Folk festivities on Maslenitsa. Shrovetide script

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

Shrovetide is a traditional holiday for the Slavs, symbolizing the end of winter and the onset of spring. The Orthodox calendar calls it Cheese Week. This week, people should forgive their loved ones, apologize to them. In addition, folk festivals are organized on Shrovetide. Let's consider all these points in more detail.

What is Maslenitsa?

So, let's start with the holiday itself. According to the Orthodox calendar, Maslenitsa takes place on the last week before Lent. Before Christianity appeared in Russia, this holiday was pagan. They celebrated it for two weeks. With the advent of Christianity, the holiday and many beloved Russian traditions have been preserved. Among them are festivities on Maslenitsa.

People are accustomed to joyfully say goodbye to winter and welcome the long-awaited spring with pleasure. This period has always been perceived as the awakening of Mother Nature and Yarila the Sun (the most revered deity in pagan times, giving everyone vitality and warmth). By the way, earlier instead of pancakes they baked round cakes. They were the symbol of the sun. They baked them in large quantities and treated all their relatives and friends. Eating such a cake, a person believed that he was eating a small particlesolar power and warmth, filling it with special power.

In a word, the Maslenitsa festivities have been preserved. Only cakes were replaced with pancakes. The very name of the holiday has also changed. In paganism, it was called Komoyeditsa. The holiday was called Maslenitsa, as this is the last week when you can eat animal products - including butter.

Meetings and Playtime

Each day of this long-awaited holiday is distinguished by its traditions. There is a peculiar scenario of Maslenitsa. Folk festivities begin on Monday - with a meeting of spring. On this day, people make a straw effigy, put a woman's dress on it and carry it on a sleigh. Children build snow slides, adults bake pancakes, the first of which is given to the poor or hung on a tree branch in memory of the souls of deceased relatives.

Further, the Shrove Tuesday scenario continues as follows: the festivities on Tuesday are called Flirting. The scarecrow is installed in the center of the square, round dances are danced around it, everyone is treated to gingerbread and pancakes. Young people are eyeing their potential soul mates. In the evening people go to get-togethers.

Gourmets and Razgulyay

On Wednesday, the regular festivities for Maslenitsa begin. These are Gourmands, celebrated on Wednesday. The son-in-law is invited to visit his mother-in-law and treats herself to her pancakes.

Thursday is the height of the festivities. On this day, it is forbidden even to work. It's called Walking. Sleigh rides, carols and calls of spring, friendly tea parties - everythingit happens on Thursday!

Teschiny evenings, Sister-in-law gatherings

Teschin's parties start on Friday. On this day, the son-in-law invites his mother-in-law to visit him for pancakes.

Seeing off Maslenitsa begins on Saturday with the sister-in-law gatherings. The sisters of her husband rush to the daughter-in-law for pancakes. On the street on this day they play the capture of snowy towns, symbolizing the last refuge of winter.

Forgiveness Sunday

What is the last step? The final farewell to Maslenitsa is Forgiveness Sunday. On this day, people visit each other. They ask for forgiveness for everything they have ever offended their loved ones. Well, in the evening, an effigy is burned, the ashes of which are scattered in the wind, in the villages - in the field. This tradition symbolizes a good harvest.

Folk festivals on Maslenitsa are not limited to the street

That's not all. The Shrovetide scenario on the street, as a rule, passes according to the above standard. However, in the palaces of culture, in schools, in some enterprises, etc. there are also a variety of activities.

Entertainment programs, competitions, performances and fairs - all this makes the holiday even brighter, more fun and interesting. Cultural events give everyone the opportunity to feel the joy and warmth of the approaching spring, despite the fact that they are held indoors.

The city squares also say goodbye to winter

Shrovetide Scenarioon the street is thought out in all settlements. And even in many large cities, fairs are organized in the central squares, pancakes and bagels are sold, and a scarecrow is installed.

Hundreds of citizens come to the square to say goodbye to winter. Traditional games and competitions, folk amusements, lots of fun - even cloudy weather can't spoil anyone's mood!

People take part in various competitions with great pleasure, compete in their skills, sing songs and dance fervently. The festive atmosphere charges everyone with special energy and positive emotions.

Jokers and jesters

Shrovetide, mass festivities, games and tea parties with pancakes are fun and colorful Russian traditions. Jokers and jesters often perform at performances organized in many villages and cities. They entertain those present, make them run, jump and have fun. As a result, people do not notice either cold or fatigue. They simply participate in traditional Maslenitsa competitions and fun, enjoy the performance of jesters, laugh heartily.

For example, jokers can organize fights with wet pillows on a log, tug of war, lifting weights, conquering ice pillars and even throwing brooms at each other.

They give small rewards to the most active participants in the form of some souvenirs, traditional pancakes, gingerbread, etc. By the way, gifts can also be hung on an ice pillar. Participants with pleasure and great zeal will rise behind them. FROMof course, only the most dexterous and strong descend on the ground as prizes.

There is another competition organized by jesters. Those present at the festivities can, for example, compete in eating pancakes with sour cream for speed. However, this fun entertainment applies to other dishes. It can be pies, and kalachi, and a variety of drinks.

Carnival procession

In a word, if you want to have a lot of fun, pay attention to such a wonderful holiday as Maslenitsa. Scenarios of street festivities often also include various carnival processions.

They begin, as a rule, immediately after the performances of jesters, folk artists, competitions, and many other surprises prepared for residents of a certain locality and its guests.

A large number of people take part in the carnival procession. They put on a variety of costumes, sing songs, dance and have fun. Stilts or sleds are often used for entourage during a carnival procession. The procession stops near the next points of sale of pancakes, pies, other goodies and hot tea.

Here everyone can buy a variety of jewelry, toys and souvenirs. In addition, at the end point of the carnival procession, creative works of various artists, photographers, masters of applied art are presented.

At the end of the Maslenitsa festivities, you can see a fire show, performances by famous performers and, of course, burningeffigy named Maslenitsa. They carry it in front of them until the very end of the carnival procession.

Burning an effigy is a mysterious and interesting process

Shrovetide on the street in most settlements takes place according to all traditions. The scarecrow is burned last. At the same time, all those present applaud vigorously, but, of course, rescuers and firefighters are responsible for safety.

The scarecrow burns very brightly and quickly. This is a symbol of the coming of spring. Accordingly, the cold will no longer freeze the inhabitants of villages and cities. Neither snow nor ice will frighten them.

A lot of playgrounds are also set up around the scarecrow before it is set on fire with a variety of entertainment for the people present. Here you can have a great rest, having a snack, drinking tea, just talking with those who came to the holiday. All those present will dance with great pleasure in front of a huge fire, holding hands, dance round dances, sing songs designed to attract spring.

In a word, Maslenitsa is a sea of fun, joyful laughter, warm smiles! Folk festivals, lasting a whole week, allow you to perfectly relax, escape from the gray working days. Well, the anticipation of the coming spring cheers up the people around even more!