11 April - Wednesday

Bereshenie
Day of cheese fondue
Day of the Three Dragons
International day of liberation of prisoners of fascist concentration camps

1857 Emperor Alexander II approved the state emblem of Russia - the two-headed eagle
1919 The International Labor Organization (ILO)

http://www.calend.ru/img/content_events/i6/6625.jpg

On this day in Russia honored the most beloved in the people tree - birch. It was called the tree of life, health and light.
Our ancestors with birch were associated with many beliefs. A sick child, for example, had to be struck with a birch twig - and the pain would go away. If you stick a birch branch in the roof, it will protect the house from lightning. And it's impossible to imagine a Russian bath without a birch broom.
A respectful attitude to the birch tree with the advent of Christianity has received a new justification. According to tradition, it was under this tree that the Virgin and the baby Jesus were hiding from the weather.
On this day it was necessary to go out into the birch grove - listen to the trees. This was done in order to determine whether the movement of the juice began. Juice harvested by each family. From it, sbittens were cooked with the addition of honey and seasonings. Fresh birch juice was given to the sick. It was believed that this drink cleanses the blood and expels from the stomach all the infirmities.