broom should always be slightly damp. If the leaves are dry, then the broom should be moistened with water from a basin placed in the steam room in advance.

4. The amplitude and strength of the movement directly depends on the sensations of the steamer and the temperature in the steam room. If the temperature is high, the broom should be used more carefully. The broom is gently waved at the head so as not to burn sensitive skin.

5. Usually they enter the steam room three times: the first time you just need to warm up, but the second and third time you can safely use brooms.

Sequence of movements when using a broom. We go into the steam room, put the broom on the bottom shelf so that it doesn’t get too hot and dry out, and we ourselves lie down on the top shelf, on our backs. We achieve uniform heating of the whole body and the beginning of sweating. It is advisable to breathe through your nose. We sit down, pick up a broom and start steaming. First, we perform a “stroking” movement, lightly touching the skin with the leaves of the broom. We start with the legs - from the feet to the pelvis. The broom slides in turn, first along the front surface of the legs, then along the back. There should be 4-6 such movements. If the temperature in the steam room is high, the brooms should be moved slowly and not removed from the body, so as not to increase the heat.

The front part of the body is first stroked from bottom to top, from the stomach to the neck, and then across the body. You need to perform 4-6 movements in each direction.

You need to raise your arms a little and make 4-6 stroking movements from the hand to the shoulder joint: first on one hand, and then on the other.

The back should first be stroked in the lower back area, across the body, and then the upper back and neck. Perform 4-6 stroking movements on each area.

Then, in the same sequence, you need to perform the “patting” technique. During this technique, lightly tap the skin with a broom in the same sequence as when stroking.

Steaming with a broom ends with whipping. This technique is similar to patting, only it is performed more intensively and, by lifting the broom higher, you can pump hotter air into the skin, if, of course, you want to do so. The sequence of movements performed is the same as when stroking.

The procedure must be completed by rubbing, which is performed with the leafy part of the broom over the entire body.

Having finished steaming with a broom, do not rush to leave the steam room, sit downstairs in a cooler environment: in the bath procedure, a smooth transition from the steam room to the relaxation room is important.

Dangerous symptoms: rapid heartbeat, dizziness, nausea, ringing in the ears, spots before the eyes. If at least one of these signs appears, you should leave the steam room, but do not take a cold shower, but sit in a cool room until normal health is restored.

Don't try to stay in the steam room for as long as possible. Parking with a broom should be fun. If you feel that you have already steamed yourself, but have not yet completed the whole set of movements with a broom, then you should not endure it, but need to finish the bath procedure. The main rule that everyone who enters a steam room must remember is that it is better not to over-steam than to over-steam. Beginners especially need to remember this.

Oak broom

The leaves of the broom are saturated with tannins and in terms of usefulness such a broom is not inferior to a birch broom. An oak broom is recommended for use for skin problems and depression. After treating the body with an oak broom, the skin becomes elastic and elastic. A steamed broom releases an aroma that, when inhaled, lowers blood pressure and also calms the nervous system.

Linden broom is used to restore mental balance, eliminate headaches and colds. Linden brooms are recommended to be used to get rid of persistent insomnia and migraines.

Eucalyptus broom is successfully used to treat bronchitis. Possessing a powerful antioxidant effect, it clears the respiratory tract of mucous secretions.

Where to store brooms

There hasn't been much more storage space for a long time. Previously, barns, attics, and even haystacks served as storage.

Modern life has not added many storage spaces: cellars, garages, verandas, cardboard boxes, mezzanines and even freezers.

But still, finding the ideal place is not so easy. A dried broom is quite capricious and finicky.

The first task of long-term storage of a broom is to preserve the main wealth - foliage.

Dry, almost lifeless foliage is not easy to preserve: it breaks, crumbles and flies off.

Four main rules must be followed:

Natural ventilation of the broom storage area.
Darkness.
Cool.
Natural air humidity.

High humidity in the room will not be an ally during storage; the broom will freeze, become moldy and completely rot.

Direct sunlight will dry out the broom, the foliage will turn yellow, the aroma and all the beneficial properties will be lost.

The sun's rays heat the attic roof to record temperatures and a real inferno forms in the attic, in which the brooms will quickly dry out.

