The best folk and Orthodox holiday of the end of winter is Maslenitsa. In 2018, this holiday falls in mid-February due to early Easter.

Maslenitsa is a transitory holiday, that is, it does not have a clearly fixed date in the calendar. This is due to the fact that Maslenitsa week and Maslenitsa itself precede Lent before Easter. Accordingly, the answer to the question “what date is Maslenitsa in 2018” directly depends on the date of Easter Sunday.

In 2018, Maslenitsa falls on February 18, Sunday. Maslenitsa week will last from February 12 to 18.

You can calculate the start date of the Maslenitsa week yourself. All that is required for this is to subtract 56 days from the date of Easter: 48 days of Lent and the week of Maslenitsa itself. Maslenitsa week always begins on Monday and ends on Sunday. Lent 2018 will begin with the ringing of the evening bell on Sunday 18 February.

Traditions of Maslenitsa

Well, who is not familiar with the most famous tradition - burning an effigy of winter on Maslenitsa? It is this enchanting action that becomes the culmination of the holiday. But the effigy is burned only on Sunday, and the celebration begins seven days before.

Monday– Maslenitsa meeting. On this day, preparations for the holiday week ended, and gatherings began in the evening. In the morning, slides, swings, climbing posts, booths, skating rinks and other amusements were completed. By lunchtime, the housewives started the dough and began baking pancakes. According to tradition, the very first pancake had to be given to commemorate the dead. By the way, this is where the saying “the first pancake is lumpy” came from - lumpy, that is, lumpy, meant just a wake.

On Monday, residents of the settlement built Maslenitsa - a straw effigy symbolizing winter. The effigy was dressed in a woman's dress, a scarf was tied on its head and tied to a stake. The stake was installed in the center of the village so that everyone passing by could see the symbol of the holiday. In some regions, the stuffed animal was first transported in a sleigh throughout the village.

On this day, for the first time, all relatives gathered at one table. They treated themselves to the first pancakes, praised the mistress of the house and agreed on a week of festivities. The time of the festivities, the place, the order of actions, and even the order of visits was discussed.

Tuesday- flirting. Young people flirted with future brides. The guys invited the girls to go down the slides, and they responded with pancakes. The flirtation served as a kind of bridesmaid, which was supposed to lead to weddings after Lent.

Wednesday- gourmet. Day of “mother-in-law pancakes” - on this day the wife’s mother showed her affection to her son-in-law by inviting him to visit him for pancakes. And the richer the table, the more extensive the food, the more the mother-in-law favored her daughter’s husband. The first three days of Maslenitsa week were called Narrow Maslenitsa. During these days, some housekeeping work was still carried out, but preparations for the holiday were in full swing.

Thursday- take a walk. The second name for Maslenitsa Thursday is revelry or broad Thursday. This day became the beginning of Broad Maslenitsa. All housework faded into the background, all preparatory actions for the festivities were completed, and the holiday itself began. Horseback riding and sledding downhill, round dances and songs, fist fights and many other ways to cheer yourself up.

But the main action, traditionally held on Thursday, was the capture of the snowy town. Moreover, not only children, but also adults took part in the fun - everyone wanted to throw out the energy that had accumulated during the cold winter.

Friday- Mother-in-law's evening. The day of the return visit - the mother-in-law came to the house of her daughter and son-in-law, where the latter had to independently treat the mother-in-law with pancakes. As a rule, a woman came not alone, but with “comrades” - friends, to brag about her son-in-law and the respect he showed her.

Saturday- sister-in-law meetings. The second name is sister-in-law gatherings. On this day, the young wife invited her husband's relatives to pancakes. In addition to the treats, the daughter-in-law gave her relatives small gifts - ribbons, beads, toys.

Sunday- farewell to winter. The culmination of the holiday, its highest point and at the same time completion. On this day, the festivities acquired a special scope, and at the end, all the village residents burned an effigy of Maslenitsa. The symbol of winter, burning, took away with it the cold and all the troubles that had accumulated over the months of cold.

Maslenitsa is a riotous folk holiday with pagan roots. With his arrival, we feast on pancakes, dance in circles, ride down the mountains, arrange numerous entertainments and burn a straw effigy. Which one is celebrated? What customs are associated with it? To find out about this, let's go back to the origins.

Origin of the holiday

Initially, Maslenitsa was tied to the day of the spring solstice. It was she who marked the beginning of a new agricultural year. Winter for peasants is a difficult, cold, dark time. Everyone was looking forward to the coming of spring.

When Maslenitsa begins, the sun god Yarilo is resurrected. His arrival was celebrated with songs and round dances. To help the young spring overcome the treacherous winter, they burned an effigy, staged all sorts of fights, and destroyed the snowy town. The games were noisy so that the dormant nature would wake up and come to life. Special rituals were carried out to ensure a rich harvest in the new year.

