Even before the Slavs adopted Christianity, there was a custom to celebrate the end of winter and the arrival of the long-awaited spring. The date of this holiday has always been consistent with the day of the spring equinox. With the advent of the church, this spring holiday was not canceled, but became even more popular.

Today Maslenitsa in the church lexicon is called Cheese Week or Cheese Week. The traditions of this holiday are varied, and the celebration itself lasts for a week. After Maslenitsa ends, the seven-week Lent begins.

Why are pancakes a symbol of the holiday?

Everyone, of course, knows that one of the main symbols of this holiday is pancakes. Take to baking and eating pancakes in unlimited quantities throughout the week. This is the only church holiday that encourages gluttony. During Maslenitsa week, gluttony is not considered a sin. Many people still don’t know the answer to the question of why pancakes are baked on Maslenitsa.

It is enough to look at the appearance to understand why there is a tradition of baking pancakes for Maslenitsa. The pancake is round and yellow, which makes it resemble the Sun. Besides, he is rosy and hot. On the vernal equinox holiday, pancakes were always baked in honor of the Sun, which gives people warmth, light and life.

Why do people eat pancakes on Maslenitsa?

Holiday pancakes and flatbreads are also ancient manifestations of leavened bread. It was the round pancake (or flatbread) that was once sacrificial bread, which was brought as a gift to the pagan gods. The symbol of the Sun served not so much to see off a boring winter, but to welcome the long-awaited spring. The Orthodox Church considered the traditions of celebrating Maslenitsa necessary. Therefore, I simply included this holiday in my church calendar. And so it happened that this hearty week precedes the onset of Lent.

How does Maslenitsa begin?

It is clear why pancakes are eaten at Maslenitsa, and the holiday always begins with “Maslenitsa” or commemoration of the dead. Our ancestors believed that the souls of deceased ancestors returned to earth to help their living relatives. The first successfully baked pancake was traditionally given to the ancestors.

In some regions, the first baked pancake was not set aside for the souls of the dead, but was given to the poor. It was believed that by feeding the poor, a person would remember his ancestors. It is customary to leave pancakes on graves on the last day of Maslenitsa week - Forgiveness Sunday.

Why do they bake and eat pancakes on Maslenitsa?

The Slavs baked completely different pancakes for the holiday. These were rye and oat products, flour was even made from peas or buckwheat. The pancakes were filled with cottage cheese and fish, potatoes, and favorite dairy and sweet products. During Cheese Week you can no longer eat meat; everything else before fasting is still allowed, and in unlimited quantities. Often pancakes were baked from yeast dough. It is believed that traditional Russian Maslenitsa pancakes should be made from buckwheat flour. It gives the finished product an original, pleasant and slightly sour taste.

We hope that you no longer have any dark spots regarding the question of why pancakes are baked on Maslenitsa. It is also clear where numerous sayings regarding this holiday came from, such as: “As during Shrovetide week, pancakes flew to the ceiling” or “Without pancakes, the week is not Shrovetide.”

All that remains is to wish you a cheerful holiday week and may the pancakes turn out great, and may the first one never be lumpy. After all, the more pancakes there are on this bright and generous holiday, the better. The sooner spring will come, the warmth will come and the sooner each person will feel pleasantly full.

http://every-holiday.ru

Maslenitsa is one of the most favorite holidays of the year. Folk signs about the symbols of the holiday will help you better understand its traditions and have a fun Maslenitsa week.

Maslenitsa every year brings together crowds of people in cheerful folk festivities. The main components of the holiday are round dances, outdoor games, hot pancakes and, of course, the effigy of Maslenitsa, which is burned on a huge bonfire, invoking spring. Our ancestors considered Maslenitsa week an extremely important time: it was Maslenitsa that determined how the next year would go, whether the harvest would be rich, and whether everyone at home would be happy in the coming spring.

