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While all mitzvot should be performed in the best manner possible, hiddur mitzvah (beautifying the mitzvah) especially applies to the lulav and etrog set. The Halacha is explicit on what constitutes the "best" in each species. To that end, people will spend large amounts of money to acquire the most perfect etrog, the straightest lulav, and the freshest hadass and aravah. Usually a father will buy several sets of the Arba Minim to outfit his sons, as well.
Another custom for hiddur mitzvah, depending on your custom of wrapping lulav and esrog, is to have more than two aravot and three haddasim. Some people have the custom to have as many as 40 extra haddassim and aravos.
Hiddur mitzvah applies to all mitzvot, but its absence does not impede the mitzvah from being performed. For the 4 Species specifically, there is a further "technical" requirement of hadar (beauty), which does impede the mitzvah of the Arba Minim from being performed. Despite their similar names and details, these two requirements are distinct from one another.
In order to practice the mitzvah in halachic standards, the 4 species must meet certain requirements. There are many different details to determine the halachic rules for each of the lulav and etrog set, nevertheless , here are a few of the basics:
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