What date was Maslenitsa celebrated before the adoption of Christianity? Researchers say it was celebrated for two weeks: one before the spring equinox, and the second after the significant event.

Orthodox Maslenitsa

After the baptism of Rus', many were banned. However, Maslenitsa was of great importance for the people, and it was successfully integrated into Christian traditions. True, at the same time it was significantly reduced.

Now the holiday was celebrated a week before Lent. You can find out what date Maslenitsa is this year by looking at the Orthodox calendar. Usually its beginning falls on the period from February 3 to March 14. At this time, people have fun and eat up before the upcoming abstinence. Meat can no longer be eaten, which is why Maslenitsa is nicknamed “meat-free”. But there are a lot of pancakes and dairy products on the tables.

Orthodox Christians must prepare for Lent by making peace with their surroundings. It is customary to visit loved ones to ask for forgiveness for one’s misdeeds, to help those in need, and to do charity work.

Monday

Every day during Maslenitsa week has its own traditions. Monday was called "meeting". In the morning, a scarecrow was built from straw and old clothes, which was carried around the village on a sleigh. Children joyfully greeted Maslenitsa with cries and went from house to house begging for sweets. Swings and booths were set up in the square, and skiing began on the ice mountains. The further the sled rolls, the higher the swing flies, the better the harvest and the longer the flax. When Maslenitsa begins, everyone is obliged to have fun. Otherwise, luck and wealth will pass you by.

Wealthy families started making their first pancakes on Maslenitsa. The housewives had their own secrets. Some people put the dough in the snow, others kneaded it on the river under the light of the stars. Hot, round pancakes are a symbol of the sun. The more you eat, the faster the frost will recede. However, in Rus', pancakes have always remained a funeral food. It was customary to give the first portion to the dead. To do this, the pancake was hung on a dormer window or presented to a beggar, asking him to pray for his ancestors.

Tuesday

In the old days, this day was called “flirt”. Celebrations began, comic performances were shown in booths, and mummers appeared on the streets. But the main theme was love.

The Maslenitsa holiday is closely associated with the onset of spring and fertility. In pagan times, weddings were celebrated on it. The church forbade getting married on Maslenitsa, and the celebrations had to be postponed until Krasnaya Gorka. But new traditions have emerged.

To "flirt" the guys arranged viewings for the girls. Young people rode from the mountains, furtively looking at each other, and agreed on matchmaking. The sleigh was harnessed to fast horses. The young man could give a ride to any girl he liked, and she had to kiss him as a sign of gratitude. If the beauty refused, the guy’s friends “frozen” the sleigh and did not release the riders until the condition was met.

All newlyweds were obliged to ride horses and down a snowy mountain, accept congratulations, and then kiss in front of all the honest people.

Wednesday

It is impossible to imagine celebrating Maslenitsa without tents with pancakes and sweets. The more generous the table, the richer the harvest will be. Our ancestors ate especially heartily on Wednesday, which was also called “gourmet”.

On this day, the mother-in-law prepared the most delicious dishes and invited her sons-in-law to visit. Other relatives also gathered in the house. Beer was served at the table, pancakes were baked with various fillings: caviar, potatoes, mushrooms, cottage cheese, honey, nuts. Fun competitions were organized for the mother-in-law and son-in-law. If the daughter’s husband approved the treat, then the next year will pass in peace and harmony.

Women and girls of all ages gathered for "girls' conventions." They rode horses decorated with ribbons with songs, rode down slides and made fun of single guys. They were given punishments for not being able to find a suitable bride in the past year. Young people paid off with sweets and pancakes.

Thursday

People called this day “walk around”. It began with him when economic work was prohibited. All games and rituals were designed to help the sun overcome winter. For example, horseback riding had to be done clockwise around the settlement, while imitating the movement of the sun in the sky. The model of the luminary was often a wheel, which was mounted on a pole or pole. Sometimes it was set on fire and rolled down the mountains. If the wheel did not fall, happiness awaited the person.

Any scenario of Maslenitsa on the street includes competitions: comic fights, climbing a pole to get gifts. Our ancestors always staged fist fights, including “wall to wall.” They took this fun very seriously; before it they washed in the bathhouse, ate heavily, and gained strength. They fought until the first blood was drawn, which symbolized a sacrifice to the spirits.

Carrying out Maslenitsa is unthinkable without taking a fortress built from compressed snow. Snowballs, brooms, and shovels were used as weapons. The winner was the one who broke through the gate first. He was “washed” in a snowdrift or forced to swim in an ice hole. The fortress was necessarily destroyed, which symbolized victory over the harsh winter.

