At the turn of winter and spring, the days of Maslenitsa are celebrated, which came to us from pagan culture. Then they were associated with the onset of the spring equinox. The ancient Slavs celebrated this holiday as the arrival of spring and the birth of the sun god - Dazhdbog. Later, when Christianity appeared, the holiday took on a different meaning. And today, the seven days of Maslenitsa bring people joy and fun. It is called “bright”, “honest”, “rudy”, “generous” Maslenitsa. She is loved by the people who observe her traditions.

The roots of the holiday and its symbols

The holiday is celebrated at the end of February or beginning of March. 7 weeks before Easter comes Maslenitsa with Maslenitsa week.

The modern church does not reject this holiday. The priests call it “raw week,” which ends with Forgiveness Sunday. All week people are preparing for Lent, which begins on the Monday after Maslenitsa. These days, meat is already prohibited, but it is allowed to eat dairy products and fish: pancakes with butter, cheese, caviar. All week long, the bright Maslenitsa amuses and delights Orthodox Christians, because Lent does not encourage entertainment.

The main symbol of the holiday is pancakes. Round, rosy and hot, they symbolize the sun. They were baked in huge quantities, according to various recipes with different fillings. The generous Maslenitsa treated everyone, donating the first pancake to the poor.

The second symbol is made of straw - a scarecrow called Maslenitsa.

Maslenitsa was celebrated and made happy, so that life would pass without bitter misfortune. The festivities and fun lasted for six and a half days, and on Sunday evening everyone went to the evening service, which heralded the beginning of Lent.

A pillar with a wheel, which means the sun, is another attribute of the holiday. It was attached to sleighs during festivities, decorated with ribbons, and carried along the street. A “bear” was always present - a man in a bearskin as a symbol of nature’s awakening from winter hibernation.

On the last day of Maslenitsa, the fun ended. People asked each other for forgiveness, and at the church evening service they prepared to cleanse their souls for the upcoming celebration of the Great Resurrection of Christ. Having passed the test of centuries, the holiday has earned the full right to be called national.

Maslenitsa days and its traditions

Every day of Maslenitsa was filled with its own content. Maslenitsa week consisted of various fun activities and rituals. These include walking, baking pancakes, meeting relatives and friends, sledding and much more. What to do and on what day was strictly observed. The party lasted a whole week.

Each day of the week has its own significance and meaning.

1. The first day of the holiday is the meeting of Maslenitsa, with a pancake in one hand and a frying pan in the other.
2. The second day is the beginning of the festivities and flirting. The youth built sledding hills.
3. Wednesday is delicious. From that day on, we baked a lot of pancakes for every taste: wheat, buckwheat, with caviar, cheese, butter, large, small.
4. Thursday - “let the fours go wild.” Its name speaks for itself: the festivities reach their peak, people are tireless in their desire to drink, have fun, and gorge themselves. Round dances were obligatory as a symbol of the movement of the sun.
5. On Friday - mother-in-law pancakes, the first Maslenitsa gatherings. Mothers-in-law treated themselves to their daughters' house and praised their sons-in-law.
6. On Saturday, daughters-in-law invited their husband's relatives to their home.
7. By Sunday, the farewell to Maslenitsa was already over. This day was called “Forgiveness Sunday” - the most significant day. The generous Maslenitsa ended with evening.

Maslenitsa has been celebrated for how many centuries! But the traditions of Maslenitsa are not forgotten. The people know and preserve the meaning of every day. This cheerful spring holiday is still celebrated today, although its traditions and rituals are no longer fully observed. But there remained meetings of relatives, festive celebrations in the center of the village or city. Forgiveness Sunday is not forgotten either.

How were the holidays?

Maslenitsa began to be celebrated on Monday. But the day before, on Sunday, an event took place related to the coming week, during which it was forbidden to eat meat.

This day was called “meat day”. The father-in-law went to his son-in-law to “finish the lamb.” Neighbors and relatives met at the table: the last time they could taste meat dishes.

Maslenitsa will last a whole week. We prepared for these days in advance, anticipating joy. The girls learned how to bake pancakes properly.