Today, many people mistakenly believe that Maslenitsa is a pagan holiday. In fact, for Orthodox people, the holiday week is a time of preparation for Lent, and fun and general joy is a reason to spend time with their loved ones. According to folk signs and beliefs, at this special time you can turn your destiny in a different direction, forever changing your life for the better.

Symbols of Maslenitsa: signs about pancakes and the stuffed animal of winter

Pancakes are the main holiday delicacy, loved by everyone without exception. Round fragrant pancakes symbolize the Sun, warming the earth and bringing warmth. It is believed that the more pancakes are baked on Maslenitsa, the richer and happier your family will be this spring.

According to custom, pancakes were generously treated to anyone who came to visit during Maslenitsa week. It is believed that by showing generosity and hospitality to a guest, you “appease” spring and invite happiness into your home.

If the pancake dough turns out to be too salty, the one who prepared it will cry a lot this year. To avoid the consequences of a bad omen, you need to pour the dough into running water, mentally sending with it your reasons for sadness.

Spilled dough - to unexpected events soon.

It is considered a bad omen to throw away burnt or simply unsuccessful pancakes. In order not to incur grief, it is better to give failed baked goods to birds or stray dogs.

Our ancestors believed that by baking pancakes for the first time on Maslenitsa, a person “bakes” his future destiny. Therefore, our grandparents advise us to be extremely careful when handling holiday treats.

The Maslenitsa effigy is also burned for a reason: the fire symbolizes the heat of the earth awakening from sleep, and the effigy symbolizes the cold winter, deprived of its power. By burning winter at the stake, our ancestors called on spring to begin cultivating the land and growing crops again.

According to popular belief, the fire must be made large and high: the higher the fire, the more successful the year will be.

Girls who want to win the love of their chosen one can take home two coals from the Maslenitsa fire: one to keep at home, and the other to leave at the house of their loved one. It is believed that the embers from this fire can melt a man’s heart and evoke a response.

According to folk traditions, already on the first day of Maslenitsa week you need to bake the first portion of pancakes and be sure to ride down the hill. We wish you a happy Maslenitsa. Be happy, smile more often and don’t forget to press the buttons and

11.02.2018 06:32

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12.02.2018 10:27:00

In 2018, Maslenitsa is celebrated from February 12 to 18. The holiday is usually celebrated throughout the week before Lent. Eating pancakes on Maslenitsa is an important ritual. Our ancestors believed that with every piece they received the energy of the sun. Perhaps, among many peoples one can find the custom of saying goodbye to winter and welcoming spring. Our ancestors are no exception - Maslenitsa has always been one of the favorite Slavic holidays. After the baptism of Rus', the church included Maslenitsa in Cheese Week, or Cheese Week.
What is the symbol of the pancake?
The most important dish that is usually prepared for Maslenitsa is pancakes. Round, golden and very hot. In addition, holiday pancakes and flatbreads are the ancient embodiment of leavened bread. It was the round pancake that was once considered sacrificial bread. It was brought as a gift to the pagan gods. Pancake is a symbol of the sun, a symbol of warmth and life.
Pancake recipes and their preparation were considered a sacrament. The housewives protected them not only from strangers, but also from relatives:
- If even one man learns the secret of making pancakes, the woman from whom he learned it will face a terrible misfortune.
- Entry into the kitchen where they were preparing for Maslenitsa was strictly prohibited.
- If someone else came in while the pancakes were baking, the dough was immediately thrown out.
- It was strictly forbidden to bake pancakes on the 13th or on Monday. Yes, they were not successful these days.
Where does Maslenitsa begin?
The holiday began with “maslenye dedy,” or remembrance of the dead. Our ancestors believed that the souls of our ancestors returned to Earth to help the living. Therefore, it was customary to give the first baked pancake to the ancestors - it was placed on the “spirit” window. Also, sometimes the Slavs gave the first pancake to the poor so that they would remember their relatives. It is customary to leave pancakes on graves on the last day of Maslenitsa week - Forgiveness Sunday.
Where did the word damn come from?
This word comes from the ancient "mlin", meaning "to grind". To prepare this dish, the main ingredient is flour. Draniki, lavash, pancakes, flatbreads - all these delicacies are some kind of Russian treat. Moreover, they have one common feature - a round shape.
Ritual of burning the Maslenitsa effigy
The burning of the Maslenitsa effigy marked the end of winter and the beginning of spring. The ashes were scattered in the field so that the harvest would be rich, and all troubles and adversities would burn to the ground. - If it burns quickly and brightly, there will be an early spring and a successful year, and if it burns slowly, expect a long winter and a difficult year;
- Things burn - troubles and illnesses burn;
- The scarecrow does not fall - the harvest is going well;
- A burnt item will cost the owner twice as much.
Prepared by Elena Svetlova.

