Cheese Week (Shrovetide)

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

Myasopust, Zvonchaty, Wedding with a pine, Carnival - all this is the name of one holiday among different peoples. We used to call it simply Maslenitsa. This is the border between winter and spring. At the end of Maslenitsa, Lent begins. The main task of which is to prepare people for the Easter holiday.

A bit of history

Shrovetide is a familiar folk name that we usually use, but in reality this period is called Cheese Week. The origins of this celebration are rooted in the depths of pagan times. In pre-Christian Russia, this holiday was timed to coincide with the day of the Spring Equinox. The fun lasted for 14 days. In those days, Maslenitsa was distinguished by a special expanse: booths were arranged, villagers gathered together to greet each other and have a noisy time. Women, children, teenagers chose high slides and organized sledding, all this was accompanied by cheerful laughter. Men, on the other hand, preferred to measure their strength with their relatives and neighbors, organized sports competitions and fist fights.

Every housewife considered it her duty to prepare as much delicious food as possible. Particular attention was paid to pancakes, they were prepared with different fillings. It was not in vain that this dish was chosen as the symbol of the holiday.

While waiting for spring, people wanted to attract as much sunlight as possible. Pancake fits the role of a heavenly body - the same yellow and hot. With the adoption of Christianity, many pagan holidays were cancelled. But they still decided to leave Maslenitsa, although the time for fun has shifted and become less. This was done in order not to violate the rules of Great Lent.

According to church canons

Answering the question: "Cheese week - what is it?" - we can say that this is a great Christian holiday, which is considered a harbinger of Lent. It is celebrated seven weeks before Easter. The people called this period - Myasopust. All because it was impossible to eat meat products. During this period, the diet consisted of eggs, butter and dairy products. For believers and ministers of the church, Cheese Week is especially important; it is the starting point for preparing for Great Lent. Christians, in addition to abstaining from meat, must be especially strict in their behavior. Do not give in to fun, entertainment and revelry.

Modern Celebration

Today, many do not adhere to church canons. Modern people believe that Cheese Week (Maslenitsa) is just another occasion for fun and relaxation from everyday work.

Shrovetide Week

It was supposed that Maslenitsa should be celebrated in a fun and big way. It was believed that in this way you can attract good luck for the next year. It is worth noting that each day of the Cheese Week is assigned its ownrole. During the week, special rituals had to be performed.

Seven days are divided into a narrow Maslenitsa and a wide one.

First half

Monday. On this day, in the morning, all the housewives started cooking pancakes, and it was also special for young girls who were preparing to get married. We met matchmakers, discussed the wedding menu and made a list of guests. Married women went to their parents, and the next morning the husband came to visit them with his relatives.

The pancakes that were baked first were distributed to the poor and homeless, who, in turn, had to pray for their dead relatives. Residents of several settlements met, chose especially snowy places, brought pancakes and tea with them. During the festivities, a scarecrow was built, which personified the outgoing winter. He was dressed up in old clothes and rolled on a sleigh. Thus paid tribute to the winter months. Closer to the night, the scarecrow was installed in a conspicuous place - near the village or in the city center. This day is called the Meeting.

Tuesday. Fairs and visits were organized on this day. Brides were held among the youth, and after Lent it was possible to play a wedding. The future husband and wife had to spend all this time together. The guys entertained their girls, rolled on the snow slides and sang praising songs. The same ones tried to show their skills in cooking different dishes, which they treated future suitors.

Wednesday. This day of the week was devoted to the family. The hostesses laid a large table. If visitinga son-in-law came, he had to be carefully looked after, to show signs of special attention, so that he felt like an honored guest. If there were disagreements before, this was the best day to make up. Large tables were served outside as well, bringing the villagers together and helping to settle old quarrels.

Second half of Maslenitsa

Thursday. It was the most noisy and cheerful day of Maslenitsa celebration. The housewives completed all the housework. The cheese week was an indicator of how cheerful and friendly the Slavic people were. What kind of games and undertakings they did not come up with: dizzying rides from the hill, swings, carousels. Pancake eating competition. Men could show their strength, courage and resourcefulness - during comic defenses and captures of snow castles. People believed that by jumping over the fire, they help the sun gain strength and quickly drive away the cold winter.

Fistfights were organized on Thursday and Veles was revered - this is the god that protects domestic animals. That is why the first pancakes of the day were fed to horses and cows.

Friday. This day was dedicated to my mother-in-law. The sons-in-law invited them to visit them, treated them and showed all their respect. On the eve of Friday, the mother-in-law handed over food and utensils so that pancakes could be cooked. It was cow's butter, buckwheat flour, a ladle and a frying pan. If one of the parties did not fulfill their part of the duties, this caused enmity and quarrels.

Saturday. This day was called Zolovkin's gatherings. The bride gathered all her husband's relatives, but a specialattention was paid to the sister-in-law, the husband's sister. She had to prepare and present a gift to the hostess. The young wife treated the guests with various dishes, once again proving her skills. If the girl was unmarried, she invited her friends to visit. The fair sex, who were engaged, gave gifts to their relatives.

Last day of Cheese week

Sunday. On this day, Cheese Week ended. The celebrations were coming to an end. One of the traditions of this day is whistling. For this, whistles made in the form of birds were used. Thus, people called on the birds to return to their native lands.

When they met, people bowed low to each other and asked for forgiveness for all grievances and omissions. Fires were kindled, driving away winter and inviting spring. The central event of the day was the burning of an effigy. The rest of the festive food was thrown to him. After the fire, only ashes remained, which people collected and scattered in their fields or rivers. They believed that this would help awaken the sleeping earth.

Cleaned the houses and prepared for the main holiday - Easter. During the whole evening it was possible to come to the table seven times. And finally, gather the whole family behind him to live in harmony next year.

Then it was not cleaned, it was covered with a tablecloth and sheep's fur. Before sunset, one had to visit the cemetery to pay tribute to the dead. Pancakes were left on the graves. On Sunday they drank very little and went to bed before midnight.

Fasting

Cheeseweek: what can you eat? In the Christian church, this week is also called Meat-Feast. For the reason that the presence of meat in food is completely excluded. Eating pancakes with cheese during this fast is encouraged, and therefore it is called Cheese Week. Food these days is simple: dairy products, fish, eggs.

Marital duty during Shrove Tuesday

Many fasting couples have a question about whether the church allows marital relations on Cheese Week. The Maslenitsa week itself is not a strict fast. On the one hand, meat is not allowed, but on the other hand, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, butter are allowed. It follows, then, that the absence of a married couple being married in a church does not imply the need for abstinence these days. If a man and a woman are Orthodox Christians, then here they can make a decision after consulting with a spiritual mentor.

Shrovetide in 2015

Cheese week in 2015 fell from 16 to 22 February. Preparations for Maslenitsa must begin in advance. Cleaning all rooms.

If the house has a stove, it must be completely put in order, cleaned, whitewashed. Also, every housewife should stock up on flour, butter, eggs and various sweets during the holiday.