Maslenitsa: description of the holiday in Russia, photo. Maslenitsa: description by day

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

One of the most famous and beloved Russian folk holidays, preserved since the times of paganism, is Maslenitsa. Description of the holiday, a summary of the scenarios of ceremonies and rituals requires the creation of a separate article. Therefore, I propose to get acquainted in more detail with the history and traditions of the national celebration.

History of the holiday

The ancient Slavs believed that Maslenitsa symbolizes the strengthening of the pagan deity of the Sun. From a weak baby Kolyada, it turns into a strong young man Yarila, who helps in the summer to get a rich harvest in the fields. In honor of this, Maslenitsa was arranged. The description of the holiday in Russia is presented as a meeting of spring and cajoling the gods with a request for a prosperous new harvest.

Until the XIV century, every year in Russia began its countdown from March 1. Therefore, the Maslenitsa holiday also meant the New Year's Eve. Pancakes were a traditional holiday treat.were a symbol of the solar circle. Hot and ruddy, they look like the sun, which flares up more and brighter every day of spring. An ancient sign said: as the meeting of the new year passes, so will the whole year. Therefore, our ancestors did not spare money for a rich feast and fun entertainment, which Maslenitsa is especially generous with. The description of the holiday mentions its other names among the people: wide, gluttonous, honest, and even a destroyer. The proverb said: "Shrovetide is a meal, money is saved."

Cheese Week

Over time, the pagan holiday, which lasted fourteen days, turned into a Christian one. It began to precede the beginning of Great Lent, lasting forty days and ending with Easter - the Bright Resurrection of Christ. Because of this, Maslenitsa became a movable holiday, dependent on Easter dates, and was reduced to seven days.

During the time of Peter the Great, a decree was issued commanding to celebrate the holiday in the image and likeness of European carnivals. Cheerful and daring was remembered by our ancestors and Maslenitsa has come down to our days. The description of the holiday (photo below) is reminiscent of the Italian carnival, which in translation sounds like “goodbye beef”. The seven days preceding Lent were also called Myasopust. These days it was already forbidden to eat meat, although other fast food (butter, milk, eggs, fish) was allowed.

Shrovetide rites

The traditions and rituals of Cheese Week are strictly ordered and obey the sacred number seven. That's how many days it takesPancake week. The description of the holiday (burning of a scarecrow, festivities, gatherings, etc.) says that Myasopust begins exactly seven weeks before Easter and is divided into two parts. Narrow Maslenitsa is a short period that includes the first three days of the week. The second part (starting from Thursday and ending on Sunday) is called the Wide Maslenitsa. The description of each day speaks of its special purpose and is associated with the performance of certain rituals.

During the week, people go to visit, treat each other with hearty festive food, have fun, dance and sing. The climax of the holiday falls on Sunday. On this day, the effigy of Winter is burned. The ritual symbolizes the inevitable change of seasons. This solemn event ends Maslenitsa.

Description of the holiday for children and adults contains a deep meaning based on folk wisdom. He speaks of a sacrifice that is necessary for future fertility. The birth of life is preceded by struggle, death and resurrection. Further in the article, we will consider the description of Maslenitsa for each day of the holiday. We will also learn what customs of the Meat Week have survived to the present day.

Day One – Meeting

Narrow Maslenitsa. The description by day of the events that should take place during the holiday week starts on Monday. From improvised materials (straw, rags, hemp), young people made a large doll, dressing it in women's clothes. This is how the ritual of creating a scarecrow, which was called "Pancake week", took place.

The description of the holiday in ancient cities and villages confirms that this day was filled with important events. Maslenitsa was impaled and put on public display in the central square. The children collected dry branches, the remains of straw, old rags and put it all in a pile, preparing the future fire for burning the stuffed animal. Men built snow cities, in which they then staged merry battles. Ice slides were built for children and adults, skating rinks were flooded, colorful carousels were installed.

For a whole week, the straw Shrovetide delighted and amused the people. The description of the holiday mentions crowded fairs, where there was a brisk trade in various goods and noisy performances with mummers were held. The people were amused by jesters and buffoons who sang funny ditties and arranged funny practical jokes. Various competitions were organized for men, where they could measure their strength and show their valiant prowess. All the events of the first day emphasized the special joy of meeting an important event called Maslenitsa.

The description of the holiday for children is marked by special care for them. Sweet tables were prepared for the kids, where they were pleased with lollipop cockerels, sugar nuts and other sweets. Booths were set up on the square, where puppet shows were given. Children created a small straw woman for their own fun. She was put on a sled and taken around the village.