Probably each of us is eagerly awaiting the wonderful national holiday called Maslenitsa. Every self-respecting housewife strives to bake as many pancakes as possible, stuff them with cheese, honey, cottage cheese, sour cream, cabbage, mushrooms, etc. Here the flight of imagination is unlimited. In addition, women bustle around the stove to cook a lot of amazing dishes and decorate the table with stewed vegetables, fish, sweets, pies, kulebyaks, baked pike, caviar, pickles. Moreover, with the onset of the last days of winter, most people feel better, they want to have fun, get out of the “shackles” of the cold and go for walks, chat with friends face to face.

Modern people continue to observe the rituals and traditions of Maslenitsa with great pleasure, doing incredible things - climbing a wooden pole, jumping over a fire, having loud celebrations. Why does this happen, what are the joyful days and fussing about in the kitchen dedicated to? Let's find out everything in order, and in addition we'll have a couple of other excellent pancake recipes preserved from our ancestors.

History of Maslenitsa

Great artists and writers dedicated their creations to this holiday, and the best directors made films about it. Let us at least remember Kustodiev’s stunning painting “Maslenitsa”. How beautiful she is. I just want to find myself in the world that the artist reflected and enjoy the true Russian winter, incredible dishes made precisely according to Russian traditions. But before delving into our fantasies, let’s study the history of the many-sided and our only Russian holiday of Maslenitsa.

It should be noted right away that the celebrations we describe have nothing to do with the Orthodox religion. This holiday was given to us by our ancestors who worshiped pagan gods. Perhaps this is one of the few manifestations of paganism that was preserved with the transition to Orthodoxy. To avoid any disagreements, our Church included the holiday in its list, but called the period of celebration Cheese Week (Meat Week). This period of time passes just before the start of the next Lent.

When did Maslenitsa originate?

There are several versions of the origins of special celebrations. Judging by one of the interpretations, during this week it was no longer possible to eat meat dishes, but dairy products were still allowed. Among the people, the celebrations, which lasted for seven days, were called differently: Kasatochka, Kissing Girl, Obedukha, Veselaya, Perebukha, Honest Maslenitsa, Sugar Lips, etc.

During the celebrations, incredible traditions were performed - they rode horses, which they tried to decorate with the most expensive and beautiful harness. A sleigh was rushing through the streets, and in front of it was the same “Bird Three”, which great artists immediately began to personify on their canvases. Young people reveled, sang songs, and carousels were launched. The squares hosted fairs with a stunning range of assortments, where goods could be purchased at bargain prices. On the slides that still retained the snow and ice cover, people descended on large sleighs decorated with beautiful ornaments. “Snow” massacres were organized, fortresses and cities were built from snow and ice.

How Maslenitsa was held

In the 17th-19th centuries, a crowd of not only adults, but also children gathered in the center of the square. These seven days were supposed to be the most generous of the year. The children were given sweets, pies, and toys. And in the center of the squares there were stages where performances took place. The main characters were the mummers - Maslenitsa and her companion Voivode. Of course, the plot for the comedy was the days of Maslenitsa and its treats. She said goodbye and promised to return next year. Also, other performances could take place on stage, reflecting the works of great creators and stories based on real events.

