A wide Shrovetide spends the Tyumen winter. Shrovetide history

UDC 39

Pancake week. The history of the holiday and its traditions.

Maslenitsa. The history of the holiday and its traditions.

Annotation: This thesis is devoted to the examination of the traits of the Russian national character through the prism of Russian traditional holidays on the example of Maslenitsa. The history of Maslenitsa goes back to pre-Christian Russia. Maslenitsa, as the brightest, funniest, widest and most spectacular Russian holiday, is popular among the Russian people. Today Maslenitsa is a symbol of Russian folk holidays with a thousand-year history.

Annotation: This thesis is devoted to consideration of features of the Russian national character through the prism of Russian traditional holidays, for example carnival. The history of carnival rooted in pre-Christian Russia. Carnival, as the bright, cheerful, wide and spectacular Russian holiday, is popular among the Russian people. Today, Maslenitsa is a symbol of Russian folk festivals with a millennial history.

Keywords: Maslenitsa, Russian national holiday, national character, traits of Russian national character

Thekeywords: Maslenitsa, a Russian national holiday, national character features of Russian national character

National character is a combination of the most stable for a given national community features of emotional and sensory perception of the surrounding world and forms of reactions to it. It is expressed in emotions, feelings, moods and manifests itself in national temperament.

Since ancient times, since its inception, Russia has established itself as an unusual, unique, attractive and incomprehensible country. About Russia F.I. Tyutchev (1803 - 1873 ) said:

The mind of Russia does not understand

A common yardstick cannot be measured:

She has a special become -

You can only believe in Russia.

These lines are certainly relevant to this day. Russia is a country that does not fall under any standards, patterns and laws of logic. Her character is the character of her people, it is complex and contradictory.

Many factors influence the formation of a national character that has been developing for a long time in history. Among these factors, the most important are culture and history. Traditional holidays as an important component of the national culture are considered to be carriers, reflecting and inheriting the national culture; the process of accumulation and coagulation of national history and culture over a long period of time; a combined indication of national character and national culture; a true profile picture of the nation and state. Therefore, with the help of Russian national traditional holidays, it will be useful to further and deeply research and analyze the Russian national character.

The history of Maslenitsa goes back to pre-Christian Russia. Maslenitsa, as the brightest, funniest, widest and most spectacular Russian holiday, is popular among the Russian people. On the days of Maslenitsa there are a number of rituals: burning a straw effigy of Winter, cooking and eating pancakes, sleigh rides and an echo of pagan rituals. Today Maslenitsa is a symbol of Russian folk holidays with a thousand-year history. No country celebrates anything like this.

This thesis is devoted to the examination of the traits of the Russian national character through the prism of Russian traditional holidays on the example of Maslenitsa. It consists of an introduction, main text, conclusion and bibliography.

The introduction includes a statement of the relevance, purpose, objectives, significance and research methods of this thesis. The basic concept of the Russian national character is briefly noted.

The main text is divided into two chapters. The first chapter explains general information about Maslenitsa: its origin, traditions of celebration, and influence on modern Russian society.

The second chapter sets out the main features of the Russian national character, manifested in the customs and traditions of the Russian traditional Maslenitsa holiday, analyzes in detail such features as religiosity, belligerence, hospitality and collegiality.

In conclusion, we came to the conclusion: the Russian national holiday Maslenitsa is an effective way to study the traits of the Russian national character. Shrovetide can clearly reflect the main features of the Russian national character.

Introduction

Chapter 1 General information about Shrovetide

1.1. The origin of Shrovetide.

1.2. Shrovetide traditions

1.3. The impact of Maslenitsa on modern Russian society

Chapter 2 Traits of the Russian national character through the prism of Maslenitsa

2.1. Religiosity

2.2. Militancy

2.3. Hospitality

2.4. Collegiality

Conclusion

Literature

Introduction

Everyone knows that every people inhabiting our planet does not arise from niotkut. Over the course of thousands of years, with the development of society, each nation has gradually developed peculiar customs, well-established traditions and the most incredible and exotic rituals, which make up the invisible, but purely individual cultural baggage of each nationality. Customs and rituals are an integral part of life. Every nation is a complex world. The members of the people have the same language, a common environment of politics and economics, common sources of history, a common territory and the accumulation of culture. Thus, they have many common features, which are called national character traits.

About national character, in different fields of research there are different terms, such as the main personality types, national traits, social character, ethnic characteristics, national mentality, national individuality, in fact, they all indicate national character. National character is a unique national flavor of emotions and feelings, ways of thinking and actions, stable and national features of habits and traditions that are formed under the influence of living conditions, the characteristics of the historical development of a given nation and manifested in the specifics of its national culture. It changes with changes in faith, natural environment, social regime, etc. In the ethnic consciousness of each people in a stereotypical form there are ideas about the typical ideas of a particular nation: the British are conservative, the Germans are neat and hardworking, the Spaniards are proud, etc. ... A lot and in very different ways have been written about the Russian national identity as the Russians themselves.

Russia, a vast country, has the largest area in the world, a special geographical position, and even a harsh climate. Therefore, Russians have a mysterious soul, resilience, a tendency to extremes, the ability to survive under any circumstances, generosity, self-confidence, courage, honesty, kindness, love of freedom, hard work, humanity, cordiality, compassion, selflessness, striving for justice, etc.

Writer A.N. Tolstoy wrote: “The Russian character is light, open, good-natured, compassionate ... when life does not demand him for a heavy sacrifice. But when trouble comes - the Russian person is harsh, two-stricken in work and merciless to the enemy, not sparing himself, he does not spare the enemy either ... In the little things, the Russian person can be unfair to himself and others, to get off with a joke ... But justice in big ideas and big deeds lives. It is ineradicable in it. In the name of justice, in the name of the common, in the name of the Motherland, without thinking about himself, he will throw himself into the fire. "

An invaluable contribution to the study of the Russian national character was made by the book of the Russian philosopher N.O. Lossky (1870 - 1965) "The character of the Russian people." In his book, Lossky gives the following list of the main features, such as religiosity, sociability, feeling and will, love of freedom, inherent in the Russian national character.

The importance of N.A. Berdyaev imparted a collective-tribal principle in the development of the Russian national character and in the fate of Russia. According to Berdyaev, "spiritual collectivism", "spiritual conciliarism" is "a high type of brotherhood of people." Such collectivism is the future. But there is also another collectivism. This is "irresponsible collectivism", which dictates to a person the need to "be like everyone else." The Russian man, Berdyaev believed, is drowning in such collectivism, he feels himself immersed in the collective. Hence the lack of personal dignity and intolerance towards those who are not like others, who, thanks to their work and abilities, have the right to more.