There were booths in the cities, performances were shown, and mummers entertained the people. An obligatory participant in the fun was a bear - real or in disguise. He became a symbol of spring. After all, the awakening of bears after hibernation is a sure sign of future warmth.

Friday

Our ancestors called it “mother-in-law’s evenings.” If before this, sons-in-law were treated to pancakes on Maslenitsa, now they themselves had to act as hospitable hosts. The day before, you were supposed to personally come to your mother-in-law’s house and invite her for lunch or dinner. The wife's parents had to provide the newlyweds with everything necessary to prepare pancakes: flour, butter, frying pan, ladle, tub of dough.

Saturday

On Maslenitsa, respect is shown not only to the wife's relatives. The sixth day is called "sister-in-law's gatherings." The husband's sisters visit their young daughter-in-law. She must set the table with her own hands and receive them, demonstrating the skills of a good housewife. Each sister-in-law was supposed to be given a gift. To make the meeting more fun, the daughter-in-law invited her friends to it - unmarried or married. The latter depended on the status of the sisters-in-law themselves.

If a woman had several brothers, she would take turns visiting them. Also on this day, mass festivities continued: songs, round dances, slides, fun games.

Forgiveness Sunday

The riotous fun was coming to an end. The time had come to prepare for strict fasting. Before him, he had to cleanse himself spiritually, admitting his mistakes and asking for forgiveness from everyone he had inadvertently offended. We had to enter into a new life with a pure heart. Our ancestors also asked the dead for forgiveness by visiting the cemetery on this day.

The scenario of Maslenitsa on the street includes the burning of an effigy. They stocked up brushwood for the fire and threw various rubbish into it. Thus, they left everything unnecessary in the past and made room for the new. The scarecrow symbolized winter. The fire was intended to warm the earth and melt the snowdrifts. A ritual round dance was performed around him. The girls went into the forest, to the river bank, sang songs about spring, calling for it.

In some areas, people practiced jumping over fires. It was believed that fire would burn away everything bad and get rid of sins, diseases, and the evil eye. All fast food was also burned, so that with the onset of fasting they would not expose themselves to temptations. In some cases, adults only pretended to throw pancakes, milk, and butter into the fire. This is how they deceived the children so that they would not ask for tastier food.

When Maslenitsa ended, the ashes from the burned effigy were scattered across the fields. It was believed that it would provide a rich harvest.

Once you find out what date Maslenitsa is this year, try to spend it usefully. Communication with family, joint feasts, fun games will certainly bring you closer. Let spring enter your heart along with round dances and hot, fluffy pancakes.

Maslenitsa is one of the most joyful and long-awaited holidays of the year, the celebration of which lasts seven days. At this time, people have fun, go to visit, have parties and eat pancakes. Maslenitsa in 2018 will begin on February 12, and its end date will be February 18.

Pancake week is a national celebration dedicated to welcoming spring. Before entering Lent, people say goodbye to winter, enjoy the warm spring days, and, of course, bake delicious pancakes.

Maslenitsa: traditions and customs

There are several names for this holiday:

meat-empty Maslenitsa is called because during the celebration people refrain from eating meat;
cheese - because they eat a lot of cheese this week;
Maslenitsa - because they consume a large amount of oil.

Many people anxiously await the onset of Maslenitsa, the traditions of celebrating which go back deep into our history. Today, as in the old days, this holiday is celebrated on a grand scale, with chants, dances and competitions.

The most popular entertainments that used to be held in villages were:

fist fights;
eating pancakes for a while;
sledding;
climbing a pole for a prize;
games with a bear;
burning an effigy;
swimming in ice holes.

The main treat, both before and now, are pancakes, which can have different fillings. They are baked every day in large quantities.

Our ancestors believed that those who do not have fun on Maslenitsa will live the coming year poorly and joylessly.

Maslenitsa: what can and cannot be done?

You should not eat meat on Maslenitsa. Allowed to eat fish and dairy products. Pancakes should be the main dish on the table in every home.
On Maslenitsa you need to eat often and a lot. Therefore, it is customary to invite guests and not skimp on treats, as well as to visit yourself.

Maslenitsa: the history of the holiday

In fact, Maslenitsa is a pagan holiday, which was over time changed to fit the “format” of the Orthodox Church. In pre-Christian Rus', the celebration was called “Farewell to Winter.”

Our ancestors revered the sun as a god. And with the onset of the first days of spring, we were glad that the sun was beginning to warm the earth. That’s why the tradition of baking round flatbreads, shaped like the sun, arose. It was believed that by eating such a dish, a person would receive a piece of sunlight and warmth. Over time, flatbreads were replaced by pancakes.

Maslenitsa: celebration traditions

In the first three days of the holiday, active preparations for the celebration took place:

they brought wood for the fire;
decorated the huts;
built mountains.