Despite the passing centuries, celebrations on Maslenitsa week did not stop. And the main message remains - the desire to drive away Winter. In order for warm days to come faster, they sang Great songs, turned to the god Yarila and asked him to manifest himself with the solar disk and its rays. The symbol of the festive celebrations was a large straw effigy, on which a woman's sundress was put. On the last day of the festivities, he was either burned or “buried” by placing a large pancake in his hand.

Why damn?

Many people are interested in the question of why the pancake is a symbol of Maslenitsa. After all, all housewives bake them throughout this week, and in incredible quantities. We have already mentioned the fillings, there are also a huge number of them. Fortunately, the Russian land is rich in gifts, and people have always been distinguished by their high level of hard work and had in their farmstead everything necessary for excellent nutrition. But let's return to pancakes and the history of their rise.

The tradition of baking them dates back to ancient times, precisely from the era of paganism. Worshiping those gods, people turned to the main one from the pantheon - Yarila. And he was nothing more than the Sun, which heats the earth with its rays and thereby gives life to all living things. With its bright arrival, winter gave way to the throne of spring and arable land began, grain was sown, people took off their heavy sheepskin coats and rejoiced in the warm air. And what is so similar in shape to our warm sun? And what can you taste while enjoying its taste? Damn sure. A thin loaf of bread, which contains nothing but flour, eggs and milk, was prepared both in rich houses and in poor huts. Thus, the housewives tried to embody the image of Yaril with their own hands and treated their children, friends, and relatives to their creations. In addition to wheat, buckwheat, corn, and oatmeal were used for production.

Representatives of the poor class, not having supplies of meat and milk, and derivative products, put semolina, pumpkin, pea porridge, etc. as filling.

Customs for Maslenitsa

There have long been customs that were performed without fail in every home. For example, the first loaf of bread made had to be given to a poor person so that he would remember the deceased from this house. If there was no beggar nearby asking for alms, they threw the product through the window. And while Maslenitsa week lasted, soft bread was eaten throughout the day and week, changing fillings and dressings. Each new day of the solemn week had a certain meaning, and rituals were performed specifically for this day.

Before the onset of Maslenitsa, on Sunday it was necessary to go on a visit to relatives, dear friends and close neighbors. It was also necessary to invite guests to your place and set a rich table. This was the last “free” day before the strictest fast when natural meat was consumed. It was called “Meat Sunday”. There was even a funny belief - the father-in-law goes to his son-in-law to finish the meat.

Monday – Meeting

The day of the holiday is called “Meeting”. During the daytime, all the people gathered for festivities. Large snow slides, fortresses, and cities made of ice and snow were built. People rode on carousels, huge tables were laid in market squares, samovars were boiled, herbal teas were poured, honey, cream were poured, etc. The children together made a straw doll and put on a sundress and kokoshnik. From the very morning, the children walked around the courtyards and sang songs, and they, in turn, were treated to pancakes and sweets. This lasted until the middle of the day, then everyone ran to the snowy hills and rode on a homemade sleigh. The exception was adults; they had the right to such pleasures only from the middle of Maslenitsa week.

Tuesday – Flirting

This day was intended for those getting married. It was on Tuesday that weddings were held in the villages, and after a rich feast, all the newlyweds and those who had just joined went on a roller coaster ride. Naturally, they continued to bake bread and feast with the people. Also, on the day of the flirtation, young people looked closely at the opposite half and selected a mate for themselves.

Wednesday – Lakomka

This day can truly be considered the moment of the “Great” truce; the mother-in-law specially “invited” her son-in-law to a pancake meal. It’s not for nothing that there is a saying “To your mother-in-law for pancakes.” Young people should put on the outfits they wore on their own wedding day, and unmarried girls would go down the slides. And everyone made fun of the single guys who were unable to find a couple last year. They came up with all sorts of punishments, and the guys had to pay off.