In the Russian people there is such a proverb: “ Better to die standing than live on your knees". This proverb figuratively reflects the belligerence of the Russian people. The Russian people are distinguished from other peoples by their belligerence. The reason is that a sense of honor plays an important role. A sense of honor is an indestructible foundation laid in Russians. It cannot be destroyed.

Holidays are the most reliable sources of information about the national character, since there is no individual behind them, their creator is the people, this is a collective creation. Of the many Russian national holidays, Maslenitsa is the brightest, funniest, widest and most spectacular Russian holiday, it is distinguished by unique traditions and rituals, provides rich material for a comprehensive study of the character traits of the nation. In the long process of development of Russian culture and history, Maslenitsa honestly captures in its semantics peculiar Russian cultural attitudes and stereotypes, directly or indirectly reflects the views of the Russian people, the ideology of its era, and the peculiarities of the Russian national character. Therefore, we have chosen the Maslenitsa holiday as our subject of research, through the prism of this holiday we analyze the features of the Russian national character, which is our goal of the study.

Based on the set goal, the following tasks are distinguished:

1) Present the basic information of Shrovetide;

2) Find out the origin and important traditions of the celebration of Maslenitsa;

3) Point out how Maslenitsa affects modern Russian society;

4) Analyze the traits of the Russian national character using the traditions and customs of Maslenitsa.

To solve the set tasks, the following methods are used: method of continuous sampling; contextual observation method; contextual analysis method; method of comparison and generalization.

The significance of the study lies in identifying one of the most important Russian holidays - Maslenitsa, in a deeper and more comprehensive knowledge of the traits of the Russian national character. All this is of great importance for learners of the Russian language or people who deal with Russians.

Chapter 1 General information about Maslenitsae

1.1. The origin of ShrovetideNS

Shrovetide is a Russian folk holiday, rooted in ancient times, originated in those days when the Slavs did not yet know Christianity, they were pagans, then the beginning of the New Year was celebrated not in winter, but with the arrival of spring, the first of March. It is believed that it was a Slavic holiday of farewell to winter, and at the same time there was a farewell to the old year and a meeting of the new one. With the introduction of Christianity to Russia, the church tried to prohibit noisy pagan Slavic ritual activities, to eradicate cheerful folk festivals, but nothing came of it. Thus, in Shrovetide, agrarian and family ritual actions, echoes of pagan and Christian ideas about the human being and the structure of the world around them, intertwined.

Shrovetide is called differently, all these names have the same thoughts. Due to the abstinence from meat, the name of meat-and-mouth came about; from eating cheese - cheese week; from the widespread use of oil - Shrovetide, which lasts a whole week before Lent. In the calendar and church books, the name of the cheese week is used. At this time, Russians do not eat anything meat, but they can eat fish, milk, eggs and cheese. Therefore, the well-known name of this week throughout Russia is Maslenitsa.

Russians celebrate Maslenitsa in the last week before Lent, which lasts seven weeks and ends with Easter. During Great Lent, the Church instructs believers to refrain from fast foods (meat, butter, etc.), amusements and entertainment - this is the people who seek to have fun "for the future." An ancient proverb says: "As you celebrate the new year, so you will spend it." Therefore, Maslenitsa was celebrated on a large scale: they sang songs, danced in round dances, called for Spring, burned a scarecrow of winter. Each ritual has a special meaning. In this holiday, the cult of ancestors, agrarian and family cults are well traced. It is believed that the cult of ancestors can be traced in the tradition of baking ritual pancakes (part of the memorial food), as well as in the tradition of Forgiven Sunday. The family and generic nature of the holiday can be associated with the name of the Shrovetide days. The agrarian cult can be traced in many holidays, including the rituals of Maslenitsa.

Pancakes are the main symbol of Maslenitsa. They symbolize light, victory over evil and the arrival of spring. This symbolism of the pancake is quite understandable, because it is as hot, golden and round as the sun. It is also believed that the more pancakes you eat for Shrovetide, the richer and happier you will live the year.

1.2. Shrovetide traditions

During the Maslenitsa celebrations, Orthodox traditions play an important role in history. The last preparatory week for Great Lent is called Cheese Week. This week - this time in the church calendar is associated with reflections on the coming end of evil and the victory of good after the Last Judgment - during this week Christians should feel "the joy of the expected coming of the Kingdom of God."

According to tradition, festive feasts with family and friends are supposed to be held on Shrove Tuesday, visiting each other - all this brings together, gives a reason to ask the grievances and discontent that have accumulated over the year, because at the end of this week, on the day before Lent, there is a forgiveness Sunday.

The Church warns the flock against any immoderation. Drunkenness, frivolous actions and dangerous games at this time - while having fun, one should not forget about the high preparatory purpose of this bright, joyful week. " Peace with the ancestors may weep bitterly: fallen to sweet food with the fallen”, Sounds in the hymns of Cheese Week - this is how the fall of Adam and Eve, which occurred from intemperance, is recalled, and the praise of fasting with its saving fruits is contained. With this reading, the Church reminds us that we must do good deeds, and calls sinners to repentance, reminding us that we will have to answer for all sins. On Cheese Week, the Sacrament of Wedding is no longer performed, the Liturgy is not served on Wednesday and Friday, and a prayer is said at the Clock.

Maslenitsa folk traditions also occupy an important place. On Shrovetide, throughout the week, fun, traditions and fun always follow an established sequence, which is expressed in the name of Shrovetide days. On Monday - Shrovetide meeting, on Tuesday - flirting. On Wednesday of Shrove Tuesday, mother-in-law invited sons-in-law and wives to pancakes. This custom was especially observed in relation to the young, recently married, hence the expression "to the mother-in-law for pancakes." The busiest tobogganing took place on wide Thursday. On Friday - mother-in-law's evening - the sons-in-law called the mother-in-law for a treat. Saturday was allotted to the sister-in-law's gatherings. Sunday was called "forgiveness day", on this day everyone visited relatives, friends and acquaintances, exchanged kisses, bows and asked for forgiveness from each other if offended by words or deeds. The whole week was called "honest, wide, cheerful, Maslenitsa boyarynya, Madame Maslenitsa."

Monday is called meeting. On this day, ice slides, swings and booths were being completed, the Maslenitsa effigy was dressed up in old women's clothes. They put him on a large pole and took him on a sleigh with cheerful, glorious songs. Then the scarecrow was installed on an ice slide, from which sledding was arranged. On Monday, pancakes began to be baked, and the first pancake was usually received by the beggars in commemoration of the dead.