The main celebration took place from Thursday to Sunday. People came into the house to enjoy pancakes and drink hot tea.

In some villages, young people went from house to house with tambourines, horns, and balalaikas, singing carols. City residents took part in festive festivities:

dressed in their best clothes;
went to theater performances;
We visited booths to watch buffoons and have fun with the bear.

The main entertainment was children and youth sliding down ice slides, which they tried to decorate with lanterns and flags. Used for riding:

matting;
sled;
skates;
skins;
ice cubes;
wooden troughs.

Another fun event was the capture of the ice fortress. The guys built a snowy town with gates, put guards there, and then went on the attack: they broke into the gates and climbed the walls. The besieged defended themselves as best they could: they used snowballs, brooms and whips.

On Maslenitsa, boys and young men showed their agility in fist fights. Residents of two villages, landowners and monastery peasants, residents of a large village living at opposite ends could take part in the battles.

We seriously prepared for the battle:

steamed in the baths;
ate heartily;
turned to the sorcerers with a request to give a special spell for victory.

Features of the ritual of burning an effigy of winter on Maslenitsa

Just as many years ago, today the culmination of Maslenitsa is considered to be the burning of an effigy. This action symbolizes the onset of spring and the end of winter. The burning is preceded by games, round dances, songs and dances, accompanied by refreshments.

As a scarecrow to be sacrificed, they made a large funny and at the same time scary doll, personifying Maslenitsa. They made a doll from rags and straw. After which she was dressed in women's clothing and left on the main street of the village for the duration of Maslenitsa week. And on Sunday they were solemnly carried outside the village. There the effigy was burned, drowned in an ice hole, or torn into pieces, and the straw that remained from it was scattered across the field.

The ritual burning of the doll had a deep meaning: destroying the symbol of winter is necessary to resurrect its power in the spring.

Maslenitsa: the meaning of every day

The holiday is celebrated from Monday to Sunday. During Shrovetide Week, it is customary to spend each day in your own way, observing the traditions of our ancestors:

Monday called “Meeting of Maslenitsa”. On this day they start baking pancakes. It is customary to give the first pancake to the poor and needy people. On Monday, our ancestors prepared a scarecrow, dressed it in rags and displayed it on the main street of the village. It was on public display until Sunday.
Tuesday nicknamed "Zigrysh". It was dedicated to youth. On this day, folk festivities were organized: sleigh rides, ice slides, and carousels.
Wednesday- “Gourmand.” On this day, guests (friends, relatives, neighbors) were invited to the house. They were treated to pancakes, honey gingerbread and pies. Also on Wednesday, it was customary to treat your sons-in-law with pancakes, hence the expression: “ My son-in-law has come, where can I get sour cream?" Horse racing and fist fights were also held on this day.
Thursday popularly nicknamed "Razgulay". From this day begins Broad Maslenitsa, which is accompanied by snowball fights, sledding, cheerful round dances and chants.
Friday nicknamed “Mother-in-law’s Evening” because on this day the sons-in-law invited the mother-in-law to their house and treated them to delicious pancakes.
Saturday- “Sister-in-law’s gatherings.” The daughters-in-law invited their husband's sisters to their house, talked with them, treated them to pancakes and gave them gifts.
Sunday- the apotheosis of Maslenitsa. This day was called “Forgiveness Sunday.” On Sunday we said goodbye to winter, said goodbye to Maslenitsa and symbolically burned its effigy. On this day, it is customary to ask friends and family for forgiveness for the grievances that have accumulated over the year.

Proverbs and sayings for Maslenitsa

Video: history and traditions of the Maslenitsa holiday

Maslenitsa is an ancient Slavic holiday that symbolizes farewell to winter and joyful anticipation of spring. The folk festival lasts a week and ends with Forgiveness Sunday.

Maslenitsa begins to be celebrated a week before Lent - the date of celebration is tied to Orthodox Easter and changes every year.

Maslenitsa

According to one version, the origin of the word “Maslenitsa” is based on the Russian custom of baking pancakes. This tradition is associated with the desire of people to win over the sun, to persuade it to warm the frozen earth with the help of pancakes. It was the round pancake that was the sacrificial bread - a gift to the pagan gods.

Since ancient times, Maslenitsa week has been famous for its hearty and plentiful food. The main dish of the holiday is pancakes, which are said to be especially delicious during Maslenitsa.
On the eve of a long fast, people try to enjoy delicious and varied dishes and not deny themselves anything.

But pancakes are not the only treat for the holidays. As a rule, a rich table is set on Maslenitsa - they serve pancakes and pies with a variety of fillings (mushroom, cottage cheese, cabbage, and so on).

Maslenitsa was famous not only for its rich food - at this time there are mass slides, dancing, folk singing, and bonfires. But the main tradition is the burning of a Maslenitsa effigy at the stake. This symbolizes the departure of the boring winter. People welcome the long-awaited spring.