Thursday – Razgulyay

It was also called Perelom, Razgul, Chetvertok, Wide. This is the central event. All honest people gathered in the squares, staged performances, fist fights, all the swings and carousels were spinning, snow fortresses and cities were laid siege. Remember the masterpiece of art “The Taking of the Snowy Mountain” by Surikov. From clothes they put on whatever came to mind. And a scarecrow made of straw - Maslenitsa was raised to the highest hill.

Friday – Mother-in-Law Evenings

On this day the opposite story happens. It’s the son-in-law’s turn to treat his beloved mother-in-law to pancakes. He invites a relative into the house and sets a rich table. But the mother-in-law provided the food and equipment for making pancakes: a frying pan, a tub, a whole bag of flour, butter. Thus, due respect was given to relatives on the part of the wife. And the festivities continue, people celebrate in the markets, drink tea and ride on carousels.

Saturday – Farewell (Sister-in-law’s gatherings)

This is one of the most beautiful traditions - a young daughter-in-law invited relatives to her new home and treated them not only to pancakes, but also to other dishes. And people picked up the Scarecrow made of straw - Maslenitsa and carried it through the streets of the village and “buried it: they collected a lot of logs, placed the Scarecrow on top and set it on fire. Round dances were held around a large fire and songs were sung. Despite the comic nature of the performance, many people cried - after all, another year was passing, the holidays were ending, and it was necessary to begin worries.

Sunday - Forgiveness

On the eve of Lent, everyone wanted to be cleansed of sins. People asked each other for forgiveness and said the following words: “Please forgive me if I am guilty of something to you.” The answer was the familiar “God will forgive” for all of us. The ritual did not have a formal meaning; people actually forgave each other for insults and grievances, forgot about troubles and shook hands. Also on this day it was necessary to visit the cemetery and “treat” the deceased with pancakes, leaving them on the graves.

Fortune telling was very popular these days. And, as a rule, the fair half is more interested in this activity. So, the girls performed the following rituals:

1. Taking the first pancake in her hands, the girl went to the street and treated the first guy who met on her way. His name meant that this would be the name of her betrothed.
2. Before going to bed, the girl had to hang a towel out the window and whisper the words: “Betrothed, appear, wipe yourself with the towel!” The next morning she checked - if the towel was wet, then marriage was coming that year. Dry - on the contrary, you should not expect a betrothed.
3. For the third rite, you need to collect branches of coniferous trees (pine, cedar, spruce, fir). It is better to collect it in the forest and lay it out on the floor at home. Invite a friend, tie scarves over each other’s eyes and choose branches at random:

• if a girl picks up a thick branch with dense foliage (needles), she is waiting for marriage with a strong and respectable man.
• a flat and smooth surface portends an attractive spouse.
• if the branch has thick and durable bark, the husband will be a wealthy man.
• if all the bark peels off, then the husband will be a simple guy, perhaps a small employee, a mechanic, a carpenter.

Whether you should believe fortune telling – decide for yourself. But it’s unlikely that a towel or a spruce branch can predict your future. In any case, the rituals were invented by people and they are needed only as entertainment. And you need to believe only in the positive; no prediction should leave a residue of uncertainty in your soul.

On Forgiveness Sunday it was possible to drink alcohol for the last time before Lent.

The best pancake recipes

So, before we start baking pancakes, let's find out one more story about Maslenitsa. The legend originates from the northern regions of Rus', where winters have always been rich in snow and blizzards. So, according to this story, Her Majesty Maslenitsa appeared in the North, where Santa Claus ruled. One peasant was looking for pine needles and saw a little girl behind the trees, Maslenitsa and asked to return warm days and joy to people. And she agreed and appeared before people not as a little girl, but as a strong, beautiful and rosy-cheeked beauty. With her infectious laughter, she attracted people to the festivities, organized round dances and sang songs.

To make it enjoyable for you to spend these days before Lent, we offer several of the best pancake recipes. Believe me, if you follow the recipe, not a single pancake will turn out to be lumpy.