Tuesday is called "flirting". In the morning, young people rode down the mountains and ate pancakes, and also invited relatives and friends to visit: “We have mountains ready, and pancakes are baked - please welcome.” Theatrical performances with the participation of Petrushka and Maslenitsa grandfather were given in wooden booths. The buffoons sang ditties. It was customary to build ice fortresses, to arrange comic battles. At the end of the 18th century, festivities were organized in St. Petersburg on St. Isaac's Square, where booths and merry-go-rounds were set up, and ice slides were built. In Moscow we went sledding along the Moskva River and the Neglinka River. We held masquerades on Moscow streets.

On Wednesday, at the “gourmands”, tables were set in every family, offering guests pancakes, dishes made from fish, eggs, cottage cheese, and milk. In some regions of Russia, mother-in-law paid special attention to their sons-in-law - "mother-in-law pancakes". In cities and towns, trade tents were set up, where they offered hot sbitni, Russian gingerbread, nuts, boiling tea from a samovar.

Thursday was the middle of games and fun. Perhaps it was then that the hot Maslenitsa fist fights took place, fists, originating from Ancient Russia. They also had their own strict rules. It was impossible, for example, to beat a lying person, “they don’t beat a person while lying down,” two of them could not attack one “two are fighting - the third should not go in,” to beat below the belt or “one on one”. In addition, everyone enjoyed riding on ice slides, swings and horses, organizing feasts, carnivals, and starting carols. We walked from morning to evening, danced, danced in circles, and sang ditties. In vain is Thursday also called "wide revelry."

Friday was famous for "mother-in-law evenings". A number of Shrovetide customs were aimed at speeding up weddings, helping young people to find a mate. And how much attention and honors were given to the newlyweds at Shrovetide! Tradition requires them to go out in a smart way "on people" in painted sleighs, pay visits to everyone who walked at their wedding, so that they solemnly roll down the icy mountain with songs. However, the most important event associated with the newlyweds was the visit of the mother-in-law by the sons-in-law, for whom she baked pancakes and arranged a real feast (if, of course, the son-in-law was to her liking). In some places, "mother-in-law pancakes" took place for gourmets, that is, on Wednesday during Shrovetide week, but could coincide with Friday. If on Wednesday the sons-in-law were visiting their mother-in-law, then on Friday the sons-in-law organized “mother-in-law evenings” and invited them to pancakes. An ex-boyfriend usually showed up, playing the same role as at the wedding, and receiving a gift for his troubles. The invited mother-in-law (there was such a custom) was obliged to send in the evening everything necessary for baking pancakes: a frying pan, a ladle, etc., and the father-in-law sent a bag of buckwheat groats and cow butter. The son-in-law's disrespect for this event was considered dishonor and insult, and was the reason for eternal enmity between him and his mother-in-law

Saturday - sister-in-law's gatherings. The sister-in-law is the husband's sister. So, on this Saturday, young daughters-in-law received their relatives and gave them gifts. Everything is obvious, on this "Fatty Shrovetide" every day of this generous week was accompanied by a special feast.

The last day of Shrovetide week was called “Forgiveness Sunday”: relatives and friends did not go to each other to celebrate, but with “obedience”, asked for forgiveness for intentional and accidental offenses and griefs caused in the current year. When meeting sometimes “even with a stranger,” it was necessary to stop and with three bows and “tearful words” ask for mutual forgiveness: “Forgive me for what I am guilty of or have sinned in front of you”. “May God forgive you, and I forgive,” the interlocutor answered, after which it was necessary to kiss as a sign of reconciliation. The festivities ended, fires were made on the ice slides to melt the ice and drive away the cold. On this day of final farewell to winter, an effigy of Maslenitsa was burned, and the ashes were scattered across the fields so that there was a good harvest.

1.3. The impact of Maslenitsa on modern Russian society

Everyone knows that a holiday creates a sense of community, which is facilitated by various ceremonies, holiday rites, in which words, music, movement, light, color, artistically embody the idea, all this creates a special atmosphere. Its participants experience a feeling of "cleansing the soul", therefore, the peculiarity of the festive culture is manifested not only in the pragmatic side, but also in the spiritual side.

Paganism, as the first religion of the Slavs, gave the Russians Maslenitsa, magnificent wedding ceremonies and Christmas fortune-telling. Weddings were played in the fall or winter, in the intervals between long fasts. The most popular was the so-called "wedding" - the period from Christmas to Maslenitsa.

Modern wedding customs have transformed somewhat over time, but have not changed ruinously. Many Russian weddings take place during this period - from Christmas to Maslenitsa.

A peculiar symbol of Shrovetide is a golden, round and hot pancake, which symbolizes happiness, fun, hope, light and faith in the future. It is a traditional dish of Shrovetide Week. Now more and more Russians treat their loved ones and guests with delicious pancakes.

The influence of Shrovetide is reflected in works of art of various kinds, such as literature, music, drawing, films, etc. For example, the famous Russian film "The Barber of Siberia" is popular throughout Russia, in which director Nikita Mikhalkov recreated the full Maslenitsa with the help of the presentation of the traditions and customs of Maslenitsa.

Modern Russians love Shrovetide for the mood that it gives and do not think about what this holiday gives, why it has survived to this day. The fact is that Maslenitsa combines not only the tradition of seeing off winter and welcoming spring, but also serves as a factor in strengthening the family and reconciling all relatives.

Shrovetide contributes to the modern Russian society to stability, prosperity and energy.

Chapter 2 Traits of the Russian national character through the prism of Maslenitsa

The Russian national character, its uniqueness and incomprehensibility, has long awakened among scientists the keenest interest and desire to understand, explain one or another of its characteristic features, to find the roots of the tragic circumstances accompanying the history of Russia. However, it seems that the Russian people still cannot understand themselves, explain or at least justify their behavior in a given situation.

Today the Russian people are experiencing a turning point in their history. One of the irreparable losses that befell Russia in the 20th century is associated with the decline of national identity and the loss of age-old spiritual values. The awakening of Russia, of course, must begin with the spiritual revival of its people, i.e. with the attempt of the Russian people to understand themselves, to resurrect their best qualities and eradicate their shortcomings.

In the process of studying the traits of the Russian national character, we notice that such traits as religiosity, belligerence, hospitality, and collegiality always occupy an absolutely important place in the history of Russia. In the future, we completely represent these four main features of the Russian national character through the prism of the Maslenitsa holiday.

2.1. Religiosity

Religion is a special form of awareness of the world, conditioned by belief in the supernatural, which includes a set of moral norms and types of behavior, rituals, cult actions and the unification of people in an organization. She, too, is the prevailing worldview in most countries of the world; the majority of those surveyed consider themselves to be one of the religions.

