At the end of winter comes the most delicious holiday for the Orthodox - Maslenitsa. What date does Maslenitsa begin in 2019 and when can you start baking pancakes and delicious thin pancakes? We will find out from our article. You will also be interested to learn about the traditions and rituals of the holiday and how the Maslenitsa Scarecrow was burned.
Maslenitsa, also called Cheese or Maslenitsa week, is celebrated by Orthodox believers during the 8th week before Easter, from Monday to Sunday. The week-long celebration of Maslenitsa is preceded by the most important and strict fast in the Orthodox Church - Great Lent 2019. The date on which Maslenitsa week begins is not constant, as it depends on the date of Easter. In 2019, Easter is celebrated on April 28, and, accordingly, Maslenitsa will begin on March 4, 2019, and end on March 10, 2019.
Maslenitsa is one of the most popular holidays in folk culture. During this period, even those who adhere to the church calendar enjoy baking pancakes and taking part in mass festivities. We tell you when we will celebrate Maslenitsa in 2019, as well as what the traditions of this day are.
The date of Maslenitsa depends on what date Easter falls on. In 2019, the date of Bright Resurrection is April 28. You need to subtract 40 days from this number and it will become known that Maslenitsa will be on March 10, 2019. The holiday itself lasts a whole week, and in this way the date of its end is determined - the Sunday before Lent.
Why is Maslenitsa called Maslenitsa or Cheese Week?
Maslenitsa got its name from the fact that in the last week before Lent, the consumption of butter, dairy products and fish is allowed. In the calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church, this period is called Cheese Week, the week (week) following Motley Week.
In the Orthodox Church it is believed that the meaning of Cheese Week is reconciliation with neighbors, forgiveness of offenses, preparation for Lent - time that should be devoted to good communication with neighbors, family, friends, and charity.
The main traditional attributes of the folk celebration of Maslenitsa: the scarecrow of Maslenitsa, fun, sleigh rides, festivities, for Russians - obligatory pancakes and flatbreads, for Ukrainians and Belarusians - dumplings, cheesecakes and koloka.
When is Maslenitsa in 2019: the traditions of Maslenitsa, what is the name of each day of the holiday
The entire week of celebration is divided into two parts: Narrow and Wide Maslenitsa. This is due to the fact that the first three days of the week the festivities were not as active as at the end of the week. Until Wednesday, people were doing housework. On Thursday the real fun began. That's why the second half of the week was called Broad Maslenitsa.
There are many rituals and traditions associated with Maslenitsa week. One of the most striking and memorable events is the burning of an effigy representing the coldest time of the year - winter. People look at the fire and rejoice at the coming of spring and warming weather. In some regions throughout the city, regular fires are lit to melt the remaining snow.
Each Maslenitsa day has its own traditions and name:
- Monday – “meeting”
- Tuesday – “flirt”
- Wednesday – “gourmet”
- Thursday – “revelry”
- Friday – “mother-in-law’s evening”
- Saturday – “pancake”
- Sunday - “forgiveness day”
We started preparing for Maslenitsa from the middle of the previous week. At this time, the housewives cleaned all corners of the house - from the attic to the cellar: they refinished the whitewash of the stoves, scraped tables, benches and floors, prepared holiday dishes for use, swept out garbage from the yard and in front of the gate. They bought a large number of products for the holiday: different types of flour for pancakes, baked goods and pies, salted fish, gingerbread cookies, sweets and nuts for children, collected milk, cream, sour cream and cow butter.
The Saturday before Maslenitsa was called “little Maslenitsa.” On this day it was customary to remember deceased parents. A special treat was baked for them - pancakes - and placed on the shrine, dormer window or roof, left on the graves in the cemetery, and distributed to the poor in churches.
How our ancestors celebrated Maslenitsa, the origin of the holiday
Maslenitsa celebrations began on Monday of the following week. For the entire Russian population, the coming seven days were the most fun and favorite time of the year. Each of them had its own name: Monday - “meeting”; Tuesday – “flirts”; Wednesday – “gourmet”; Thursday - “revelry”, “turning point”, “wide Thursday”; Friday – “mother-in-law’s evening”; Saturday – “sister-in-law’s get-togethers”; Sunday - “seeing off”, “forgiveness”, “forgiveness day”.