With milk

This is the most popular type of pancakes, which will not take much of the housewife’s time. To prepare we need:

• half a liter of milk;
• 2 testicles;
• 200 grams of flour;
• 2 table. spoons of vegetable oil;
• 1 table. spoon of granulated sugar;
• a pinch of salt.

The ingredients must be removed from the refrigerator in advance so that they reach room temperature. Beat eggs in a bowl, add sugar, salt, pour in milk and mix thoroughly.

Mix flour with a small portion of milk to form sour cream, mix until lumps disappear.

Pour into the main composition and beat briefly. Pour in the vegetable oil, mix and set aside for half an hour at room temperature.

On kefir

The option is economical for thrifty housewives. You can also use sour milk. For cooking we need:

• half a liter of sour milk or kefir;
• 2 testicles;
• 200 grams of flour (wheat);
• baking soda (half a teaspoon), the same amount of salt and sugar;
• 4 tablespoons (tablespoons) of vegetable oil.

Beat the eggs, pour in the kefir and mix thoroughly. The mixture must be heated to 60 degrees so that after adding the salt and sugar, the salt and sugar are completely dissolved. Gently pour the sifted flour into the mixture and mix so that there are no lumps. Dissolve the soda in a tablespoon of boiling water and pour it into the bowl with the dough, then pour in the oil, mix and set aside for one hour.

On the water

This is perhaps the most popular pancake recipe. It does not contain milk, which is not suitable for everyone in terms of physical characteristics, or kefir, which can cause bloating. This dough contains fewer calories, which means there is a chance of maintaining your figure during Maslenitsa. So, we need:

• half a liter of water;
• 320 grams of flour (wheat);
• 2 testicles;
• 2 table. spoons of vegetable oil;
• a tablespoon of granulated sugar;
• a pinch of salt.

Beat eggs, salt and sugar in a bowl, pour in warm water and gradually add sifted flour. Beat until smooth.

We recognize the character by the fillings

Of course, simply enjoying pancakes is also a pleasure. But how much more nutritious and satisfying are pancakes with mushroom, cottage cheese, cabbage, and sour cream filling? There is a popular belief that the filling must correspond to a man’s character. Let's find out how true this is.

1. Just pancakes greased with butter. This product is preferred by reserved and calm individuals. They strive to be and communicate only with decent people. Men with such taste, as a rule, are good fathers and loving husbands, guarding the reputation and well-being of the family.
2. Creative, intelligent people prefer caviar. They are pragmatic, caring, the affairs of the family and its well-being come first. They are not capable of romantic actions; if they decide to do something pleasant, they will rather take practical steps.
3. Gentle and sensitive types enjoy sour cream. Such men are very vulnerable and touchy. Even a carelessly thrown word can lead to hysteria and spoilage of mood. So be careful and decide whether you should throw in your lot with him.
4. Emotional and romantic men love honey. This type will be able to create a holiday even from a banal meeting and will delight his significant other with pleasant surprises with or without any reason. These men are monogamous and can give their last penny for a bouquet, just to make their beloved happy.
5. Persons with an extreme focus prefer pancakes with salmon. These are travelers, lovers of parachute jumping, etc. So life with such a friend is hectic; every now and then he will present another surprise in the form of hiking to the highest mountain, or flying on a hang glider.
6. Cottage cheese filling is loved by men who will remain children until the end of their days. They love everything sweet, and the wife will be a mommy. Get ready - making decisions, paying bills, sorting out relationships will fall on your fragile shoulders.

How to bake pancakes correctly

Now let's move on to the process, which causes concern among some housewives. It is precisely because of the baking moment that women are ready to refuse to cook such a tasty and light dish as pancakes. And it all boils down to just one thing - they stick to the pan and become a lump. To get around all this, we suggest following a proven plan.