Often the only free place to store brooms is a barn or garage. But in these cases it is necessary to follow certain safety rules.

There should be no chemicals or other caustic, volatile substances in the garage or shed. All the chemicals are firmly absorbed into the foliage and the broom loses its usefulness. But it will generously return the aromas of gasoline, oil, paint, and other chemicals to the steam room.

Prepared brooms should not interfere with your daily business activities. If you constantly disturb them, touch them during work and when rearranging household objects, the foliage will break off and fall off. Instead of a luxurious bath broom, you get an ordinary broom...

Nettle broom

Nettle leaves contain formic acid, which has an analgesic effect. Nettle brooms help eliminate pain from gout, radiculitis and rheumatism, cleanse the skin of rashes such as pimples or boils, which are accompanied by skin inflammation. To remove the excessive pungency of nettle, steam a broom of it in boiling water for no more than three minutes.

Coniferous brooms are cut from fir and juniper branches. The acupuncture properties of these plants help relieve pain from radiculitis and rheumatism. Fir and juniper brooms are used to treat viral diseases.

A rowan broom has stimulating properties, so it is recommended to use it in the first half of the day. Then it will give you a boost of energy for the day. It is not recommended to use a rowan broom in the evening, and after a bath it will be difficult to fall asleep.

Bamboo brooms are a rarity for bathhouse lovers, but they also have their adherents. Bamboo contains a lot of silicic acid, which has a beneficial effect on the skin.

How to steam with a fir broom?

You can steam with a fir broom while sitting, with your feet on a bench, or lying down. The process of steaming with a massage effect is carried out as follows:

First, light stroking with a broom is carried out from the neck to the toes;
then treat the sides one by one with a broom. If there are 2 brooms, stroking the sides can be done simultaneously;
after this, massage the thighs, pelvic and lumbar areas, and calf muscles by lightly tapping;
Finally, a broom is applied to the area of the shoulder blades, covering the back, shoulders, arms and knee joints.

There is one more known method of vaping. It consists of performing quick sweeping movements with a broom, during which only the tips of fir branches are involved. The massage starts from the back, then goes down to the buttocks, thighs, legs and feet. Perform it until the skin turns red.

Rules and nuances of making bath brooms

There are rules that must be followed when cutting and using brooms. The massage effect is obtained by applying them in several stages:

choosing the plant or tree from which it is made, taking into account the properties of this plant or tree;
procurement time. For each type of tree or plant, there is a specific time of year when branches need to be cut. Then these brooms will bear tangible fruit;
knitting brooms. The convenience and service life of a broom depend on a properly tied broom. An incorrectly linked attribute can only be used as a broom. A properly tied broom will have the traditional “fan” or “holder” shape.

Traditional uses of bay leaves

Speaking about the traditional use of this spice, we can highlight several main directions.

In cooking

Dried bay laurel leaves are a well-known and traditional spice in Russian cuisine. It is added to almost the entire range of sour and salty dishes, fried and stewed meats, sauces, and marinades. Pickled cucumbers and sauerkraut are somehow completely unusual without a bay leaf, just like classic salted herring or jellied pork leg. Separately, it is worth mentioning liqueurs and herbal balms that act as an aperitif. Bay leaf - awakens appetite and promotes digestion.

In medicine

Official and folk medicine recognize the ability of laurel leaves to calm fever, heal wounds, and fight urolithiasis. Essential oil is an effective antiseptic. It also has insecticidal properties, which made it possible to use it to combat blood-sucking insects, ants and fleas.

By the way! Chewing dry bay leaves in the manner of tobacco was popular to prevent infectious diseases such as cholera, dysentery and malaria.

Timing for procurement of brooms

Birch begins to be cut on Trinity Sunday and until the end of June.
Oak for brooms is cut during all summer months.
Linden is suitable for brooms during its flowering season.
Nettles are cut during flowering, choosing branches growing in the middle of the nettle thickets.
Coniferous brooms can be harvested all year round.
Rowan brooms are prepared at the beginning of summer, choosing branches growing in the middle of rowan thickets.
Bamboo brooms are brought from Asian countries, where they are prepared in winter.