It all started with sledding on Maslenitsa. They loved her, called her “honest Maslenitsa”, “yasochka”, “sweet lips” and other tender words. People came to visit, enjoyed pancakes, went sledding, and went down the slides. The festive sleigh train was carried by a bunch of mummers for laughs.

On Wednesday, pancakes were baked en masse, people ate plenty of them. Mothers-in-law entertained and treated their sons-in-law to pancakes, awaiting a return invitation. They invited them with honors, sometimes sending mummers for the mother-in-law.

Thursday is the peak of the party. Incredible things were happening on the streets: beer and vodka flowed like rivers; laughter, round dances, fist fights, “taking” the snowy city. There were a lot of troubles: drunken fights, stabbings.

Since Friday, the revelry has gradually subsided: Maslenitsa gatherings have begun. Mothers-in-law went home to their daughters “for pancakes.” Families gathered and called relatives. In the same way, they gathered with their daughter-in-law the next day. For some wives, this was the first reception after the wedding, which was celebrated en masse, from autumn until Maslenitsa. The young wife boasted to her sisters-in-law about her house, her skills, and gave gifts to the guests. On Saturday afternoon, everyone gathered to perform the main rite of the holiday - the burning of a straw effigy. This symbolized farewell to winter and the arrival of spring.

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Maslenitsa and its significance in Russia

Make way, people - Maslenitsa is coming to us! They burn the effigy of winter and welcome the red spring!

Maslenitsa is a joyful meeting of spring, praise to the Sun, a week-long celebration with pancakes and the unity of all the people.

In 2018, Maslenitsa is celebrated with 12 – 18 February , and in 2019 is celebrated with4 – 10 March. The time depends on the date of Easter, which is why there are such discrepancies in the numbers.

How Maslenitsa was celebrated in Rus'

In Rus', Maslenitsa has been celebrated since pagan times, because it is a Slavic holiday that has its own divine meaning, where Nature itself is the main character.

Our ancestors were so close to nature that the entire way of peasant life was subject to its laws, people observed all the unshakable traditions of faith from year to year.

Here is Maslenitsa - it symbolizes light and warmth, and the symbol of Maslenitsa is “Kolovrat”.

"Kolo"- this is the sun and its constant movement was associated with the cyclical nature of human life, this is the spring equinox. For many peoples, this is the beginning of the New Year.

Three important meanings embedded in Maslenitsa

The first important meaning of Maslenitsa

The turning point of the transition from winter to spring, and this is always the birth of everything new, because sunlight and warmth give life to all life on earth. And in Rus', the sun used to be revered as a god, so pancakes are a symbol of Maslenitsa.

So we celebrate Maslenitsa cheerfully, gorging ourselves on pancakes, enjoying the sun and spring. Maslenitsa used to be affectionately called obezudha, tselovalnitsa, pancake eater.

The second important meaning of Maslenitsa

The cult of the earth - the wet nurse, which since ancient times has played a vital role in the lives of peasants. The future harvest, and therefore the well-fed and happy life of people, depended on the fertility of the land.

Yarilo- the god of fertility and vital energy among the Slavs, he gave everyone hope, supported the strength of spirit, warmed the souls of people with warmth, and most importantly, gave strength to the earth. That is why, as a sacrifice for a rich harvest, a large straw effigy was burned, and the ashes were scattered across the fields so that it would feed and be filled with juices.

The third interesting feature of Maslenitsa

This is fertility in the life of the young. Continuation of the family line is the main goal of the life of peasants, because in a large, friendly family it is easier to survive and cope with difficulties.

Now everything is different, but then people prepared for family life ahead of time: in the pre-Oil week, the groom chose his bride, met his parents, received their blessing in order to have a wedding after Lent.

And the meaning of Maslenitsa was to revive feelings after a long winter, awaken desires and invigorate the body, feed on solar energy and sow a spark of love.

This was done through general fun, sliding down slides, fraternization, playful joys, taking over a snowy town, horseback riding, songs and round dances.

At the same time, Lent forced young people not to sin, to cleanse themselves of everything unnecessary, to abstain in everything in order to prepare their soul and body for the sacraments of marriage.