The most important were the last four days of the holiday, called “broad” or “rambunctious Maslenitsa”. The day before they should have washed themselves in the bathhouse, “cleansing” themselves of the hardships and misfortunes of the past year. People stopped working in their homes all the time and started visiting relatives and friends.
On Maslenitsa, rich, hearty tables were set with flour and dairy foods, as well as eggs, fish dishes, pies, kvass, and beer. The festive meal necessarily included pancakes - a pagan symbol of the sun and an obligatory attribute of funerals.
“Maslenitsa is a magical time, a holiday when the line blurs not only between free time and work time, but also between the world of the living and the world of the dead,” says Dmitry Baranov, researcher at the Russian Ethnographic Museum.
These days, class, property, and official differences weakened. Unknown people, wanderers, and beggars could be invited to the table. Relatives visiting each other for pancakes brought them closer together and provided a convenient reason to forget the grievances and discontent that had accumulated over the year.
Origin of the holiday
Scientists believe that in pre-Christian times Maslenitsa, adopted by all European peoples, could have been timed to coincide with the New Year, which in ancient times was celebrated not in winter, but in spring - on the day of the vernal equinox - March 21. So it was in Europe, so it was in Rus'.
The second version of the origin of the Maslenitsa ritual brings the dates of this holiday closer to the Kupala holidays. According to her, it could have been a celebration of the arrival of spring, but later, with the advent of Christianity, this place was taken by Easter, and Maslenitsa had to move.
Nowadays, the celebration of Maslenitsa is associated with the lunar calendar and is calculated according to Easter, since its timing depends on the timing of Lent, and that, in turn, on Easter. Thus, the history of mankind has created an amazing synthesis, when a pagan holiday directly depends on a later Christian one. Easter is still determined by the rule established in 325 at the First Council of Nicaea of the Christian Church: Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the spring full moon.
Until the twentieth century, Maslenitsa was celebrated as a national holiday from Monday to Wednesday, and from Thursday to Sunday as a civil holiday.
During the Soviet period, Maslenitsa, unlike Easter, was not prohibited by secular authorities, and even, on the contrary, winter farewell holidays were often held, which included pancakes, mountain rides, and other features of the ancient pagan rite. Scientists believe that it was precisely the pagan character, opposed to Orthodoxy, that helped Maslenitsa maintain its place in national life.
In modern Russia, as in other countries, Maslenitsa traditions are still alive. According to ethnographer Dmitry Baranov, the popularity of Maslenitsa these days can be explained by the fact that it is understandable and associated with simple things - food, fun, welcoming spring.
Why do we celebrate Maslenitsa seven weeks before Easter?
As we know, the most important Orthodox holiday, Easter, falls on different dates every year. Every year this holiday is celebrated on different Sundays of the month. This is due to several factors, in accordance with the lunar calendar, the vernal equinox, as well as the celebration of the Jewish Passover.
And since Easter is a moving Orthodox holiday, that is, it falls on different dates, other church dates of certain holidays are counted from the date of Easter celebration.
Accordingly, the celebration of Maslenitsa falls on different dates every year, or rather just seven weeks before Great Easter. But since the Maslenitsa holiday itself has pagan roots. And the Orthodox Church is against various pagan worldviews.
The last week before Great Lent, which is popularly referred to as simply Maslenitsa festivities and farewells to winter for people who believe in fasting, this week is a preparation for Great Lent, that is, semi-lenten, when it is already forbidden to eat meat products, but eggs, cheese, You can still eat milk.
Traditions of Maslenitsa
Celebrating Maslenitsa is an ancient Slavic tradition. At this time, people have fun, go to visit, have parties and eat pancakes. During Maslenitsa week it is impossible not to rejoice, because very soon farewell to winter and warm days await us. In addition, this is the last week before Lent, which means everyone has the opportunity to eat to their fill.
However, we should not forget that the church has imposed a ban on meat and cheese products on some holidays. During Maslenitsa week, mass celebrations begin, cooking traditional dishes, making stuffed animals, and riding slides and sleighs. The main treat on the Maslenitsa table is pancakes, which symbolize the Sun with their shape and color.
Plus, they are rosy and hot. People bake pancakes in honor of the Sun, which gives us warmth, light and life. This is perhaps the only holiday on which the church does not condemn gluttony. Most of the Slavic rituals passed into the Orthodox world, so to this day people remember the traditions of our ancestors and follow them to bring good luck, prosperity and abundance.