1. The frying pan needs to be put on fire and heated thoroughly.
2. Lubricate with vegetable oil (a thin layer, 1-2 drops and a brush are enough).
3. Reduce fire intensity by half.
4. Mix the settled dough, as sediment always forms at the bottom.
5. Take a small portion with a ladle (it is better to use a special one for pancakes).
6. Pour the dough into the pan, which must be kept in an inclined position, and twist until it completely covers the surface.
7. Bake for a maximum of 2-3 minutes, turn over with a special spatula. After a couple of minutes, transfer to the prepared bowl.
8. Grease the pancake with butter or cover with a large lid so that the edges become soft and do not break.

Maslenitsa, a wonderful holiday, is not only about festivities and celebrations. People thus wanted to get closer to the secrets of the universe, to lift the curtains of death. According to another version, the shape of the pancake reflects not the Sun, but life, that is, existence without beginning and end. In these days, people understood that the earth should increase its wealth and in their songs they sang the melting of snow, which nourishes the soil with fertility.

Another sacred basis of the holiday is the remembrance of the departed. The funeral feast included three components - lamentation for those who had passed away, a sacrifice and a rich feast. It was believed that the dead came to each of the people's celebrations and invisibly took part in them.

Be that as it may, Maslenitsa is a favorite holiday of the Slavs that is unlike anything else in the world. Let it be relics of pagan times or Cheese Week according to the Orthodox religion. The main thing is that it’s tasty, fun and very healthy, of course, if you know when to stop it!

Maslenitsa has long been considered the most cheerful and riotous Slavic holiday. Today we are not as tied to the agricultural cycle as our ancestors, so now Maslenitsa is a good reason for us to have fun.

Before Christianity, Maslenitsa was celebrated on the days of the spring equinox.

Now this holiday is celebrated in the week preceding Lent.

In Rus' these days festivities, games, and competitions were organized. Pancakes were baked in every house. We went to visit a friend To friend, treated themselves, had fun.

Symbol of Maslenitsa - Pancakes

Pancakes- this is the main symbol of Maslenitsa.

The pancake is like the sun you are waiting for after a long winter. Therefore, they baked a lot of different pancakes. Thick, thin, with or without filling, with a lot of butter. Every housewife made pancakes. All this was done to invite, to “cajole” the sun, hence the name - "Maslenitsa" .

Symbol of Maslenitsa - Bear

The bear is also a symbol of Maslenitsa. At Maslenitsa, they always dressed a person in a bear fur coat or a sheepskin coat turned inside out. The mummer danced, imitating the movements of the waking bear, and they danced around him, wanting to wake up the sleeping bear. Then it turned into a game, the Bear tried to catch someone from the round dance. This is especially fun - children like the game; they can squeal and run around for years.

Symbol of Maslenitsa - Circle-wheel

On Maslenitsa it was customary to perform various actions related to the circle. They decorated a cart wheel and carried it on a pole through the streets, and rode around the village on horseback several times with accordion and songs. Lighted wheels were rolled along the streets or down hills. It was believed that whoever rolled the wheel without a single fall would be lucky all year. The girls danced in circles. After all, a round dance is also a wheel.

Symbol of Maslenitsa - Straw Scarecrow

Another symbol of Maslenitsa is the Scarecrow - Madder. Rather, it is a symbol of winter. A character who embodies the passing winter and death. Marena was greeted with solemn songs at the very beginning of the holiday and seen off at the end. For the wires, they made a straw effigy, dressed in women's clothing, sometimes with a pancake or frying pan in its hands; The stuffed animal was carried along the street with songs and round dances. And at the end of the holiday, saying goodbye to the winter, they burned an effigy on a bonfire built on a hill.

In the Christian tradition, the meaning of Maslenitsa Week is reconciliation with neighbors, forgiveness of offenses, preparation for Lent - time that should be devoted to good communication with neighbors, family, and friends.

Maslenitsa is a family holiday!

Try to create a festive atmosphere in your family this week.

So that your home smells like Maslenitsa. Do crafts with your children to bond with each other. Be sure to spend Forgiveness Sunday with your loved ones.