Maslenitsa week

All 7 days the people rejoiced, and each day had its own tradition and name. Maslenitsa was divided into 2 parts: Narrow - the first 3 days of the week and Broad Maslenitsa - Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Monday – “Meeting”

Housewives baked pancakes, made a stuffed animal out of straw, and dressed it up.

Tuesday - "Flirting"

Bridal showers, slides, games, invitations to pancakes.

Wednesday - "Gourmand"

A well-known tradition is when a son-in-law comes to his mother-in-law for pancakes.

Thursday - "Range"

Wide Maslenitsa begins, fist fights, competitions, pole climbing, songs and round dances, jumping over the fire, booths and fun with the bear. All this helped to throw out bad mood and despondency.

Friday - "Mother-in-Law's Evening"

Now the son-in-law invited his mother-in-law for pancakes.

Saturday – “Sister-in-Law’s Gatherings”

They gathered in large groups around the table, had fun, laughed, and sang. The daughter-in-law was supposed to give her sister-in-law a gift.

Sunday - “Forgiveness Sunday”

This is the culmination of the entire holiday. People remembered the dead, went to the cemetery, held wakes, funeral feasts, served liturgies in churches, and read Christ’s Sermon on the Mount.

Maslenitsa is rightfully considered “Women’s Week”. The important role of women in the household was emphasized here. For all 7 days they rested from hard peasant labor; on Maslenitsa they could not work, sew, spin - only bake pancakes, woo young girls and have fun.

Forgiveness Sunday

The most important thing was to ask people for forgiveness. They said: “Forgive me” and had to answer: “God will forgive - and I forgive”

Even in pre-revolutionary Russia, the tsar himself visited the troops and asked the soldiers for forgiveness. It was a day of good donations and good deeds.

Forgiveness is cleansing from sins and everything negative; a person’s heart becomes kinder and purer, and his thoughts become brighter and more joyful.

Burning an effigy on Maslenitsa

And finally, the effigy was burned. Made from straw, rags and improvised material, the effigy was placed on a large pole, it was installed in a visible place, round dances were performed and songs were sung - this ritual was inherited from the ancestors: this is how they were immersed in a trance.

After 2 hours, the scarecrow was set on fire with the help of a torch, old things, leftover food (fasting ahead), and notes with wishes were thrown into the fire.

It was believed that the fire burned the hardships and misfortunes of people, all the negativity accumulated over the winter.

Today it has turned into fun and entertainment, but then saying goodbye to winter was a sacred ritual in which the whole people took part.

How Maslenitsa is celebrated in other countries

It must be said that Maslenitsa is celebrated in all Western countries. In America and Europe - Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) carnival. In Spain it is a holiday of freedom and jokes.

In England - running with a hot frying pan and pancakes - you had to throw the pancake 3 times while running and catch it. In Slovenia and Croatia - a ritual of driving away winter, when young people in masks danced and screamed to scare away winter.

But the most unforgettable Maslenitsa takes place in Italy. More than 3 million tourists come to see the magnificent costume carnival in Venice. The word “Carnival” is translated as (carne vale) goodbye meat. The first such carnival was held in 1094, now it is a bright, lush theatrical show with acrobats, clowns, magicians, competitions, games, concerts, and theatrical performances.

After Maslenitsa, the strictest 7-week fast began, the purpose of which was to prepare the soul and body for Easter. So the sincere joy and happiness received on Maslenitsa will be remembered for a long time. Long live Spring, renewal of life, when you want to live and love!

Spending the winter with dignity and welcoming spring with Maslenitsa must certainly be fun, since it was believed that those who do not celebrate on these days and do not see off the winter will “do poorly” all next year. But for those celebrating, the year will be successful, all things will go smoothly, there will be a lot of food in the house, and illnesses will disappear from it. All Maslenitsa days have their own rules and names. We will tell our readers how to celebrate Maslenitsa in compliance with all Slavic ritual traditions.

- a pagan holiday that has survived to this day. Today we celebrate it with pleasure with round dances, baking, making pancake pies from them, with songs, jokes, snow games, with the symbolic burning of such a ritual object at the holiday as the effigy of Maslenitsa at the end of Maslenitsa week. The celebration of Maslenitsa lasts not one day, but seven.