They say goodbye to winter on a grand scale - they burn an effigy of Maslenitsa, which symbolizes the cold and dark days without sunlight. This ritual is considered to be not only a solemn farewell to winter, but also cleansing of negativity, renewal and rebirth.
In ancient times, Maslenitsa was considered a day of remembrance of dead people, but after a while, people who loved entertainment and fun turned Maslenitsa from a day of grief and sadness into a carefree and cheerful holiday.
Its celebration lasts throughout the week, and each day of Maslenitsa has its own special rituals and traditions.
Sunday, March 10, 2019, was called “Forgiven.” This is the time when every person asks for forgiveness from family and friends in order to leave all grievances in the past. This ritual helps to free oneself from doubts, envy and evil. According to church canons, on the last day of Maslenitsa it is customary to pray to the Lord and all the saints for the souls of the dead and those living today.
Maslenitsa is an ancient, cheerful and beloved holiday that has survived to this day. Many Slavic traditions have passed into the modern world and are observed today.
What are the days of Maslenitsa week called: name and description
Maslenitsa week is divided into two periods: Narrow Maslenitsa and Broad Maslenitsa, which have their own traditions. Narrow Maslenitsa is the first three days: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Wide Maslenitsa is the last four days: Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
In the first three days, it was possible to do household work, and from Thursday all work stopped, and Broad Maslenitsa began. Among the people, every day of Maslenitsa has its own name. Maslenitsa days:
The seven days of Maslenitsa are a time when Orthodox Christians eat their fill and have fun before Lent. It was always the strictest and the longest, so while it was allowed to eat and dance, our ancestors did not waste a minute.
- Monday is the beginning of Maslenitsa week.
On Monday, preparations for Maslenitsa were completed: the construction of slides, swings, climbing posts, and fun gatherings began. According to legend, the first pancake, which is always lumpy, was used to remember the dead. In the evening, all residents of the city or village made Maslenitsa - a straw doll, which people identified with winter.
- Tuesday - Flirting.
Single men flirted with potential wives on Tuesday. Young people invited girls to go skating on the skating rink, and in return they treated them to homemade pancakes. This ritual allowed one to look for a daughter-in-law to get married after Easter.
- Lakomka is the third and last day of Narrow Maslenitsa.
This day brought the famous saying “To your mother-in-law for pancakes” to the Slavs. And this saying appeared precisely because on this day the mother-in-law invited her son-in-law to visit, and certainly treated him to the best dishes that she knows how to cook. One of the main treats, of course, was pancakes.
- Thursday - Razgulyay, or Broad Thursday.
On Thursday, all people retired from household work and everyday problems. The holiday was in full force. Some rode horses, some danced in circles, some took part in fist fights, in short, there was enough entertainment for everyone. The Slavs knew many ways to cheer themselves up and actively used them. But the most important fun is taking the snowy city.
- Friday - Party for mother-in-law.
This time the mother-in-law had already come to visit, where her son-in-law was supposed to meet her and, as usual, treat her well and tasty. The mother-in-law never came alone, she was always accompanied by “comrades” - friends, to whom she boasted about her son-in-law.
- Saturday - Sister-in-law's gatherings.
On Saturday, the husband's relatives came to visit the newlyweds; as a rule, these were his sisters. In addition to the wide table, the wife had to present her husband’s relatives with cute and pleasant gifts.
- Sunday - “Farewell to Maslenitsa”. Forgiveness Sunday.
Forgiveness Sunday ends the Maslenitsa week. On this day, close people ask each other for forgiveness for all the troubles and insults caused over the year. After accepting Christianity, they always went to church on this day: the rector asked forgiveness from the parishioners, and the parishioners asked each other for forgiveness, and bowed, asking for forgiveness.
In response to a request for forgiveness, the phrase “God will forgive” is traditionally said. Also on Forgiveness Sunday, it was customary to go to the cemetery and remember deceased relatives.
Just like many years ago, today the culmination of all Maslenitsa is considered to be the burning of an effigy on Sunday. This action symbolizes the end of winter and the onset of spring.
On this day, people held fairs, tea parties with bagels, rolls and pancakes, played games, danced around the Maslenitsa effigy, sang and danced, and finally burned the effigy, dreaming that everything bad that had happened in life would burn with it , and the ashes were scattered across the fields.