On the first day of the holiday, people began to visit guests. Pancakes with various fillings were always put on the table. was especially welcomeround-shaped pastries: cheesecakes, bagels, rolls. In addition, the housewives always prepared pancakes, potato pies with mushrooms, cottage cheese, cabbage. We treated dear guests with various nuts (pine, walnut, forest), roasted seeds, candies.

On the first day of Maslenitsa, the mother-in-law came to the newlyweds to teach the children how to cook pancakes. According to custom, the first baked pancake was given to the poor or blessed people to commemorate the dead.

Day Two - Playing

Tuesday's name speaks of its special cheerful mood. From the very morning, young people were treated to pancakes, rode on carousels and ice slides. The guys flirted with the girls, looking for future brides among them. Horseback riding was very popular, so we althy grooms especially by this time purchased painted sledges, on which they carried their chosen ones.

Festive festivities on Meat Week were called Shrovetide fun. A wide variety of amusements and amusements were arranged on them: snow battles, the capture of a snowy town, wrestling, bear performances, jumping over a fire, riding a sleigh from a hill.

Day Three - Gourmand

On Wednesday the Narrow Maslenitsa ended. The description of the holiday on this day speaks of its special significance in maintaining family relationships. Adult children came to visit their parents, gave them gifts and congratulated them on the holiday. Each mother-in-law on Lakomka cooked pancakes according to her own special recipe and treated them to dear ones.son-in-law. In addition, the tables were bursting with all sorts of food, which was also treated to relatives and close friends. Since then, related trips to Maslenitsa began to be called a visit “to the mother-in-law for pancakes.”

Gourmet is associated with many humorous songs, proverbs and sayings that talk about the relationship of close relatives: "son-in-law in the yard - pie on the table"; "son-in-law on the threshold - mother-in-law for eggs"; "Son-in-law will come, where can I get sour cream?" The holiday was especially costly for those families where many daughters grew up. Hence the saying was born: "at least lay everything off yourself, but spend Maslenitsa!"

Day Four - Walk around

Wide Maslenitsa. The description of the days of the festive week continues on Thursday, on which a wide revelry tripled. The people indulged in all sorts of pleasures with special force. A stuffed animal on a wheel was carried along the streets, they sang, had fun and arranged horseback riding. It was believed that the custom helps the sun to spend the winter faster. As a sign of this, young people rode troikas around the village, moving clockwise.

This was Maslenitsa. The description of the holiday with pictures suggests that the fourth day was a turning point in Shrovetide week, so the festivities were stormy and lasted until late in the evening. The children went from house to house and caroled. Men on Razgulyai staged a battle in a snowy town, and also measured their strength in fistfights or went “wall to wall”. The girls arranged dances, danced round dances, sang mischievous ditties. On this day, for couples in love it was not consideredshameful to kiss in front of everyone. And especially shy people could just throw snowballs. And, of course, they continued to cook countless pancakes and treat each other with them.

Day five - Mother-in-law's party

On Friday mother-in-laws came to their daughters and sons-in-law, making them a return visit. Guests were greeted with special reverence and respect. The sons-in-law treated the wife's relatives with hot pancakes and rendered them all sorts of honors. On this day, not just feasts took place, but sincere conversations in which the older generation gave advice to the young, admonished and admonished them.

Description of Shrovetide will be incomplete if you don't talk about how you prepared for mother-in-law's evenings. When a son-in-law forgot to invite his mother-in-law to visit, she could be offended for life. The ritual consisted in that, after the invitation, each mother-in-law sent kitchen utensils to the son-in-law's house the night before: frying pans, bowls and other utensils for baking pancakes. From the father-in-law came products from which the son-in-law would be able to knead the dough. On Friday morning, a messenger was sent to the mother-in-law's house with a reminder that they were expected to visit. On the day of mother-in-law evenings, all shops and workshops were closed, and classes were canceled in schools.

Sixth day - Sister-in-law gatherings

On Saturday, a young daughter-in-law invited her sister-in-law, her husband's sister, to visit. Married friends and young women also came to the house. The hostess laid a festive table for her friends and gave gifts to the sister-in-law. The women's get-togethers were a good opportunity to exchange news and gossip on various topics.

To the sixthOn the day of Maslenitsa, the festive revelry and feast continued. Trotting and riding on painted troikas became one of the main amusements.

Seventh Day - Forgiveness Sunday

On Sunday, they performed the main rite, which was accompanied by Maslenitsa - the burning of an effigy. The straw woman was first rolled around the village, and then taken out of the outskirts, where they were set on fire. When the doll burned down, the youth began to jump over the fire. In addition to firewood, old things were thrown into the fire, for example, a wooden wheel. It symbolized the sun, which brought spring soon.