Maslenitsa week

Meeting

And we will begin to talk about the days of Maslenitsa from the Monday of Maslenitsa week, which was called “meeting”. On Monday, a scarecrow of Maslenitsa was made, which symbolized the passing winter, and installed in the center of the square where the main festivities took place. The scarecrow will not have the most pleasant fate - to be burned at the end of Maslenitsa week. In addition to installing the scarecrow, on this day it is planned to begin folk festivities, sleigh rides, and snow slides.

Flirting

Tuesday continues the celebration of Maslenitsa and it is called “playing” for the continuation of the initial games with which people were amused on Monday. In addition to the roller coaster rides, dressing up as mummers and masks, staging clown shows, theatrical performances at fairs and squares, and riding three horses were added. At home and on the streets, creative people organize concerts on such a day for those who want to listen to their art.

Gourmand

Wednesday continues the days of Maslenitsa - “gourmet”. On this day, as the name suggests, people feasted on dishes prepared for Maslenitsa, pancakes, pies, homemade beer, honey gingerbread, and hot tea. Of course, fun, games, and noisy pastime continued on this day, as well as throughout the entire Maslenitsa week.

Revelry

Thursday of the celebration of Maslenitsa was called “revelry” or a turning point. Wall-to-wall games and famous Russian fist fights were held on such a day.

Mother-in-law's evening

Friday's Maslenitsa was called "mother-in-law's evening." On this day, present or future sons-in-law visited their mothers-in-law's houses, treated themselves to mother-in-law pancakes and other dishes that they had prepared for Maslenitsa.

Sister-in-law's get-togethers

On Saturday, the celebration of Maslenitsa was called “sister-in-law’s gatherings.” Again a meeting of relatives, again a pleasant feast, sincere conversations.

Seeing off

Well, the seven days of Maslenitsa end with Sunday - “farewell”, or “forgiveness day”. Such a day was also called a kissing day. On this important day of the holiday, it was customary not only to say goodbye to Winter and welcome Spring, to burn an effigy in the square and have fun, but also to do an important thing - to ask forgiveness from all loved ones who were offended for the harm caused, for some of their own misdeeds. And forgive yourself with a pure heart for the same actions that were caused accidentally or intentionally. A very bright, clean, beautiful day before the start of Lent. This is where paganism collided with Christianity in the right way and the latter did not lose from this.

The history of Maslenitsa for children

The very last holiday of winter is Maslenitsa, so beloved by children and adults. The whole week, which is also called cheese week, cheese week or butter week, celebrates the end of winter and the arrival of the long-awaited spring. This holiday has come to us from time immemorial. Once upon a time, even before the adoption of Christianity in 988, our pagan ancestors deified nature and believed that it was alive and inhabited by good and evil forces. Therefore, before various important events for people, it was customary to turn to the forces of nature, appeasing them. The end of winter and the beginning of spring are, of course, special events, because the future harvest depended on what kind of spring it was, early or late, warm or cold. Therefore, it was necessary to greet spring in a special way. The celebration of Maslenitsa is dedicated to this event. This is, in general, a pagan holiday, but since it personifies the struggle between good and evil, the official church did not object to its celebration, especially since it is celebrated before Lent, which is a serious test for people, and they need to mentally prepare for it . This holiday takes place from February 3 to March 14 and is celebrated widely, freely, with adventures and fun.

The change of seasons occurs at the will of the gods, who need to be appeased, as the pagans believed. If you want spring to come quickly, show how you are waiting for it. Since ancient times, people have been sure that spring is the beginning of a new life, and the Sun is a being that gives life and strength to all living things. Invoking the Sun, people baked unleavened round cakes of golden color, and later began to bake pancakes. The ancient Slavs believed that by eating a round, ruddy pancake that looked like the sun, they would eat a piece of its warmth and power and bring spring closer. Later, when Christianity was adopted in Rus', according to Orthodox traditions, it was forbidden to eat meat before Lent, but dairy products were still allowed, so they baked pancakes, generously greasing them with butter, pouring sour cream on them and topping them with cheese. Since then, it has become a tradition that the most important dish on Maslenitsa is pancakes.