Before the adoption of Christianity, Maslenitsa was celebrated for 14 days, but today it lasts a week.

Pancakes

Pancakes appeared in Rus' more than a thousand years ago. During this time, the recipes for their preparation have undergone many changes. Traditionally, each housewife had her own recipe for making pancakes.

They were baked from different types of flour with the addition of various ingredients, but they always remained a favorite treat in every home. To this day, pancakes are considered a Russian traditional dish.

We ate pancakes with butter, sour cream, honey, caviar, fish and vegetable filling. It’s hard to say which is tastier - everyone has their own opinion on this matter. Some people eat pancakes only with sour cream, others only accept sweet fillings, and still others love them with herring or red fish.

You can cook several types of fish: salted red fish, herring, hot or cold smoked mackerel, smoked cod or pink salmon - the choice is great. Various pates go well with pancakes, although according to Orthodox tradition, meat is not eaten this week. Those with a sweet tooth prefer to top their pancakes with honey, condensed milk, jam or syrup.

In Rus' there was a custom - the first pancake was always for the repose; it was, as a rule, given to a beggar to remember all the deceased, or simply placed on the window.

Traditions and customs

We prepared in advance for the celebration of Maslenitsa. People began preparations on Saturday of the previous week and celebrated “Little Maslenitsa.”

In the old days, according to tradition, young men gathered in small groups, walked around the villages and collected bast shoes, after which they greeted those returning with purchases from the market or city with the question: “Are you bringing Maslenitsa?” For the answer: “No luck,” people received decent blows with bast shoes.

Also, before Maslenitsa on Sunday, according to the tradition of those times, it was mandatory to visit relatives, neighbors and friends, and also invite them to visit.

Maslenitsa is the most cheerful folk holiday, each day of the week of which has its own name and meaning. The holiday week was divided into Narrow Maslenitsa, which included the first 3 days, and Broad, which included the remaining 4 days.

In the first half, along with festive events, it was allowed to carry out housework, but in the second, no one worked - everyone indulged in festive joys in full force.

Delicious and satisfying pancakes were baked all week. They were eaten at home, away, and at street celebrations. And now almost every family has a tradition of eating pancakes at least once a week.

Maslenitsa days

Monday - the first day of Maslenitsa is called "meeting". On this day, ice slides were set up and rolled out. In the old days they believed that the further the sled or sleigh rolled, the louder the noise and laughter over the ice slide, the better the harvest and the longer the flax would grow.

Festival "Moscow Maslenitsa"

They made a scarecrow of Maslenitsa from straw, dressed it in old women's clothes, put the scarecrow on a pole and carried it on a sleigh around the village while singing songs. Then this scarecrow was placed on a snowy mountain, from which the sleigh ride began.

For this day, swings and booths were completed. They started baking pancakes. On this day, relatives visited each other to agree on how to spend the week.

Tuesday - "flirt". On this day, it was customary to start fun games and treat people to pancakes for the created fun. In the morning, young people went to ride from the mountains and eat pancakes.

This day was especially exciting for unmarried girls, since bridal shows were organized to celebrate the flirtation. All Maslenitsa rituals, in essence, boiled down to matchmaking, in order to have a wedding after Lent, on Krasnaya Gorka.

Wednesday - "gourmet". On this day, all housewives prepare various goodies in large quantities and decorate a rich table with them, but pancakes naturally come first. Also on this day, the mother-in-law showed affection for her son-in-law and invited him to a treat.
In the villages, beer was brewed by pooling (together).

Thursday - "go wild". From this day on, Maslenitsa unfolded in all its breadth - people walked from morning to evening, danced, danced in circles, sang ditties. The people indulged in all kinds of fun, ice mountains, booths, swings, fist fights, noisy revels. On this day, to help the sun drive away winter, people traditionally organize horseback riding “in the sun” - that is, clockwise around the village.

This was the most beloved and beautiful Maslenitsa ritual. Everyone who had a horse rode out, and assorted teams raced through the streets of cities and villages: the rich sported sleek trotters and painted sleighs covered with a carpet or bear skin, followed by clumsily galloping peasant horses, cleaned to a shine, decorated with colored ribbons and paper flowers. . Horse hooves thundered, bells and bells rang, and harmonicas sang.

On this day, a snow town with towers and gates was built on rivers, ponds and fields, then the gang was divided in half: some guarded the town, others had to take it by force.

Reproduction of Boris Kustodiev's painting "Maslenitsa"

Fist fights were also held on this day. According to the rules, it was forbidden to hide something heavy in a mitten or hit below the belt or on the back of the head.