Large bonfires were also a significant tradition; they were burned specifically to melt the remaining snow and quickly invite the beautiful spring to visit. They threw old unnecessary things into the fires, thus getting rid of everything that interfered with life.
Round dances were performed around the fires, and one of the favorite pastimes was jumping over a blazing fire. On this day, all old grievances and conflicts were forgotten, and they said: “Whoever remembers the old, look out.”
How is the date of Maslenitsa determined?
Maslenitsa is traditionally a week-long holiday - begins on Monday and ends on Sunday. Each day of Maslenitsa week carries its own meaning and traditions. It’s well known, let’s say, that on Wednesday they go to their mother-in-law’s for pancakes, and on Saturday there are sister-in-law get-togethers.
Naturally, for this reason, the dates of Maslenitsa are not constant. If last year a certain date fell on Monday, then this year it will fall on Tuesday or Wednesday, etc.
Maslenitsa week is not tied to a specific month in the calendar (say, the first full week of March, etc.). And it is tied only to the date of Easter.
Maslenitsa is such an ancient holiday that it was celebrated even before the baptism of Rus'. At first, the Church actively destroyed everything that reminded of the pagan past, and still could not overcome Maslenitsa.
As a result, Maslenitsa week was included in the church calendar; the church made this compromise so that Maslenitsa would not overlap with Lent. Because Maslenitsa was clearly in conflict with the modest abstinence required by the main fast for the Orthodox.
Maslenitsa precedes the beginning of Lent. Immediately the next day after the end of Maslenitsa week, fasting begins. It lasts 7 weeks and ends with Easter. Consequently, Maslenitsa is celebrated annually 8 weeks before Easter.
Signs for Maslenitsa
First of all, Maslenitsa is a time of remembrance of the dead. And the first pancakes baked on Pancake Monday are dedicated to the ancestors.
You should knead the dough and bake pancakes in silence, turning over the faces of your relatives in your memory, remembering their words and actions. The first pancake cannot be eaten: it should be crumbled outside for the birds. According to ancient belief, the birds, having pecked the treat, will fly to heaven and ask the Lord for you and your loved ones. And in the evening, gather the whole family for a meal. This will strengthen family ties and give you reliable protection from your ancestors.
There are many signs associated with Maslenitsa. It is believed that the more pancakes you bake, the more luck, money and health your family will have this year. If you skimp on food and bake few pancakes, then finances won’t matter.
- If the pancakes turned out poorly baked or ugly, this meant that difficult times, illnesses and troubles were just around the corner. During the process of preparing pancakes, one had to be in a good mood, think about good deeds and wish everyone who treated themselves to a pancake goodness and happiness. Each housewife had her own personal recipes for pancakes for Maslenitsa, and they did not always reveal their secrets. In addition to the eggs, flour and milk familiar to all of us, they added potatoes, apples, buckwheat, nuts, and corn to the dough.
- Our ancestors also believed that cold and stormy weather before the start of Maslenitsa meant a good harvest and prosperity.
- And girls who wanted to get married had to get all the men they met - acquaintances and strangers - drunk, because meeting a tipsy man on Maslenitsa is also a good omen, promising a happy and long marriage.
The traditions of celebrating Maslenitsa are rooted deep in our history. Both in the old days and now, this holiday is celebrated on a grand scale, with a variety of entertainment and, of course, pancakes. Many Maslenitsa traditions have survived to this day. No wonder Maslenitsa is one of the most fun folk festivals!
Maslenitsa: what you can and cannot do
1. On Maslenitsa (cheese week) it is strictly forbidden to eat meat and meat products. But eating fish and, accordingly, pancakes with fish is allowed.
2. You can’t swear on Maslenitsa. Set aside this time for the emotions with which you need to meet the beginning of Lent. On Cheese Week, you should never get angry, quarrel or offend your loved ones.
3. Celebrating Maslenitsa does not cancel cleaning the house! It’s better to tidy up properly this week so that in the first week of Lent you can devote more time to prayer, good deeds, and going to church.
4. To the question whether it is possible to work on Maslenitsa, you can safely answer - yes. You can and even need to work! There is even more work: you need to prepare a lot of delicious dishes, but these are all pleasant chores.