Maslenitsa is a straw effigy dressed in women's clothing, holding pancakes or a frying pan. The pancakes are specially heavily greased with butter, buttered, and from these buttery circles the name of the holiday and the character were born. The scarecrow of Maslenitsa became the main character of the entire Maslenitsa week: at first it was called, entertained, celebrated, and at the end of the week it was burned at the stake, thereby driving away the last frosts and winter.

On Maslenitsa, mummers and buffoons walked through the streets with songs, jokes and jokes, and a kind of carnival was organized. It was believed that the more you laugh, the more pancakes you eat, the more satisfying and happier the year will be. This week in the villages it was necessary to do everything topsy-turvy: men dressed in women's clothes, women in men's clothes. Even the horses were dressed up. Then the mummers rode through the streets on these sleighs, singing funny songs to the music of horns, balalaikas and whistles.

This week everyone had a lot of fun, there was entertainment for every taste. Carousels and swings were built at fairgrounds, and puppeteers and buffoons showed their performances. Everyone, young and old, competed in strength and dexterity. A prize (new boots, a bag of candy or nuts) was tied to the top of a tall smooth pole, and the most dexterous one had to climb up to untie the prize. The strongmen competed in fist fights.

Both adults and children rode down high ice slides on sleds, skis and skates. Skiing down the mountains wasn't just fun. Various signs were associated with this. It was believed that whoever rolled down the mountain more times or who traveled further would produce more flax in the summer. There was even a saying: “Let’s go for a long ride.” However, the most common fun on Maslenitsa was the construction and assault of snow towns. The artist V.I. Surikov has a painting “The Capture of a Snowy Town,” which depicts just such fun. The town was built by both adults and children, and it looked like a real one: there were gates through which one could ride on horseback, and towers, and towers. And they really protected him too. The team that tried to get into the town stormed it several times during the game and threw snowballs at it. And each defender of the snow fortress was given a rattle and a broom, with their help they tried to frighten the horse and force it to turn. The game ended only when the attackers burst into the town. Then the winners solemnly walked through the village with songs, and after fun games in the frost they could have a hearty snack - taste piping hot pancakes with various fillings, enjoy honey gingerbread cookies, fresh rolls, sugared nuts, drink sbiten (it was made from honey, horseradish , water and yeast) or fragrant tea from a pot-bellied samovar.

Each day of Maslenitsa has its own name.

Monday - “Meeting”, Tuesday - “Flirting”, Wednesday - “Gourmand”, Thursday - “Revelry”, Friday - “Mother-in-Law’s Evening”, Saturday - “Sister-in-Law’s Gatherings”, Sunday - “Forgiveness Day”. The name of each day gives a hint what needs to be done on a particular day of Maslenitsa.

So, on Monday it is necessary to start celebrating the holiday. The housewives began baking pancakes; this was a responsible task and was considered a real sacrament. The night before, housewives, secretly from their household, went out to prepare the dough in the yard in the light of the moon, adding snow to the dough. At the same time, one had to pronounce a “magic” saying: “Month, month, golden horns, look through the window, blow on the dough.”

On this day, while visiting relatives, they agreed on who to invite, when to visit, when to organize sleigh rides from the mountains. On this day, ice slides were completed, swings and carousels were installed in the squares.

On Tuesday The festivities and games themselves began. This day was dedicated to young boys and girls who were about to get married or had recently gotten married. This day was a great opportunity to meet the future groom or choose a bride. In the morning, at "Zigrysha" the girls and young men went to visit - ride the slides, eat pancakes. The brothers built slides for their sisters in the courtyards, where they invited young boys and girls so that, under the supervision of the family, the young people could get to know each other better. On this day, special attention was paid to the newlyweds. Newly married couples went out to see people in painted sleighs, they dressed up in their best costumes and stood side by side on both sides of the road. Young people had to show others how much they loved each other (they had to kiss and hug). This custom was called "Pillars". Passers-by shouted: “Gunpowder on your lips!”, and the newlyweds kissed. All sorts of humorous tests were arranged for recent spouses. For example, they could throw snow at a young husband with the words “Let’s go bury our young sons-in-law!” The young wife, in order to save her husband, had to ransom him with pancakes. In order to finally “save” her husband, the wife brought pancakes to the “burrowers” ​​and kissed her husband as much as they demanded. “Auntie, don’t be stingy, pay us off,” the jokers demanded.