In some villages, Maslenitsa was drowned in an ice hole or torn apart, and the remains were scattered around the village. Sometimes, instead of a straw effigy, an elderly woman or an old man was chosen as Maslenitsa. They were dressed in festive attire, driven on a sleigh through the village, and then dumped into the snow.

The ritual destruction of the straw doll symbolized farewell to Maslenitsa and the resurrection of its power with the onset of spring in sprouted grains of bread. On the last day of Maslenitsa, it was allowed to drink alcohol and have fun until the very night. Sunday ended the national week-long celebration. On the last day of the week on the eve of Great Lent, everyone asked each other for forgiveness, thereby freeing their souls from sins. In order to fully repent, it was customary to go to the steam bath after burning the effigy.

How is Maslenitsa celebrated today?

An ancient pagan holiday has retained its traditions to this day. In honor of the holiday, carnivals are held in many Russian cities.processions with costumed heroes, masquerades and fireworks. Shrovetide venues are arranged for guests with a stage, attractions and places for selling souvenirs and festive food.

On Shrove Tuesday, it is customary to devote more time to your family, visit relatives and host guests. On Forgiveness Sunday, all Orthodox people repent of their own sins and show mercy to others.

Particularly welcome is the participation of kids and teenagers in a fun holiday called Maslenitsa. The description for children of the history of the holiday and its traditions that have come down to our days gives the younger generation useful knowledge about their people. Popularization of the Cheese Week includes the mandatory participation of families with children in city events. For kids in kindergartens and schools, they install a colorful effigy of Shrovetide and arrange a collective farewell to winter. Numerous master classes on cooking a variety of pancakes with the indispensable participation of children teach them to work and tell about what Maslenitsa is. The description for children of the scenarios for holding the holiday includes competitions for knowledge of traditions, proverbs and sayings associated with Maslenitsa. There are also many different competitions, games and fun with obligatory awards and gifts. All this enriches children with new knowledge and helps organize cultural activities.

How is Maslenitsa celebrated in other countries?

Shrovetide is not only a holiday of the Slavs, it has long been celebrated in many European countries. holiday weekmarks the arrival of spring and takes place in the form of a carnival. At this time, quarrels and strife stop, fun, laughter and good mood reign.

In Scotland, on Maslenitsa, it is customary to bake round lean cakes - an analogue of Russian pancakes. This event was treated very responsibly in the house and all family members were involved in it. Each was assigned a separate role: knead the dough, oil the pan, turn the cakes, put them in piles.

In England, too, Maslenitsa is widely and cheerfully celebrated. The description of the holiday in English tells about an interesting tradition of organizing pancake races. Only women take part in them, who, at the signal of the bell, run, holding a hot frying pan with a pancake in their hands. Each participant must be over 18 years of age and wear a headscarf and a kitchen apron. The most difficult thing in the competition is that while running, you need to throw a pancake in a pan three times and catch it. The participant who came to the finish line first passes her pancake to the bell ringer, receiving a kiss from him in return.

In Russia, the main characters of the holiday were the newlyweds. It was considered very lucky to get married on Shrove Tuesday. And in some European countries, the main attention is paid to single people. In Poland, young girls invite guys to visit and treat them to pancakes. Instead of gratitude, young guys turn their heads, and girls can pull them back by the hair.

In the Czech Republic, the beginning of the holiday falls on January 6, reaching its climax inlast week before Lent. In the villages, young guys smear their faces with soot and, singing cheerful songs, go around the whole village. They take with them a colorful wooden block - a klatik, which they put on the girls they meet around the neck or tied to their arm. To pay off the harassment of suitors, the girl must pay them.

In France, the second day of the week is called Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras. Its history is connected with a beautiful ancient legend about the beautiful girl Rose, who was saved from the hands of the devil by the brave guy Gabriel. The holiday is accompanied by eating pancakes and a fun carnival, which should end at midnight sharp.

In Greece Shrovetide is called Apokries, which means “without meat”. The celebration lasts for three whole weeks and includes the obligatory tradition of roasting a pig over a fire. An indispensable attribute of the holiday is also a carnival costume procession with funny songs and games.

In Germany, pancakes, fritters and fried sausages are traditionally prepared for Maslenitsa. During carnival processions, people dress up as witches, devils, forest spirits, jesters, and various fairy-tale characters. In Holland and Belgium, the festive carnival lasts three days. These days they treat themselves to pancakes with bacon, pancakes and fried donuts.