Why they burn Maslenitsa and what happened before

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The burning of Shrovetide is a rite that is familiar today, probably, if not to everyone, then to most. But not all of our contemporaries know that initially this holiday was not Christian.

A few words about the history of Maslenitsa

Why is it customary to eat a lot and satisfyingly on Maslenitsa, have fun, organize festivities and burn Maslenitsa?

The custom comes from pre-Christian times. Celebration began a week before the spring solstice. On that day in March, when the day becomes "on a chicken foot" longer than the night, the Slavs went to wake up the bear god Kom. They brought him the first pancake - a symbol of the sun. Usually the bear was portrayed by a guy. He was awakened with the help of burning firebrands, songs and dances. But he woke up only after the most daring girl sat on his back. After that, the festivities gained momentum. Families and even entire clans of the Slavs went to visit each other, ate a lot and had fun. They needed to properly saturate the body after a hungry winter, so that they had enough strength for spring agricultural work.

With the advent of Christianity in Russia, the archpastors banned any pagan activities and holidays. Maslenitsa was introduced in the 17th century. But finallyit was not possible to defeat the ancient Komoyeditsa. Until now, the festival is accompanied by reckless festivities, plentiful refreshments, and a comic demonstration of strength. The holiday ends with the burning of Maslenitsa. Just as burning brands were burned in Komoyeditsa, so today they burn an effigy symbolizing the past year. And the main food is the ancient pagan symbol of the Sun - a pancake.

Christian Shrovetide

For us today Maslenitsa is the week before Lent. Special services are held in the church, and festivities are in full swing on the streets. People visit each other, treat and treat themselves.

Shrovetide is also considered a family holiday. In villages, newlyweds who got married last year were congratulated. A special entertainment was prepared for them: sleigh rides. For this, the young had to properly treat all the walkers. If the treat was meager or tasteless, the would-be hosts were dipped face in the snow.

Today everyone must have seen what a ritual called the burning of Maslenitsa is. The scenario of the final chord of a bright holiday is known even in cities. However, before the bonfires were lit for a week. Old things, broken utensils, torn clothes were thrown at them. These bonfires served as a symbol of purification and renewal. The events were held on the square, which was decorated with a high pillar - a symbol of the spring sun.

Today the burning of Maslenitsa (photos are presented in the article) is carried out in many countries of the world, at least where there are Russian communities.

Shrovetide rules

Perhaps formany the basic rules of Shrovetide week will become a revelation. However, it must be remembered: a holiday with pagan roots had not only mystical and religious, but also purely functional significance. Hence, many of his rules.

• On Maslenitsa you can eat anything, except meat and meat products. The meat-eater (this is the name of the period between Christmas and Lent) ends on the eve of Maslenitsa, on Sunday.
• Only once a year, at Shrove Tuesday, abundant food should become a form of life. There are proverbs that you need to eat as many times as crows caw or dogs wag their tails. This custom also goes back to pre-Christian times. People starved for the winter would not be able to do spring work. They needed to build up strength. That is why during the Shrovetide week you need to go to visit, invite guests to your place.

The more plentiful, more fun and satisfying Maslenitsa will be, our ancestors believed, the richer and more successful the coming year will be.

Shrovetide week

All days of the holiday week have their own name and purpose.

• On Monday we finished building the snow forts and started baking pancakes. The very first one was given to the poor to remember the dead. The daughter-in-law was sent to her parents, and then they themselves went to visit the matchmakers. We agreed on where they would walk in the evening. They made Maslenitsa out of straw. The first day of the festivities was called the Meeting.
• On Tuesday they arranged a bride. Parents chose the bride for the groom, so that immediately after Eastermarry the young. The day was called Playing.
• On Wednesday, the sons-in-law went to visit their mother-in-laws and ate pancakes from them. In Lakomki, the character of the groom was determined: an angry or stingy man chose pancakes with s alty filling. On Wednesday, the Narrow Maslenitsa ended and the Broad Maslenitsa began.



• Thursday is the wildest day, which is called: Walk around.
• On Friday my mother-in-law went to her son-in-law's party.
• Zolovka's gatherings were celebrated on Saturday.
• And here comes Forgiveness Sunday. The old pictures of the "Burning of Maslenitsa" that have come down to us show how the revelry gradually subsided.

The Shrovetide train took the scarecrow to the field. There he was burned with songs and round dances, and the ashes were scattered across the field.

A special service was held in the church, and people asked each other for forgiveness. After Forgiveness Sunday, Great Lent began.