It is believed that only then can one enter Lent with a pure soul. On this day, the Lord forgives the sins of those who sincerely repent of their actions.
Maslenitsa is one of the elements of the East Slavic tradition of seeing off winter, combined with folk festivities and the consumption of pancakes with butter. But this holiday combines pagan and Christian beliefs in a bizarre way. So, in church practice there is a Meat Eater - a week during which you can eat meat and a Cheese Week, corresponding to Maslenitsa, but without eating meat products.
When does Maslenitsa week begin?
The celebration of Maslenitsa precedes the beginning of Lent before Easter. And since the date of Easter is floating, Maslenitsa is celebrated on different days. In 2018, it was celebrated from February 12 to 18, and in 2019 it is scheduled for the period from March 4 to 10. Maslenitsa is an analogue of carnivals held in European countries.
In the era before the spread of Christianity among the Slavic peoples, the celebration of Maslenitsa was tied to the spring equinox, which was the beginning of the new year according to the solar calendar. In the northern hemisphere it corresponds to March 20th. Maslenitsa week has different names according to the days of the week; different events take place on these days.
Program and names of the holiday
The holiday program includes mass celebrations, eating pancakes and flatbreads. And representatives of the Belarusian and Ukrainian peoples also prepare dumplings, cheesecakes and perform a ritual called “bodies”. During its implementation, girls and unmarried boys have a deck or some other object tied to their feet, which means censure for not getting married at the right time.
Maslenitsa week has a large number of names, for example, such as: Gluttony, Meat, Obedukha, Buttered half-sucker, Dairy week. With all their diversity, they reflect such an important moment of the holiday as saturation with tasty and nutritious foods before Lent.
Three sides of Maslenitsa
The symbol of the holiday is the effigy of Maslenitsa, which is burned at the stake. This tradition evokes associations with the myth of a pagan deity who periodically dies and is born again. There was another side to the holiday.
The doll itself is the embodiment of fertility and fertility; the ashes remaining after its burning were scattered across the fields, which was supposed to help increase their productivity. This fully applied to the belief that fertility in married couples also increases. This emphasized the importance of the institution of marriage.
The third side of Maslenitsa week was characterized by such a direction as funeral. It was expressed in the presence of such elements of the funeral feast as horse racing and fist fights. According to some folklorists, pancakes, eaten during large meals, were the most funeral food, and not a symbol of the sun, as is commonly believed.
In our time, Maslenitsa Week has embodied ancient pagan and Christian traditions, as it is associated not only with the scarecrow of Maslenitsa, but also with Lent and Forgiveness Sunday.
Preparation - “Small Mask Dish”
Before describing Maslenitsa Week, we will briefly consider the preparation for it. In some areas it began in the previous week, which was called “Motley”. So, on Saturday they baked pancakes in advance. The kids with pancakes “saddled” the poker and, running around the garden, called on winter to go away and summer to come.
On Saturday they began to celebrate “Little Maslenka”. Children, running around the village, picked up discarded bast shoes. When adults returned from the market with shopping, they were asked if they were bringing Maslenitsa. If the answer was no, the children beat them with bast shoes.
On the Sunday immediately preceding Maslenitsa week, which was called “Meat”, they visited relatives, friends and neighbors, inviting them to visit Maslenitsa. And the father-in-law called his son-in-law to “finish the lamb” and eat cheese and butter, that is, eat fast food.
Names of the days of the week: general information
Maslenitsa week before Lent is divided into two parts, the first of them is called “Narrow Maslenitsa”, and the second is called “Wide”. The first part includes the first three days, and the second - the last four. The first three days were allowed to do housework, and the final three days had to be completely devoted to the holiday. The people gave names to the days of Maslenitsa week - each one separately. Let's look at them in detail.
Meeting on Monday
Monday was called "Meeting". Monday morning is the beginning of “Narrow Maslenitsa”. Like every day of Maslenitsa week, it had its own characteristics.
The mother-in-law and father-in-law sent their daughter-in-law to her mother and father for one day. And in the evening they themselves went to visit them. There the timing of the festivities and the composition of the guests were specified. By this time, the construction of swings, booths and snow slides was usually completed.
The process of baking pancakes began. As a rule, the first pancake was given to poor people to commemorate the dead. They made a stuffed Maslenitsa from old clothes and straw, impaled it on a stake, put it in a sleigh and drove it through the streets. Sometimes a cow was driven around the village, with bast shoes put on it.