Friday is "mother-in-law's evening." A number of Maslenitsa customs on this day were aimed at speeding up weddings and helping young people find a suitable match. Sons-in-law invited their mothers-in-law to visit and treated them to pancakes. The son-in-law was obliged to personally invite his mother-in-law in the evening.

In some places, “mother-in-law’s pancakes” took place on a “gourmet” day, that is, on Wednesday during Maslenitsa week, but could be timed to coincide with Friday. So the sons-in-law could also be invited to their mother-in-law’s pancakes. But if on Wednesday the sons-in-law visited their mothers-in-law, then on Friday the sons-in-law organized “mother-in-law parties” and invited them to pancakes.

Saturday is “sister-in-law’s get-together.” On this day, the young daughter-in-law invited her relatives to her place. If the sisters-in-law were still girls, then the daughter-in-law called her girl friends; if the sisters-in-law were married, then she called her married friends or relatives. The daughter-in-law was obliged to present her sisters-in-law with gifts. Maslenitsa was, as it were, an excuse to get together and gossip.

On this day, all the newlyweds gathered from the surrounding villages to the village where they were celebrated. The young people standing in the crowd of spectators were called to the roller coaster. There they had to bow to the “peace” - the villagers who had gathered to watch the event, kiss and slide down the mountain on a sleigh. Under the mountain, the newlyweds had to kiss until the spectators got tired of them, shouting: “Come on, come on!”

Reproduction of Vasily Surikov's painting "The Capture of the Snowy Town"

The meaning of this ritual action is the desire to exalt the newlyweds, as well as to express universal recognition and approval of the completed marriage.

Resurrection is “forgiveness Sunday”, as well as “farewell, kissing”. On this day, it is customary to ask for forgiveness from all loved ones who were offended for the harm caused, for some of their own misdeeds. And forgive yourself with a pure heart for the same actions that were caused accidentally or intentionally. This is a very bright and beautiful day before the start of Lent. In 2019, Lent begins on March 11.

After this, you can start singing and dancing, thus seeing off the magnificent Maslenitsa. On this day, a straw effigy is burned on a huge bonfire - the main character of the Maslenitsa holiday, personifying the passing winter.

The scarecrow is placed in the center of a huge fire and they say goodbye to it with jokes, songs, and dances. They scold winter for the frosts and winter hunger and thank them for the fun winter activities. After this, the effigy is set on fire amid cheerful cheers and songs. Then the youth jump over the fire and with this competition of agility the Maslenitsa holiday ends.

The material was prepared on the basis of open sources.

The oldest Slavic holiday Maslenitsa has survived to this day in a distorted form with a predominance of its entertainment part, with round dances, bonfires, pancakes and indispensable invitations to visit. Even the Orthodox Church now considers Maslenitsa not a pagan holiday, but its own, Orthodox, and views it as preparation for the long Lent. This happened with many holidays, but Maslenitsa is the most striking example. It is known that until the 17th century, they tried to ban this old, truly folk holiday of spring and the birth of life and persecuted those who celebrated it openly. It is clear that nothing came of this idea to eradicate “demonic fun,” and the people defended their right to have fun in the last days of winter. Since the 18th century, the church stopped paying such close attention to the holiday, and the demonstrative festivities of the tsars only strengthened Maslenitsa in the life of the Russian people, although they distorted the essence of what was happening. Since the second half of the 18th century, the church “adapted” Maslenitsa for its own purposes and did not prohibit parishioners from participating in the general bacchanalia, while imposing certain restrictions on the composition of foods suitable for food on these days and strict “regulations” of prayers. Each of the seven (and until the 17th century fourteen) days of Maslenitsa had its own name.

By the beginning of the 20th century, all the names were mixed up - ancient, church, folk, and now Maslenitsa is a holiday of welcoming spring, cheerful, carefree, with abundant food and, most importantly, pancakes. became the central dish, its symbol. As in ancient times, pancakes in the human mind symbolize the sun. Only in distant pre-Christian times did our ancestors pray to the sun god Yarila and prepare pancakes in gratitude to Yarila for light and warmth.

The name Maslenitsa comes from the celebration of spring, that is, March 1 (March 21-23 to 15-16), the beginning of the new year. At this time, the cows were calving and they had a lot of milk, which means there was enough butter in the house. The word oil originally sounded like smeared, that is, what they smear on a pancake. Mazalo or oil in this case was a symbol of prosperity, a new rich and well-fed year. Pancakes on Maslenitsa were also an earthly reflection of the sun. Damn - like a small sun - round and hot. To grease a pancake with butter means to offer a gift to the sun, to appease it. Just as today, in the first half of January, Russia indulges in the holiday, so in ancient times our ancestors celebrated the New Year on a grand scale, only at the beginning of spring. Hence the burning of effigies of winter, round dances, bonfires and other echoes of the pagan past. There is a version that the Maslenitsa holiday in ancient times was in honor of the god Veles, the patron saint of cattle breeding.