The religious system of representing the world is based on religious faith and is associated with a person's relationship to the superhuman spiritual world, a kind of superhuman reality about which a person knows something, and to which he must orient his life in some way. Faith can be reinforced by mystical experience.

The foundations of the religious concepts of most world religions are written by people in sacred texts, which, according to believers, are either dictated by the gods, or written by people who have reached the highest spiritual state from the point of view of each specific religion, great teachers, especially enlightened or dedicated, saints, etc. ...

ON. Berdyaev notes that the Russian people are religious in their type and in their spiritual structure. Slavic paganism is a fragment of the ancient Indo-European religion that developed independently in the first millennium of the Russian era, represented in ancient Indian and Roman texts. The main features of Slavic paganism as a worldview are the spiritualization of nature, the cult of ancestors and supernatural forces, the belief in their constant presence and participation in human life, developed lower mythology, belief in the possibility of influencing the state of affairs in the world by means of primitive magic, anthropocentrism. Under Vladimir Svyatoslavich in 988, Christianity became the state religion in Ancient Rus. The adoption of Christianity as a state religion inevitably entailed the elimination of pagan cults, which had previously enjoyed the grand ducal patronage. But the clergy condemned pagan rites and festivals (some of them persisted for a long time due to what some researchers qualify as religious syncretism or dual faith).

The ritual side of Maslenitsa is very complex and multi-component, combining elements of both Slavic mythology and folk Christianity. It includes rituals related to the cult of ancestors, and to the turning point - the beginning of a new cycle, and to the stimulation of fertility.

Soviet folklorist V.Ya. Propp, developing the ideas of W. Vannhardt and J. Fraser, considered the main goal of the Maslenitsa rituals to stimulate fertility, which is especially relevant in connection with the upcoming start of field work.

The personification of the holiday is the effigy of Maslenitsa, which is an echo of an archaic dying and resurrecting deity. An effigy of Maslenitsa was presented, according to V.Ya. Propp, the focus of fertility and fertility, and the rituals of his seeing off were supposed to communicate this fertility to the earth: as you know. Ashes from a scarecrow, or a torn scarecrow, were scattered across the fields.

For the peasant, the fertility of the land was extremely important, so he tried to influence him in this way. This was especially important in the spring, when the earth will soon awaken from its winter sleep and begin to bear fruit. The function of stimulating fertility is the burning of old and dried up fertility, death for future birth, an impetus for a new revival of fertile forces. Many rituals of Maslenitsa, such as "tselovnik" (forgiven day), reviews of newlyweds, their guesting, skiing from the mountains and sledding, comic pursuit of single men, are associated with newlyweds and unmarried youth. By this, the society showed the exceptional importance of marriage for the reproduction of the population, and therefore honored young people of reproductive age. The fertility of people in the popular mind was inextricably linked with the fertility of the land and the fertility of livestock.

The third side of Maslenitsa is connected with the stimulation of fertility - the memorial. The ancestors of the marching, according to the ideas of the peasants, were simultaneously in the other world and in the land, which means they could influence its fertility. Therefore, it was extremely important not to anger the ancestors and honor them with your attention. For this, in Maslenitsa there is a wide layer of memorial rituals: elements of funeral feast (fist fights, horse races, etc.), sometimes - visiting cemeteries, always - plentiful meals (initially memorial), which necessarily included pancakes, which have become the main attribute of Maslenitsa in the modern mass consciousness ...

According to the modern Russian folklorist A.B. Moroz, claims that Maslenitsa is its own pagan holiday. Shrovetide rituals rethink what the Church offers. In particular, fasting in traditional culture is understood primarily as food restrictions; therefore, before starting the fast, it is necessary to eat as much as possible. The main feature in which the pagan essence of Shrovetide is usually seen is the manufacture and burning of a stuffed animal. But in reality, this scarecrow was never considered a semblance of an idol, and the rite itself, apparently, has game roots.

All the evidence proves that some of the rites are pagan, and many come from the Orthodox. This phenomenon is called dual faith. The concept of dual faith, often used in relation to the traditional culture of the Slavs. For the bearers of the tradition, the system of beliefs was unified and organically combined the worship of Christian God and the forces of nature and powerful ancestors.

Dual faith reflects the features of Russians in the rituals of the holidays. Shrovetide not only has pagan rituals, but also has Orthodox rites. Thus, we can see that Russian writers and philosophers, analyzing the traits of the Russian character arising from the basis of Russian culture - Orthodoxy and Paganism, note their duality and contradiction: on the one hand, height, spirituality, craving for justice, and on the other - laziness, inactivity, irresponsibility.

It should be noted that it was Orthodoxy that organically lay down on those character traits that are "inborn, childlike" inherent in the Eastern Slavs: "openness, straightforwardness, natural ease, simplicity in behavior (up to a fair amount of simplicity)" the ease of human relations ("strangers in a minute meeting can feel close" - G. Fedotov); responsiveness, the ability to understand everything; breadth of character, scope of decisions (" than live with crying, so die with songs»).

According to N. Lossky, all social (both the upper and lower) strata of Russia adopted Christianity to such an extent that the ideal of the people was not the mighty, not the rich, but “Holy Russia”. S.L. Frank writes that the Russian spirit is permeated with religiosity.

On the other hand, according to the historian and philosopher L.P. Karsavin, an essential aspect of the Russian spirit is religiosity, Russian Orthodoxy has a serious drawback - its passivity, inaction. Solzhenitsyn himself notes that confidence in the future deification provides for the present. If the Russian doubts the absolute ideal, then he can reach the extreme bestiality or indifference to everything. Uniform methodology, perseverance, internal discipline - most painfully lacking in the Russian character, this may be the main vice of the Russian people.

Among the shortcomings of the Russian character, which are the reverse side of its merits, A. Solzhenitsyn listed: the well-known Russian patience, supported by bodily and spiritual endurance; undeveloped sense of justice, replaced by a craving for living justice; the age-old alienation of the Russian people from politics and social activities; lack of desire for power: the Russian person shunned power and despised it as a source of inevitable impurity, temptations and sins; in contrast to this - the thirst for strong and righteous actions of the ruler, the thirst for a miracle; hence - a destructively small ability to unite forces, to self-organization.

2.2. Militancy

Fist fights were held in winter during Christmas time on Maslenitsa and sometimes on Semik. At the same time, preference was given to Maslenitsa, the wild nature of which made it possible for the male part of the village to show their daring and youth in front of everyone. The teams were formed on the basis of the social or territorial community of the participants.

Two villages could fight each other, residents of opposite ends of one large village, monastery peasants with landowners, etc. Fistfights were prepared in advance: the teams jointly chose a place for the battle, agreed on the rules of the game and the number of participants, and elected chieftains.