On Wednesday , at Lakomka, mothers-in-law invited their sons-in-law for pancakes, and for the sons-in-law's fun they called all their relatives. On this day it was supposed to thank the mother-in-law for her care, praise her housekeeping, and sing songs about her. At fairs, funny scenes were played out with bears and mummers, about how the mother-in-law baked pancakes for her son-in-law, how the mother-in-law’s head hurt, how the son-in-law said “thank you” to his mother-in-law. There was a belief that on the “Gourmand” you need to eat as much of everything tasty as possible, as people said, “how many times a dog wags its tail.”

In response to gratitude, the mother-in-law was supposed to anoint her son-in-law’s head with oil, “so that he would be affectionate and also touch his wife.”

Thursday “Razgul” was the most satisfying and cheerful day; it accounted for the most games, festivities, and round dances. They set up “butter trains”: they tied a pole to a huge sleigh, stuffed a wheel on it, and on the wheel they put the biggest joker and merry fellow - an accordion player with wine, pies, pancakes, sweets, whipped a horse and sent him on a trip. The rest of the people followed the accordion player and sang. On the same day, the scarecrow of Maslenitsa began to be taken out and the mummers began to sing carols. Anyone could drop in on neighbors, acquaintances and strangers, singing sentences. For example, like this: “Ding-dank, give me a pancake, a fried pancake, my friend and I can go for a couple of minutes.” Auntie, don’t be stingy, share a piece of butter.” Or these: “Tryntsy-bryntsy, bake pancakes!”

After such words, even unfamiliar housewives had to treat those asking for pancakes.

On Friday , at Mother-in-Law's Evening, sons-in-law treated their wives' mothers to pancakes and sweets.

The evening before, the son-in-law had to personally invite his mother-in-law in the evening, and the next morning send special ceremonial “calls” for her. The more “invited” there were, the more honors the mother-in-law received. This is where the saying comes from: “A mother-in-law’s son-in-law is her favorite son.” Only the treat was at the expense of the party coming. In the evening, the mother-in-law had to send everything needed for baking (from a frying pan to butter and flour) to her son-in-law and daughter's house.

On Saturday — “Sister-in-law’s gatherings” (sister-in-law is her husband’s sister). The young daughter-in-law invited her husband's relatives to visit her. “My sister-in-law is a head of gold,” says a Russian folk proverb. If the husband’s sister had not yet managed to start a family, then unmarried friends were invited to visit. And if the sister-in-law was already married, then the daughter-in-law gathered married relatives. Sometimes the daughter-in-law and her relatives went straight to the house of her husband's sister. In those days, there was a custom to gift sisters-in-law with pleasant little things; it was necessary to appease the husband’s sister so that no quarrels or disputes would arise in the future. By the way, the word “sister-in-law” comes from the word “evil.” The husband's sisters were distrustful of their brother's young wife and behaved quite harshly with her, sometimes even unfairly. So on Maslenitsa it was possible to improve the situation by giving gifts to sisters-in-law and turning them from “snake-headed sisters-in-law” into their friends.

On the last day of Maslenitsa - Sunday - they finished the pancakes and burned the effigy of Maslenitsa, symbolizing the passing winter. They made a huge fire, burned old things in it (which will no longer be needed this year) and threw a scarecrow of Maslenitsa. Around the fire they stood in a round dance and sang: “Burn, burn clearly, so that it does not go out. Maslenitsa has sunbathed, the whole world is tired of it, goodbye, goodbye, come visit us next year.” In some villages, the last pancakes were thrown into the fire, because the next day was fasting, during which they ate only low-fat plant foods. The ashes of Maslenitsa were scattered across the fields - “for a rich harvest.” In the city, instead of old unnecessary things, ice mountains were melted in the fire to destroy the last manifestation of winter (snow and ice). Then everyone went to visit relatives and friends, gave them gifts and asked forgiveness from each other for quarrels and offenses caused with the words: “Forgive me - God will forgive.” At first, the younger ones asked for forgiveness, the children bowed at the feet of their parents and asked for forgiveness, then all relatives and friends came for forgiveness. Maslenitsa ended, people said goodbye not only to the harsh winter, but also freed themselves from old grievances that had accumulated over the whole year. They were ready to celebrate the New Year with a pure heart and a light soul.