In Belarusian villages there was a game called “Grandfather’s Funeral.” When it was carried out, a coffin with a straw effigy was placed in the house, which was mourned as if it were a living person. After this, the coffin was carried to the cemetery, buried in straw and set on fire.
Maslenitsa shows
Tuesday is called “Flirting”. On the second day of Maslenitsa week, brides' viewings were held, which were preceded by matchmaking. They were timed to coincide with Maslenitsa in order to celebrate a wedding after Lent, on the first Sunday after Easter (on Krasnaya Gorka). Young people went to ride from the mountains and eat pancakes, inviting relatives and friends with them.
Oily environment
Wednesday was nicknamed "Gourmet". Another name for it is “Fast Wednesday,” that is, the day on which fast food is consumed. The word “skoromny” comes from the ancient Slavic “skorom”, which literally means “fat”. On Wednesday, the son-in-law went to visit his mother-in-law to enjoy the pancakes that she had baked especially for him. Thus, she showed him warmth and respect. In addition to the daughter’s husband, other guests also came and were treated to food.
Revelry Thursday
Continuing the description of each day of Maslenitsa week, I would like to especially note Thursday. It bore several names, for example, such as: “Razgulya”, “Razgulyay-Chetvertok”, “Kolyada Shrovetide”, “Broad Thursday”. It was from this day that the real, widespread celebration began, since all economic activity was suspended. Various fun games began, fist fights, horseback riding and sleigh rides. The main fun on Thursday was the battle for the snowy town.
On this day, fires were lit everywhere, through which ritual jumps were made. The celebration was accompanied by Maslenitsa songs, which described the events of the festivities. They carried a straw horse around the villages, poured water on it at night so that it would freeze and become hard, and they also drove a live goat with an elegant scarf thrown over its head.
The young guys were having fun with special excitement. They frightened passers-by by painting their faces with soot, covered the gates with snow, propped up the entrance doors to houses with logs, dressed up in fur coats turned inside out, and dragged carts onto the roofs of barns.
On Thursday they began to sing carols, when people walked around the courtyards with balalaikas, tambourines, and other musical instruments. For congratulating the hosts on the holiday, the performers were rewarded with money and a glass of wine. Usually all events ended with noisy feasts.
Return visit from mother-in-law
Friday was called “Mother-in-law’s Evening”, since when it came, the mother-in-law came to her daughter and her husband - her son-in-law - for a return visit. Now my daughter was busy baking pancakes. The mother brought with her girlfriends and relatives, to whom the son-in-law had to show his affection along with his mother-in-law.
Saturday get-togethers
Saturday was called “Sister-in-Law’s Gatherings.” On this day, young married women invited their sisters-in-law (husband's sisters) and his other relatives to their house. If the sister-in-law had not yet married, then the daughter-in-law brought her girlfriends, who were also unmarried. And vice versa, for married people, married relatives were called. At the same time, sisters-in-law were presented with gifts.
The culmination of the holiday
Sunday was called “Seeing Off” and, in fact, that’s what it was. It was also called: “The Kisser”, “Cheesefall”, “Forgiveness Sunday”. It was the culmination of the entire Maslenitsa week. At this time, a spell took place, that is, abstaining from work and treating festive dishes before Lent. And also close people turned to each other asking for forgiveness for possible insults and troubles caused.
During the evening service in the church, the rector asked for forgiveness from other church ministers and the believers present. After this, the parishioners also asked each other for forgiveness by bowing. The answer to the request was: “God will forgive.”
In the evening we remembered our deceased relatives and visited the cemetery. The women walked there in complete silence at about four o'clock in the evening, found the grave, knelt down next to it and bowed three times, asking forgiveness from the deceased. After that, pancakes and a bottle of vodka were placed on the grave, and the women also silently went home.
Even on this day, the Russian bathhouse was heated. It was customary to burn the food left over from the holiday and wash the dishes thoroughly. At the end of all festive events, an effigy of Maslenitsa was burned, and its ashes were spread across the fields.
Burning of Maslenitsa
The ritual of seeing off Maslenitsa in different regions of Russia had certain differences. But as a rule, this was the burning of an effigy of Maslenitsa. This effigy personified winter or a mythological female character named Marena, or Morana, who in the Slavic tradition was associated with the rites of permanent dying and resurrection of nature.