In addition, the moral and physical training of the fighters was necessary. Men and boys steamed in the baths, tried to eat more meat and bread, which, according to legend, gave strength and courage. Some of the participants resorted to various kinds of magical techniques to increase their fighting courage and power.

So, for example, one of the old Russian medical books contains the following advice: “ Kill the black snake with a saber or a knife, and take out the tongue from it, and screw it into the green and black taffeta, and put it in the boot on the left, and put your shoes in the same place. Walking away, don't look back, and who asks where you were, don't say anything to him».

Fist fights in Russia could take place not only with fists, but also with sticks, while fist fighting was more often chosen. The soldiers were supposed to have special uniforms: thick, tow-hemmed checkers and fur mittens, which softened the blow. Fighting could be carried out in two versions: "wall to wall" and "clutch-dump".

In a wall-to-wall battle, the fighters, lining up in one row, had to keep him under the pressure of the enemy's “wall”. It was a battle in which various tactical military techniques were used. The fighters held the front, walked like a wedge - "pig", changed fighters of the first, second, third row, retreated into an ambush, etc. The battle ended with the breakthrough of the "wall", the enemy and the flight of the enemies. It is generally accepted that this type of fist fight took shape no earlier than the 18th century.

During the battle "clump-dump", each chose an opponent according to his strength and did not retreat until complete victory, after which he "grappled" into battle with the other. The Russian fist fight, in contrast to the fight, was carried out in compliance with certain rules, which included the following: "do not hit a lying person", "do not fight like a cripple", "do not hit a smear", that is, if the enemy has blood, finish him fight. It was impossible to strike from behind, from the rear, but to fight only face to face.

An important point of the fist fight was the fact that its participants always belonged to the same age group. The battle was usually started by teenagers, they were replaced on the field by guys, and then young married men - “strong fighters” - entered the battle.

This arrangement maintained equality of arms. The battle began with the passage of the main fighters, that is, guys and men, surrounded by teenagers along the village street to the chosen place of the battle. On the field, the guys became two "walls" - teams against each other, demonstrating their strength in front of the enemy, slightly bullying him, taking belligerent postures, encouraging themselves with appropriate shouts.

At this time, in the middle of the field, teenagers were arranging a "junkyard-dump", preparing for future battles. Then the cry of the chieftain was heard, followed by a general roar, whistle, shout: "Give me a fight," and the battle began. The most powerful fighters joined the battle at the very end.

The old men who watched the fistfights discussed the actions of the young, gave advice to those who had not yet entered the battle. The battle ended with the flight of the enemy from the field and the general merry drinking of the guys and men who participated in it. Fist fights have accompanied Russian festivities for many centuries.

A detailed description of the battles of the "good fellows of fist fighters" was given by foreigners who visited Muscovy in the 16th-17th centuries. Fist fights educated men in endurance, the ability to withstand blows, stamina, dexterity and courage. Participation in them was considered a matter of honor for every guy and young man.

The feats of the fighters were praised at men's revels. Passed by word of mouth, found their reflection in remote songs, epics:

Yes, they came together with spears—

Only the spears, you in the rings were knocked off.

Yes, the heroes gathered with sticks—

Only the sticks turned away from the chipped bumps.

They jumped off their good horses,

Yes, they grabbed hand-to-hand combat.

The Russian people are initially and historically militant! This is where the rebellious spirit, vengefulness, thirst to fight until victory originates! The most famous robbers and the best warriors belonged to the Russian people. And even now the words "Russian mafia" or "Russian army" cause unpleasant sensations in the fifth point for all Russian enemies.

The entire history of the Russian people is saturated with military valor. Regardless of the profession, all men and many women mastered the art of war. And all the main Russian gods were warriors, in addition to their direct duties. What can we say about dances, songs, games and tales. For example, at the word round dance, a person represents girls and boys who dance in sandals around a birch to mournful songs. But in fact, there were also military dances. Purely male, when the hands are on the shoulders, and the roar from the powerful throats reaches the heavens.

The fame of the military valor of Russian ancestors resounded not only throughout Europe. Many ancient historians reported on the glory and power of the Russian people. All huge Russian territories were captured and held in wars. And Russian ancestors were all wars, this is evident from traditions, customs and history.

The fact is that the severity of the climate and the location of the land were strongly reflected in the character of the Russian people. Severe winters, lasting up to six months, have formed in the Russian people tremendous willpower, perseverance in the struggle for survival in a cold climate. Long winters have made Russians patient and melancholy. They gained the ability to sharply mobilize forces, due to the need for emergency work in the summer months. The climate and adversity made the Russian person prudent and pragmatic, but at the same time able to act "headlong", because even a sound calculation was not always able to protect from the whims of nature. Also, in the harsh climate, the Russians simply needed community and a sense of community. The vast spaces gave the Russian people breadth of soul, liberty and striving for freedom.

The very need to defend their vast and tasty territories for other territories contributed to the military spirit.

2.3. Hospitality

Hospitality is a universal tradition of everyday life culture, which prescribes the obligation of cordiality and care for the guest. It has always been a characteristic feature of the Russian character. According to A. Padchin, “For the ancient Slavs, a guest was sacred, to offend a guest meant to offend the entire tribe. In the Slavic lands there were practically no robbers, and among the Slavs there was theft, but if, due to poverty, a person could not well receive a guest, then he could even go for theft. The mores of our ancestors allowed this. "

In the minds of Russians, the word "guest" always evokes feelings of "happiness" and "joy": Guest to Guest— joy to the owner. Guest on the doorstep - happiness to the house... When the guests arrived, the Russians were happy immediately. For a good guest and the gate is wide open... And everything is ready for the guest in the house: the attention of the owners, and care, and the best place, and the best treat from the heart. The statement of one foreign tourist about Russia: "Guests come to Russia with one suitcase, and leave with two and with many plastic bags with zucchini, salad, jam, books and souvenirs." They call it "Russian hospitality."

In the word hospitality in the foreground is a person's readiness to let a stranger into his house or even to provide him with shelter. For a hospitable person, his home is not a fortress, but a place where he is happy to invite guests. And a guest for him is a joy in any situation: "Although he is not rich, he is glad to have guests."

The third day of Maslenitsa—« gourmet» ... The Russian people had such songs that are dedicated to the third day of Maslenitsa.

Aunt Barbara,

my mother sent me:

Give me pans and a frying pan,

torment and grease.

The water is in the oven, wants the oven pancakes.

Where are the pancakes, here we are.

On this day, people feasted on pancakes and other Shrovetide dishes. Pancakes were baked with an endless variety: wheat, barley, oatmeal, buckwheat, from unleavened and sour dough. Mother-in-law invited their sons-in-law to pancakes for the "gourmet", and all their relatives were summoned for the fun of their beloved son-in-law.