Evidence of the “royal” celebration of Maslenitsa has been preserved. For example, in 1724, Peter the Great decided to organize a grand celebration, but frosts prevented a huge masquerade, sleigh procession and other fun. The strong Russian frost did not allow us to celebrate Maslenitsa, once again confirming that changing the timing of Maslenitsa week is not the best idea for the holiday. The fact is that Maslenitsa week was supposed to take place on the days of the spring solstice, which fell at the height of Lent. At the insistence of the church, the celebration was moved back a month, and now the last day of Maslenitsa was supposed to be a week before the start of Lent. But there were also successful celebrations. According to the memoirs of the Austrian secretary Korb, who found himself in Russia during Maslenitsa week, “all respect for the highest authorities disappears, the most harmful self-will reigns everywhere.” The same Korb witnessed an incident when the newly built Lefortovo Palace was illuminated by a costumed pseudo-patriarch at the head of the “most jocular and most drunken cathedral” with a cross made of tobacco pipes, a censer with tobacco smoke, and to top it all off, he served a service in honor of Bacchus. During the Maslenitsa holiday in the palace, the king himself was the ringleader and the first merry fellow. A two-day feast began in the “sanctified” palace, while the guests were forbidden to sleep or leave, and only for foreign guests they made an exception and set aside several hours for sleep, after which they were woken up and dragged back to the feast. In 1722, Peter the Great organized a grand procession in Moscow, placing boats and yachts on sleighs, and this procession marched through Moscow in front of the amazed public. The same pranksters were sitting in the boats: “Patriarch”, “Bacchus”, there was also a costumed Neptune, sitting in a sleigh in the form of a huge shell. The procession was completed by a large ship on which the king was traveling. The ship sailed into the wind with its sails spread and constantly firing from cannons mounted on the deck. The entire structure was pulled by 15 horses. Another case was when Catherine the Second organized a festive carnival, poorly understanding the traditions of the people of the country she ruled. The Triumphant Minerva masquerade consisted of a carnival procession traveling around the capital, playing out and ridiculing human vices: embezzlement, bribery, official red tape and others. The capital's traditions of festivities were adopted by the provinces, and throughout Russia at that time Maslenitsa was celebrated widely and powerfully. For rulers, the holiday was an occasion to appease the people and show them their closeness. Ancient traditions were not respected, and the celebration was an average Europeanized carnival with kitsch elements and pancakes as an understandable and accessible symbol. However, some elements of the holiday “in the European style” only strengthened and enriched Maslenitsa, diversifying its festive, cheerful part.

Back in the 18th century, it was customary to prepare a variety of treats for Maslenitsa - it was an open-air feast, in every home. Everyone went to visit each other, feasted on treats and had fun from the heart. On the streets they sold a wide variety of food: sbiten, bagels, honey gingerbread, pies and pancakes with a wide variety of fillings. There were also salty foods: all kinds of pickles, mushrooms, dried fish, caviar, fragrant bread and pies with various fillings. Entertainment included buffoons, booths and ice slides. The latter was so popular that in St. Petersburg they organized paid roller coasters, which cost 1 kopeck to ride. In villages and hamlets they poured their own slides, but on already “ready” hills and ravines, they built snow forts and organized tournaments.

The people have an established custom of visiting and celebrating Maslenitsa. Each day of the holiday week has its own purpose. On Monday - Maslenitsa meeting. On this day the first pancakes were baked, and the very first was intended for the ancestors. He was taken out onto the porch with a special spell and left overnight. On the same day, the effigy of Maslenitsa was dressed up and carried through the streets singing.

On Tuesday - flirting. On this day it was customary to tell fortunes. A proverb appeared about the custom of this day: “Choose your husband by pancakes, and your wife by pies.” What kind of pancakes a man prefers is his character. Real tough men love pancakes with caviar - they will provide for their wife and keep the household strong. But you shouldn’t expect affection from such a guy. If the betrothed prefers pancakes with red fish, then his disposition is affectionate, he is more of a dreamer, an artist. Such a person will speak tenderly, but the farm may fall into disrepair. Good men love pancakes with cottage cheese. With sour cream - a person without a strong character who is easy to convince. Pancakes with butter are eaten by gentle men - he will love and kiss, but he is not very fond of household chores. Those who like to have a lot of children eat with sugar, and their wife will look after them. The most unpleasant candidates for husbands are those who eat pancakes with boiled eggs. They are boring at home and on holidays, they carry out household and marital duties, but somehow out of duty. Pancakes with jam are loved by handsome guys, the first in the village, in full view of everyone. It’s flattering to be such a wife, but the hubby can go on a spree.