How to cut branches correctly

To prepare a fir broom for a bathhouse, you need to choose mature trees located away from highways, industrial facilities and large cities. The cleaner the atmosphere in the place where the conifer grows, the more useful the steamed shoots will be:

For the bath, choose the straightest, even branches, from which you will get a neat bundle. Their length should be at least 60-70 cm.
You need to cut the spruce branches with sharply sharpened pruning shears. Immediately after separating the branches in their lower part, about 20 cm, small shoots and needles are removed, forming the handle of the future broom.
The prepared paws are not stacked on top of each other, but side by side, making sure that the tilt is in one direction.

It is convenient to steam fir branches; if they are the same size, the bundle turns out to be more accurate

Advice! You need to collect branches to steam them for a bath from the same fir no more than once a year. It is better not to touch young trees at all; severe pruning can lead to their death.

Technique for knitting bath brooms

There are several features that must be observed when knitting brooms.

The largest branch is placed in the center of the product itself, around which thinner ones are placed. The branches laid in this way form the correct fan shape, which is the classic way of knitting a broom.

In order for the broom to be held comfortably, the broom handle must be properly shaped, which is trimmed with garden shears and removed from knots and excess leaves. The handle is fixed in two places: at the base of the broom it is tied with strong twine, and the ends of the broom are tied with cloth tape.

You can order the finishing of a Russian bath or Finnish sauna on our website or by calling: 8 (499) 110-97-56.

Both helper and protector

The life of a peasant family in Rus' was unpretentious and simple: they plowed with a plow, carried water with a bucket, and rode in the snow on a sleigh. But sweep away the dirty linen from the hut or in the yard with tied rods, called a broom. According to one version, “broom” is an Old Slavonic word and means “bundle.” Of course; there was one broom or broom for the yard, and another for the hut. For the hut, a broom was knitted from flexible birch twigs with leaves. Sometimes aspen or alder branches were used. Moreover, it was necessary to break them into brooms only in the spring, when they were juicy and flexible. But they preferred to make yard brooms from the shoots of a plant such as chiliga, or wild acacia, which was distinguished by strong and flexible branches. They were too rough for a hut, but on the ground they were just right. Brooms were also knitted from common wolfberry, a shrub better known as wolfberry. It was especially chic to sweep the hut with a fragrant broom made from St. John's wort, wormwood or oregano. After such cleaning, a pleasant smell appeared in the room, but the broom itself in this case was disposable. In Rus', it was believed that if you sweep a hut with a reed broom, then spiders will emerge from it, weaving webs in the corners. In many provinces there was a belief that a brownie could live in a broom, and along with a broom, it was associated with a place of attraction for evil spirits. When things began to disappear, and household members were arguing, they beat the entrance threshold with a broom to drive away someone else's brownie. There was a belief that a witch, in order to deprive a cow of milk from a person she did not like, first knocked off the dew from the grass with a broom, and then touched the animal’s udder with this broom. And if the witch dragged a broom over the crops, then their owner was deprived of the harvest. Moreover, in other cases, the broom was both a talisman and a talisman. Thus, it was prescribed to place a broom in the house with the handle down in order to attract wealth into the house. They tried to throw a broom after an evil person who could cast the evil eye or cause damage, so that he could not bring trouble to the owners of the house. After the funeral, it was prescribed to sweep the floor from the place where the coffin with the deceased stood to the threshold, and then immediately burn the broom. They acted in a similar way with a broom that had served its purpose - golik. It was not thrown away, but burned on Maslenitsa. In Russian villages it was considered unacceptable to wave a broom above table level. And stepping over a pregnant woman’s broom meant inviting a difficult birth. In the new hut, it was strictly prescribed to take revenge only with a new broom, since the old one could store the negative energy of the old place. The broom rods gathered together were considered an example of strength in unity. There is a saying in Russian: “You can’t break a broom, but you can break the whole twig.” It is possible that it was she who pushed the writer Leo Tolstoy to write a parable about how a father told his sons to try to break a broom, but nothing came of it. And then he allowed them to break it one twig at a time, and they did it easily.