Russians are distinguished by the fact that they love not only to receive guests, but also to visit. Therefore, n Day of Maslenitsa - mother-in-law's evening—guest day. They said: “ Though the mother-in-law's pancakes are sweet, but the mother-in-law is treated to the Butter son-in-law».

On mother-in-law's evenings, sons-in-law treat their mother-in-law to pancakes. There are honorable invitations, with all relatives for dinner, or simply for one dinner. In the old days, the son-in-law was obliged to personally invite the mother-in-law in the evening, and then in the morning he would send smartly invited people. The more there were called, the more honors the mother-in-law was.

The girls brought out pancakes at noon in a bowl on their heads. They walked towards the rolling slide. The guy who liked the girl was in a hurry to taste the blink, to recognize: will a good mistress come out of her? After all, she stood at the stove this morning, she created pancakes.

Shrovetide is not complete without delicious dishes on the Russian table. Yes, and you need to call for a visit.

The sixth day of Maslenitsa—sister-in-law gatherings. Shrovetide is already old. Finally, her farewell was noted. The young daughter-in-law invited her relatives to her sister-in-law's gatherings. If the sisters-in-law were still girls, then the daughter-in-law called her old girlfriends-girls, if they were married off, then she invited the married relatives and, with the whole train, carried the guests to the sisters-in-law. The newlywed daughter-in-law was obliged to present her sister-in-law with gifts. Shrovetide was, as it were, an excuse to get together, to gossip about this and that.

This clearly and clearly shows Russian hospitality.

2.4. Collegiality

Sobornost is a concept with a bright Russian taste, introduced by the Russian philosopher A.S. Khomyakov, developed in the XIX by the Slavophiles, originally deduced from the principle of the canonicity of the Church. Subsequently, it began to be interpreted much broader, covering the entire way of life, a complex of moral and ethical norms within the community. These norms unconditionally condemn individualism, the desire of an individual to oppose himself to the community of "co-religionists." Conciliarism rejects such a concept as personal "happiness", arguing that "it is impossible to be happy alone."

At the end of the 19th to the beginning of the 20th centuries, the concept of collegiality was adopted and developed by Russian religious philosophy. And today it covered all spheres of the life of the people's organism, becoming one of the components of the definition of the concept of nationality, which "is the conciliarity of the clan, language and life of the country (fatherland, homeland), bound by faith, enlightenment and expediency predetermined by the Lord God."

Two Shrovetide customs, including fistfights and the capture of a snow town, fully express the conciliarity of the Russians. Such dangerous entertainments include the famous all of them on Shrovetide.

There are two types of fist fights. In the first case, two opponents fought, and in the second, they went wall to wall, not making out in the heat of the battle who was theirs and who was alien. This massacre helped to relieve tension and let off steam. The men, flushed with alcohol and high-calorie foods, beat each other to death.

Taking a snowy town is a favorite fun of Siberians. This is, so to speak, the "visiting card" of the Siberian Maslenitsa. Although in the 19th century it was also known in the Tula, Penza, Simbirsk provinces, and in two versions - for children and adults, nowhere did it reach the scale and scope that was inherent in the “capture of a snow town” in Siberia. But in the southern regions of Russia, where there was no snow and ice, there was a variant of the Shrovetide game “capture of the city”. Under the "city" here was meant a company of girls who were defending themselves from guys and young men.

As it is correct, not only fist fights, but also the capture of a snow town are going between two villages or villages. The reason is that it was the harsh climatic conditions and the requirement to protect from enemies that made it necessary to live and work together. Therefore, for centuries, Russian peasants, who constituted the overwhelming majority of the population of Russia until the beginning of the 20th century, lived in communities, which then were the basis of the molecule of social life. The community is the keeper of the main models and values ​​of this life and the main mechanism for instilling these models and values ​​in its members.

In general, "in Russia, as President V. Putin emphasizes, the action of the collective is always more important than the individual, it is a fact."

Conclusion

National character is an abstract generalization of all the properties of a people who have a common tradition and culture; it is one of the most difficult, but also the main problems in the study of the mutual influence of cultures. At the present time, when humanity is entering the era of the "global village", the world civilization will mutually merge into one. National character, as a window to the history and life of a given nation, occupies a very important place in intercultural communication.

The character traits of a people are reflected in their national holidays celebrated by that people. Because in society, holidays are the most vital and imaginative part. Shrovetide, as the most popular, wide and merry national holiday in Russia, can reflect the traits of the Russian national character through its unique customs, rituals and traditions.

In this thesis, on the basis of the customs, rituals, traditions of Maslenitsa, the main features of the Russian national character are analyzed: religiosity, belligerence, hospitality and collegiality. In particular, dual faith as a part of religiosity vividly reflects the mutual influence and connection between paganism and Orthodoxy. It should be noted that for the wide and mysterious Russian people, of course, this is not all. The main and important features of the Russian national character are completely reflected through the Maslenitsa holiday. Still other important Russian national holidays can reveal other traits of the Russian national character. We only want our humble initiative to find more worthy successors.

All nations are equal bearers of universal human values. Each national soul has its own powerful and its own weaknesses, its own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it is necessary to mutually understand the difference in the soul of the people, to love the qualities of the souls of the people and to be condescending to their shortcomings. Thus, it will be possible to realize truly peaceful coexistence between different peoples in the world.

Shrovetide is a daring holiday with a grand scale and a truly Russian soul. Merry festivities, sleigh rides, fun, meeting friends and family, a huge number of pancakes eaten, great mood and, most importantly, a premonition of spring, that's what Maslenitsa is!

Shrovetide appeared during the days of paganism, that is, before the rise of Christianity. Initially, Maslenitsa was celebrated for two weeks, before and after the vernal equinox, which for many peoples was the beginning of the New Year. Therefore, Maslenitsa was both the farewell to winter, and the meeting of spring (which has survived to this day), as well as New Year's holidays.

After the adoption of Christianity, the pagan holiday was not canceled, just the celebrations were halved and made up one week, which is often called Cheese (or meat-eating) week, and the start date of Shrovetide became "floating", directly dependent on the date of Easter.

Shrovetide is celebrated in the last week before Great Lent, when it is no longer possible to eat meat, but so that the transition to a lean table is not so abrupt, it was allowed to feast on pancakes with all kinds of fillings.

Usually Maslenitsa is celebrated in late February - early March, but, like Easter, it can be early (for example, in 2018 and 2029, the beginning of Maslenitsa will begin on February 12).

For Orthodox Christians, Maslenitsa is a time to prepare for Great Lent, reconciliation and forgiveness. During Cheese Week, fasts are canceled on Wednesdays and Fridays, but meat is no longer supposed to be eaten.