Wednesday was called a gourmet. Rich tables were set in all decent houses. Tents were set up on the streets with hot sbitny (a non-alcoholic drink made from hot water, honey and spices), gingerbread, pies, nuts and other street treats. On this day it was customary to invite sons-in-law to visit. According to the rules, there should be all types of pancakes on the table - salty, sweet, small and large, with fish, caviar, cottage cheese and other delicacies. Here you can look at your son-in-law (is he strong, can he feed his wife), and feed him before the fist fights on Thursday. At the table they had conversations, sang songs and had fun in a narrow family circle.

On Thursday - go wild. Fist fights, wall to wall and other “manly fun”. By this day, snow fortresses were built, which were noisily conquered by rivals. In the Christian calendar, the same day falls on Candlemas (that is, the meeting). This holiday is in honor of the Most Holy Mary bringing the baby Jesus Christ to church and meeting Elder Simeon along the way. In ancient pagan traditions, this day was the meeting of the new year. They baked doves and larks from dough, and the children “clicked for the sun” so that it would “appear from behind the mountain.”

On Friday, the sons-in-law invited their mothers-in-law to taste the treats. The strangeness of the custom (first the son-in-law on Wednesday, and then the mother-in-law on Friday) was enhanced by the fact that the mother-in-law had to bring all the ingredients for the treat the day before. And even a frying pan, a tub and a ladle for making pancakes.

On Saturday - sister-in-law's get-togethers. Unmarried sisters-in-law invited unmarried friends to visit. The daughter-in-law had to give them gifts, and they treated and amused the guests.

Sunday is the last day of Maslenitsa, Forgiveness Sunday, farewell to winter and the burning of the effigy of Winter. Before burning, the effigy is taken around the city, and then installed in the square and dances are held, while they scold Winter in every possible way, drive her away and, in the end, burn the effigy. The fun ends with jumping over a huge fire. And this Sunday is called Forgiven Sunday because everyone asks their ancestors for forgiveness. They are called bonfires and are invited to a hearty meal. This appeasement of the spirits of the dead has become a little distorted in the Christian era, with people asking for forgiveness from God and each other. It is customary to say: “Forgive me,” receiving the answer: “God will forgive,” after which everyone goes to the bathhouse, which can be considered a rite of purification before the long spring, and among Christians, before Lent.

Pancakes are the most popular dish during Maslenitsa week. This simple dish is prepared with special skill. What is important here is the skill and precision of the hand, a trained eye, culinary flair and endurance. This is why pancakes are such a simple and at the same time complex dish. Word Crap Common Slavic. In the Ukrainian language there is Mlinec, in Bulgarian - Mlyn. Mlyn- this is a millstone in windmills, a round stone that, by rubbing against another equally flat, but lying motionless, abraded grains of cereals, turning them into flour. Damn it These are words from the terminology of the mill craft, which was one of the central crafts among the Slavs. In French they call a mill moulin, in German - Muhle, in Italian - mulino, and in English - mill, that is, also similar to Mlyn.

Interesting origin of the expression the first damn thing is lumpy- in modern language this is unambiguous - lumpy, failure, the first pancake turned out to be lumpy. But before that didn't mean How, A to whom damn, that is coma- dead ancestors. This first pancake was an offering to the comas. It turns out that the old spelling coincides with the new meaning - the living Russian language is constantly changing.

It must be said that the custom of eating pancakes on Maslenitsa appeared quite late. Of course, they have been eaten during Maslenitsa celebrations since ancient times, but for a long time pancakes were not the central dish. In more ancient times (pre-Christian and early Christian eras), Maslenitsa was celebrated varied food. Pancakes were a symbol of the holiday, but not the main dish on the table. Information about the preparation of pancakes by the ancient Slavs, unfortunately, can only be learned from the correspondence of early Christian chronicles, which incompletely and, possibly, falsely described the essence of the rituals, and their later lists were completely replete with errors. According to one version, the Eastern Slavs had pancakes sacrificial bread, a funeral dish at funeral feasts. The custom of eating pancakes at funerals has been preserved without its original essence or was simply not designated so as not to conflict with the official religion.

Pancakes are a universal dish, one might say an archetype. They were prepared in ancient Rome and Europe in the Middle Ages, for example in Sweden and Germany. But only among the Slavs the “pancake theme” is fully revealed. We have pancakes made from wheat, rye, buckwheat, barley and oatmeal. The abundance of fillings for pancakes and cooking options, the simplicity and speed of preparation made pancakes a Russian dish, and it was the Russians who succeeded in preparing various and interesting dishes from pancakes. We can say that pancakes are the first fast food, because they are convenient to eat with your hands, wrapping anything you like in them, and it is quite easy for an experienced cook to prepare a pile of pancakes.