Festive interior for Maslenitsa

Since Maslenitsa is a holiday associated with outdoor games (the last winter fun), it does not require special home decoration. The main attribute of the holiday is a special pancake menu, the main decoration is all kinds of pancakes and pancakes. So you can devote all your energy and time to baking pancakes, and decorate your apartment in folk style. You can hang towels - embroidered towels - on the walls of your room and kitchen (it’s good if you inherited them from your grandmothers and great-grandmothers, but you can embroider a couple of towels with your children. At the same time, the children will learn the pedigree of their family and get acquainted with folk traditions). Hang posters on the walls with Russian folk proverbs about pancakes and Maslenitsa. For example: “Like during Shrovetide week, pancakes flew to the ceiling,” “Without pancakes, it’s not Maslenitsa, without pies, it’s not a name day.”

There are wonderful paintings by B. Kustodiev “Maslenitsa” and V. Surikov “Taking the Snowy Town”. Their reproductions will be a good interior decoration. Invite children to draw pictures on the theme of Maslenitsa, arrange a themed vernissage. You can create a corner of a Russian hut in a modern apartment by placing folk utensils on shelves or wooden benches: stags, rollers, jars, wooden sieves, painted spoons, a samovar, clay or wooden dishes, nesting dolls, bast shoes. Instead of a large Maslenitsa scarecrow, you can make small straw figurines and decorate your apartment with them. Put away modern dolls in drawers and, together with your children, make fabric spin dolls that were played with during Slavic antiquity. Back then, dolls were made from scraps of material left over from their parents’ clothes. Such a toy was supposed to protect the peace and health of the child in the absence of parents, and became a talisman. You can put a large scarecrow of Maslenitsa in a prominent place of honor. It’s not difficult to make; use a crosspiece and a bast wound on a long pole for its base. You can dress up Maslenitsa in a bright sundress, decorate it with beads and earrings, bright ribbons, you can draw her face (in case you are planning to burn an effigy). In the old days, it was believed that such a doll absorbs everything negative that accumulates in man and nature, and this bad disappears along with the ritual of destroying the doll.

How your apartment will be decorated depends only on you, the main thing is to feel the holiday mood.

Maslenitsa is one of the most joyful and long-awaited holidays of the year, the celebration of which lasts seven days. At this time, people have fun, go to visit, have parties and eat pancakes. Maslenitsa in 2018 will begin on February 12, and its end date will be February 18.

Pancake week is a national celebration dedicated to welcoming spring. Before entering Lent, people say goodbye to winter, enjoy the warm spring days, and, of course, bake delicious pancakes.

Maslenitsa: traditions and customs

There are several names for this holiday:

• meat-empty Maslenitsa is called because during the celebration people refrain from eating meat;
• cheese - because they eat a lot of cheese this week;
• Maslenitsa - because they consume a large amount of oil.

Many people anxiously await the onset of Maslenitsa, the traditions of celebrating which go back deep into our history. Today, as in the old days, this holiday is celebrated on a grand scale, with chants, dances and competitions.

The most popular entertainments that used to be held in villages were:

• fist fights;
• eating pancakes for a while;
• sledding;
• climbing a pole for a prize;
• games with a bear;
• burning an effigy;
• swimming in ice holes.

The main treat, both before and now, are pancakes, which can have different fillings. They are baked every day in large quantities.

Our ancestors believed that those who do not have fun on Maslenitsa will live the coming year poorly and joylessly.

Maslenitsa: what can and cannot be done?

1. You should not eat meat on Maslenitsa. Allowed to eat fish and dairy products. Pancakes should be the main dish on the table in every home.
2. On Maslenitsa you need to eat often and a lot. Therefore, it is customary to invite guests and not skimp on treats, as well as to visit yourself.

Maslenitsa: the history of the holiday

In fact, Maslenitsa is a pagan holiday, which was over time changed to fit the “format” of the Orthodox Church. In pre-Christian Rus', the celebration was called “Farewell to Winter.”