Shrovetide symbolizes the change of winter in spring, fertility and the beginning of a new life, but they never forgot about the dead during Shrovetide - after all, pancakes are not only little "suns", but also a traditionally memorial dish.

Fertility is the most important factor for all strata of the population, therefore, the stuffed animal of Maslenitsa (the personification of fertility) was made in the form of a burly woman, with curvaceous forms and a bright blush on her cheeks, in multi-layered clothes. The tradition of burning a scarecrow also "worked" for the future harvest - the ash from Maslenitsa was scattered over the fields still covered with snow to increase fertility.

According to pagan rituals, a stuffed animal of winter was made and burned on the last day of Maslenitsa, thereby making it clear that they were saying goodbye to it. But at the beginning of February this is not entirely appropriate, therefore, the scarecrow gradually began to be called Butter or Maslenitsa.

Maslenitsa is celebrated not only in Russia, but also in almost all European countries. Eastern and Western Slavs, both Orthodox and Catholics, celebrate Meat paste- an analogue of Shrovetide week, during the holiday festivities and fun joint entertainment of young people are organized, especially among unmarried boys and unmarried girls. The purpose of the holiday is to introduce young people and establish new relationships, which must end with a wedding, so that children are born - the fertility of women in the popular sense is directly related to the fertility of the earth.

A well-known Carnival Western Catholics also celebrate the last week before Lent in order to have plenty of fun before the period of abstinence.

Each nation has its own name for Maslenitsa, for example, in Latvia they celebrate Metheny, and in Lithuania - Uzgovenie, the Greeks have fun during Apocries and Armenians - Boone Barekendan.

The first three days of Cheese Week are called Narrow Shrovetide, in which not only the holiday was celebrated, but also the chores were done - around the house, cleaned up and prepared for the 40-day Fast. The wide Maslenitsa was celebrated really widely and from the heart - from Thursday to Sunday everything was forgotten, even urgent economic matters, the holidays were completely filled with festivities and fun, each day was given a name and its own customs.

Monday - A meeting, the main preparations for the celebration were coming to an end, in the morning the daughter-in-law was equipped to the parental house, where the father-in-law went in the evening to discuss plans for Maslenitsa for a pancake treat. An interesting fact - the saying "The first pancake is lumpy" does not have the same meaning as we are used to. The fact is that in Russia bears were called comas, which played an important role in the celebration of Maslenitsa - there are customs associated with waking a bear from winter sleep. So the first pancake was given to komAm, that is, to bears, for their calmness and well-fed awakening. In fact, more often than not, the first pancakes baked on Monday were given to the poor to commemorate the dead.

Tuesday has a title , is characterized not only by festivities and roller coasters, but also by brides at which they invited each other to pancakes.

Wednesday - Gourmet, the sons-in-law came to the mother-in-law's pancakes, where the guests gathered after they finished the chores.

Thursday- the first day of the Wide Maslenitsa - Wide revelry... Fist fights, sleigh rides drawn by three brightly dressed horses, rallies, roller coasters and swings, mountains of pancakes with a wide variety of fillings, mead flowed like a river, buffoons, jesters and carnival processions - this is how they walked on Shrovetide.

Friday named herself ... The sons-in-law invited the mother-in-law and her relatives and treated them to pancakes with caviar and fish, as well as sweet fillings.

Saturday- this is Sister-in-law gatherings... The husband's sisters gathered in the house of their daughters-in-law, feasted on pancakes and were engaged in the most feminine affairs - they washed bones for husbands and their mothers. Young wives made gifts to their sister-in-law in order to continue living in peace and harmony.

Sunday known as Forgiven, when it was imperative to go to church, where the priests asked for forgiveness from their parishioners, and those, in turn, from each other. A beautiful and bright custom still allows many to ask for forgiveness, which cannot be denied. It’s not for nothing that the answer to “Forgive” always sounds - “God will forgive and I forgive”. On the last day of Maslenitsa, an effigy of Masleni was burned, people visited cemeteries and went to the bathhouse - to wash away their sins and prepare for Lent.

Pancake recipes for Shrovetide

At Shrovetide, every hostess knows which pancakes she will serve - the ones that are best for her! And if you want to turn a little off the beaten track of traditions, we offer several unbeatable and useful options, for example, buckwheat pancakes.

Ingredients:

• - 1/2 l.
• - 100 gr.
• - 150 gr.
• - 70 gr.
• - 2 pcs.
• - 1 tbsp. l.
• - 1 tsp

Sift both types of flour into a bowl, add salt and sugar, eggs and mix thoroughly. Add milk in small portions, without ceasing to stir the dough. At the end, add butter, previously melted and cooled to room temperature. Stir the dough thoroughly, cover with a towel and rest for 30 minutes. Bake the pancakes in a very preheated dry skillet with a thick bottom. Serve with sour cream and any sweet fillings - jam or condensed milk.

Ingredients:

• (10 thin pancakes) - 300 gr.
• - 700 gr.
• - 1 PC.
• - 2 tbsp. l.
• - 40 gr.
• (to taste) - 2 gr.

The recipe for thin pancakes can be found in ours, bake thin pancakes, peel and finely chop the onion, sauté in vegetable oil, add mushrooms, cook for 10-15 minutes, salt. Put a couple of tablespoons of the filling on the center of each pancake, form a bag by connecting the edges of the pancake and tie it with a thin strip of Chechila.

Pancake cake Chocolate

Pancake Ingredients:

• - 600 ml.
• - 100 gr.
• - 2 pcs.

Pancake week

Pancake week is called differently, and all these names mean the same thing. Due to the abstinence from meat, the name of meat-and-mouth came about; from eating cheese - cheese week; from the widespread use of oil - Shrovetide, which lasts a whole week before Lent. In the calendar and church books, the name of the cheese week is used. At this time, they do not eat anything meat; fish, milk, eggs and cheese are common to everyone. The well-known name of this week throughout Russia is Pancake week.