The doll was loaded onto a cart, which was at the head of the Maslenitsa train, which sometimes numbered about several hundred horses. Food intended for the remembrance of the dead - eggs, flat cakes, pancakes - was thrown into the fire where the doll was burning. They also made small dolls that symbolized various kinds of unpleasant phenomena. They were thrown into the fire to get rid of adversity in their person.
Sometimes Maslenitsa was not burned, but buried in the ground. At the same time, a parody of a funeral procession was organized, the participants of which carried a stuffed animal through the village, placed in a trough, cradle or in a specially constructed coffin box. A girl with a tied beard made of wool or hemp, wearing cotton clothes imitating a chasuble, portrayed a priest. It could have been a man. A group of mourners brought up the rear of the procession. This ritual was perceived as a joke.
The Maslenitsa holiday has successfully survived to this day. Both the ancient Slavic and Christian traditions that he absorbed, and the schedule of Maslenitsa Week are observed by many Russians. This includes baking pancakes, visiting friends and relatives, and burning an effigy of Maslenitsa. As well as requests for forgiveness, church services, commemoration of the dead and preparation for Lent. Maslenitsa is a cheerful, life-affirming and unifying holiday.
HomeHolidaysMaslenitsa week 2018: date, customs and traditions
What date is Maslenitsa celebrated? in 2018, Maslenitsa week will begin on Monday, February 12, and will end with Forgiveness Sunday - February 18.
The date of Maslenitsa changes every year, as it is celebrated in the last week before the start of Lent, seven weeks before Easter.
Maslenitsa week
Maslenitsa week is one of the most beloved holidays by the people: it marks the end of winter and the arrival of spring. Maslenitsa lasted for 7 days in Rus', and each day had its own meaning and its own name.
Monday – Meeting They started baking pancakes, the first pancake was always given to the poor. They completed the construction of booths, ice slides, wooden swings and carousels, built a scarecrow out of straw and carried it in a sleigh along the street.
Tuesday – Flirting They rode down the mountains, danced around the straw effigy, invited relatives and neighbors to eat pancakes, and held bride viewing parties.
Wednesday – Gourmets On the third day of Maslenitsa week, sons-in-law came to their mothers-in-law for pancakes. You had to eat as many of them as your soul could take.
Thursday – Razgulyay The wide Maslenitsa began, the celebration gained momentum: people rode down the icy mountains, on carousels and swings, in painted sleighs drawn by horses. We watched fist fights, stormed snow forts, lit fires and jumped over fire. The mummers went from house to house with balalaikas and tambourines, congratulated the owners on the holiday and sang carols, and the owners fed the carolers pancakes, gave them wine, and gave them money.
Friday - Mother-in-law's party Here the sons-in-law invited their mothers-in-law and relatives to visit and treated them heartily.
Saturday – Sister-in-law’s gatherings Sisters-in-law and friends came to visit young daughters-in-law.
Sunday – Forgiveness Sunday, farewell to Maslenitsa They were supposed to kiss and ask each other for forgiveness. In response they said: “God will forgive, and I forgive.” The effigy was burned and the ashes were scattered across the fields.
During Maslenitsa week, the consumption of butter, sour cream, eggs and fish was allowed, and it was prescribed to abstain from meat. The food was fatty, they ate a lot of flour: pancakes, flatbreads, cheesecakes. They said: “Eat cheese, butter, sour cream - drive away troubles with the generosity of your soul.” It is believed that Maslenitsa is a time of reconciliation, forgiveness of grievances, and, of course, fun and hearty meals.
Read how Maslenitsa 2018 will be celebrated in Moscow here >>
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Painting by P.N. Georgian “Maslenitsa” (1889)
Maslenitsa is a holiday that has been preserved since pagan times. Celebrated during the week before
Great Lent
The custom of celebrating Maslenitsa dates back to ancient times - from the Greek and Roman bacchanalia and saturnalia. The pagan Slavs also celebrated a spring holiday during this period - welcoming spring and seeing off winter. Among the people, Maslenitsa has always been a fun time. It was believed that anyone who refused to celebrate it would live “in bitter misfortune and end badly.”
It was customary to celebrate Maslenitsa by sledding down the icy mountains and lighting bonfires. And of course, on Maslenitsa it is customary to bake pancakes, because pancakes are a symbol of the sun.