Our ancestors revered the sun as a god. And with the onset of the first days of spring, we were glad that the sun was beginning to warm the earth. That’s why the tradition of baking round flatbreads, shaped like the sun, arose. It was believed that by eating such a dish, a person would receive a piece of sunlight and warmth. Over time, flatbreads were replaced by pancakes.

Maslenitsa: celebration traditions

In the first three days of the holiday, active preparations for the celebration took place:

• they brought wood for the fire;
• decorated the huts;
• built mountains.

The main celebration took place from Thursday to Sunday. People came into the house to enjoy pancakes and drink hot tea.

In some villages, young people went from house to house with tambourines, horns, and balalaikas, singing carols. City residents took part in festive festivities:

• dressed in their best clothes;
• went to theater performances;
• We visited booths to watch buffoons and have fun with the bear.

The main entertainment was children and youth sliding down ice slides, which they tried to decorate with lanterns and flags. Used for riding:

• matting;
• sled;
• skates;
• skins;
• ice cubes;
• wooden troughs.

Another fun event was the capture of the ice fortress. The guys built a snowy town with gates, put guards there, and then went on the attack: they broke into the gates and climbed the walls. The besieged defended themselves as best they could: they used snowballs, brooms and whips.

On Maslenitsa, boys and young men showed their agility in fist fights. Residents of two villages, landowners and monastery peasants, residents of a large village living at opposite ends could take part in the battles.

We seriously prepared for the battle:

• steamed in the baths;
• ate heartily;
• turned to the sorcerers with a request to give a special spell for victory.

Features of the ritual of burning an effigy of winter on Maslenitsa

Just as many years ago, today the culmination of Maslenitsa is considered to be the burning of an effigy. This action symbolizes the onset of spring and the end of winter. The burning is preceded by games, round dances, songs and dances, accompanied by refreshments.

As a scarecrow to be sacrificed, they made a large funny and at the same time scary doll, personifying Maslenitsa. They made a doll from rags and straw. After which she was dressed in women's clothing and left on the main street of the village for the duration of Maslenitsa week. And on Sunday they were solemnly carried outside the village. There the effigy was burned, drowned in an ice hole, or torn into pieces, and the straw that remained from it was scattered across the field.

The ritual burning of the doll had a deep meaning: destroying the symbol of winter is necessary to resurrect its power in the spring.

Maslenitsa: the meaning of every day

The holiday is celebrated from Monday to Sunday. During Shrovetide Week, it is customary to spend each day in your own way, observing the traditions of our ancestors:

1. Monday called “Meeting of Maslenitsa”. On this day they start baking pancakes. It is customary to give the first pancake to the poor and needy people. On Monday, our ancestors prepared a scarecrow, dressed it in rags and displayed it on the main street of the village. It was on public display until Sunday.
2. Tuesday nicknamed "Zigrysh". It was dedicated to youth. On this day, folk festivities were organized: sleigh rides, ice slides, and carousels.
3. Wednesday- “Gourmand.” On this day, guests (friends, relatives, neighbors) were invited to the house. They were treated to pancakes, honey gingerbread and pies. Also on Wednesday, it was customary to treat your sons-in-law with pancakes, hence the expression: “ My son-in-law has come, where can I get sour cream?" Horse racing and fist fights were also held on this day.
4. Thursday popularly nicknamed "Razgulay". From this day begins Broad Maslenitsa, which is accompanied by snowball fights, sledding, cheerful round dances and chants.
5. Friday nicknamed “Mother-in-law’s Evening” because on this day the sons-in-law invited the mother-in-law to their house and treated them to delicious pancakes.
6. Saturday- “Sister-in-law’s gatherings.” The daughters-in-law invited their husband's sisters to their house, talked with them, treated them to pancakes and gave them gifts.
7. Sunday- the apotheosis of Maslenitsa. This day was called “Forgiveness Sunday.” On Sunday we said goodbye to winter, said goodbye to Maslenitsa and symbolically burned its effigy. On this day, it is customary to ask friends and family for forgiveness for the grievances that have accumulated over the year.

Proverbs and sayings for Maslenitsa

Video: history and traditions of the Maslenitsa holiday