Maslenitsa begins on Monday, which is called “meeting”. On this day they celebrate Maslenitsa, dress up a stuffed doll, and build snowy mountains.
Tuesday is “play”. They build snow and ice fortresses, buffoons sing their ditties.
Wednesday is a “gourmet”. On this day, sons-in-law come to their mothers-in-law for pancakes.
Thursday is “revelry”, the most fun day. They carry a stuffed animal on a wheel, ride around, sing songs, and start caroling.
Friday is “mother-in-law’s evening.” Now the son-in-law invites his mother-in-law to his place and treats her to pancakes.
Saturday is “sister-in-law’s get-together.” The daughter-in-law gives gifts to her sisters-in-law (husband's sisters). On this day, the effigy of Maslenitsa is burned and they finally say goodbye to winter. The ashes are scattered across the field to ensure a good harvest.
The last day of Maslenitsa is “forgiveness Sunday”, “forgiveness day” or “farewell”. The party ends, fires are lit on the ice slides to melt the ice and destroy the cold. They ask for forgiveness and do merciful deeds.
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Maslenitsa - the beginning of cheese week in numbers
Maslenitsa - the beginning of cheese week in other calendars
Maslenitsa - the beginning of cheese week
International holidays
Maslenitsa (Start of Maslenitsa week)
Orthodox holidays
Holidays of Ukraine
Maslenitsa - the beginning of Maslenitsa week
Holidays in Belarus
Apokria - the beginning of Maslenitsa week in Cyprus
Every year Maslenitsa week begins at a different time because it is associated with Lent. This is a wonderful time, filled with various traditions that are almost 2000 years old.
Lent is constantly shifting, which is why Maslenitsa week also changes its start and end dates. In 2018, this tradition will not be an exception, so it is advisable to find out in advance about when the cheerful ancient holiday of Maslenitsa will begin.
The history of the holiday and its meaning
Previously, in pre-Christian times, Maslenitsa was celebrated in the spring, because it was a celebration of the beginning of summer on the day of the vernal equinox. With the advent of Christianity, the traditions of Lent, which falls at this time, also appeared. That is why it was decided to postpone Maslenitsa. Nobody wanted to give up the traditions of Rus', because they were primordial, ancient, like Rus' itself. It brought people together. It was an act of goodwill towards the traditions, thanks to which all people lived in peace and joy for many centuries.
Now Maslenitsa has a double meaning - it is a celebration of the end of winter, its farewell. Pancake week, as this period is called differently, is divided into two large parts - narrow and wide Maslenitsa. The first three days are narrow Maslenitsa. On these spring days in ancient Rus', people rested and walked, although working in the fields was not forbidden. As for the second part of Maslenitsa, it was already forbidden to work there. Every day of Maslenitsa still has its own unique name, traditions and meaning. Throughout Russia there are a considerable number of people who bake pancakes and preserve traditions for subsequent generations. The pancake is a symbol of the Sun, and the holiday itself is a triumph of life and joy.
Maslenitsa in 2018
Lent begins on February 19th. Therefore, Maslenitsa week will pass from February 12 to the 18th inclusive. Traditions will not differ from previous years of celebration, but believers should not forget that these are the last days before the most important fast preceding Easter. It is worth having a lot of fun this week, because then the church recommends starting to abstain from watching TV, from excessive fun, drinking alcohol and fatty animal foods.
In this way, welcome spring, forcing winter to recede. This year the winter is turning out to be quite peaceful and moderate, but no one knows what awaits us at the end of February and beginning of March. They say that spring will be early, so let's rejoice in this fact together during the upcoming Maslenitsa week.
Believers need to remember that Maslenitsa is the time of cheese week. You can't eat meat this week. Cheese week is an alternative church name for the last week before Lent. In churches, during services they remember the expulsion of Adam from paradise. The last Sunday before Lent is called Forgiveness, because you need to forgive everyone who has offended you and ask for forgiveness from those you have offended in the past.
This will be an important week for all Slavic peoples, all Christians and people who honor traditions. You can safely have fun, but we must not forget that the most important church calendar stage of the year is approaching. Great Lent is approaching, which will help believers cleanse their souls and prepare for Easter. Good luck and don't forget to press the buttons and
31.01.2018 05:01
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