Pancake week- a holiday of farewell to winter, the eighth week before Easter. Shrovetide took place before Great Lent, in the damp week of the Orthodox calendar, and ended with Forgiveness Sunday.
According to the canons of the Orthodox Church, the cheese-growing week was intended to prepare believers for fasting, when each of them had to be imbued with a mood corresponding to the coming time of bodily abstinence and intense spiritual reflection (see). In traditional Russian life, this week has become the brightest holiday filled with the joy of life. Shrovetide was called honest, wide, drunk, gluttonous, ruinous. They said that she "sang and danced for a whole week, ate and drank, went to visit each other, rolled in pancakes, bathed in oil." Shrovetide was celebrated throughout Russia in villages and cities. Its celebration was considered compulsory for all Russian people: "At least lay yourself down, but spend Shrovetide."
In the villages, all residents took part in it, regardless of age and social status, with the exception of the sick and the weak. Failure to participate in Shrovetide fun could lead to, according to legend, "life in bitter trouble." The festivities began with the celebration of Shrovetide on the Sunday before Shrove Tuesday. However, this rite was not widespread. Where he was known, Shrovetide was greeted with pancakes, which were laid out on elevated places with calls: "Come to visit me, Shrovetide, wide in the yard: ride on the mountains, lie in pancakes, laugh with your heart!", As well as singing songs : Shrovetide annual, our dear Guest! She does not walk to us on foot, Everyone comes on horseback. Her horses are black, Servants are young. The first three days of the Shrovetide week were preparing for the holiday: they brought firewood for Shrovetide fires, and cleaned the huts. The main festivities fell on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday - the days of the wide Shrovetide. All Shrovetide entertainment usually took place on the street.
They entered the houses only to warm up a little, if it was frosty, and to treat themselves to festive dishes. Smartly dressed people - girls, boys, married couples, children, old men and old women - all poured out into the street, took part in a festive walk, congratulated each other, went to the fair, where they bought necessary and unnecessary things, marveled at the wonders that they showed in the booths - traveling theaters, enjoyed puppet shows and "bear fun" - performances of the leader with a bear.
The Shrovetide complex included such entertainments as skiing down the mountains, sleigh rides, various ceremonies of honoring newlyweds, fist fights, processions of mummers, war games, such as "Taking the Snow Town", etc. A characteristic feature of Shrovetide was the use of a lot of fatty foods, as well as intoxicating drinks. From drinks they preferred beer, and from food - sour cream, cottage cheese, cheese, eggs, all kinds of flour products: pancakes, cheese cakes, cheesecakes, brushwood, flat cakes. The predominance of dairy food was due to the church ban on eating meat in the week preceding Great Lent.
On Shrovetide, many songs, jokes, sentences sounded, most of which did not have ritual significance, these were funny songs dedicated to Shrovetide and Shrovetide festivities:
Oh you, dear butter dish,
Darling, cherish, dear. She came to visit us,
She came, cherished, came. Yes, I brought cheese and butter,
Brought, cherished, brought. And we rolled the butter dish,
We drove it, we drove it, we drove it. They rode on a black horse,
We rode, lazy, rode.

The history of Shrovetide is rooted deep in antiquity. Maslenitsa is an ancient Slavic holiday that we inherited from pagan culture, preserved even after the adoption of Christianity. It is believed that initially it was associated with the day of the spring solstice, but with the adoption of Christianity, it began to precede Great Lent and depend on its timing. However, this is not all about the meaning of Shrovetide. For the Slavs, for a long time it was also a New Year's Eve! Indeed, until the XIV century, the year in Russia began in March. Even pancakes, an indispensable attribute of Shrovetide, had ritual significance: round, ruddy, hot, they were a symbol of the sun, which flared up brighter and brighter, lengthening the days. And according to old beliefs, it was believed: how a person meets a year, so he will be. Therefore, our ancestors did not skimp on this holiday for a generous feast and unrestrained fun. And people called Shrovetide among the people "honest", "wide", "gluttonous", and even "ruinous".
Centuries passed, life changed, with the adoption of Christianity new church holidays appeared, but the wide Maslenitsa continued to live. Nothing could force Russians to abandon their favorite holiday - hospitable and riotous fun. By the way, at one time Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich tried to calm down his daring subjects with the most stringent measures. The governors sent out tsarist decrees throughout the towns and villages, either prohibiting private distilling, or demanding that the Russians not gamble, and did not carry out fist fights. But neither the formidable royal decrees, nor the instructions of the patriarch were able to cope with the overflowing joy.
But in 1724 in St. Petersburg Maslenitsa failed. Peter, a well-known lover of all kinds of amusements, intended to arrange a funny sledge procession in the new capital too, but all the festive week there was a snowstorm and there was a severe frost. For several days, the participants in the procession in costumes and masks gathered at the gathering place, but, stiffened along the way, they went to warm up to someone on a visit. Alas, the element won, the fun failed.
On the occasion of her coronation, Catherine II, imitating Peter I, staged a grandiose masquerade procession in Moscow at Masleni week called "Triumphant Minerva". For three days a masquerade procession traveled around the city, which, according to the empress's plan, was supposed to represent various social vices - bribery, embezzlement, bureaucratic red tape and others, destroyed by the beneficial rule of the wise Catherine.
Over time, "rolling fun" in the cities has improved. Wooden slides with elegant pavilions began to be erected on the ice of the river or in squares. The hills were decorated with multi-colored flags, spruce and pine branches, and even wooden sculptures. In St. Petersburg at the beginning of the 19th century, the mountains of the merchant Podoznikov were famous. They were built on the Neva opposite the Senate and reached 26 meters in height. By the way, skiing from the city mountains at that time was paid and cost a penny. A brisk trade in hot sbitn, tea made from steaming samovars, sweets, nuts, pies and pancakes was unfolding near the icy mountains. The audience in large booths was amused by buffoons and the beloved folk hero Petrushka.
In villages where booths never happened, the inhabitants themselves became the protagonists of an unusual battle - the capture of a snow town. Having gathered, they together erected a fortress out of snow with intricate towers and gates. Most often they put it on the ice of the river and cut through the wormwood in the middle. Then the participants of the merrymaking were divided into two parties. Horse daredevils besieged the fortress, and its defenders fought back with snowballs, brandished twigs and brooms, frightening the horses. The winner, who burst into the gate first, faced a test: he was forced to swim in an ice hole.
But the most beloved and beautiful Shrovetide rite was sleigh rides. Everyone who had a horse rode out, and assorted teams were racing through the streets: the rich flaunted sleek trotters and painted sleds covered with a carpet, and after them galloped peasant horses, cleaned to a shine, decorated with colored ribbons.
Of course, pancakes were the main treat at Maslenitsa. They were baked and eaten in myriad quantities.

For each day of the oil week, there were certain rituals. On Monday - Maslenitsa meeting, on Tuesday - flirting. For gourmets, that is, on Wednesday of Oily week, mother-in-law invited sons-in-law and wives to pancakes. This custom was especially observed in relation to young, recently married. Surely this is where the expression "to the mother-in-law for pancakes" came from. The busiest tobogganing took place on wide Thursday. On Friday - mother-in-law's evening - the sons-in-law called the mother-in-law for a treat. Saturday was allotted to the sister-in-law's gatherings. Sunday was called "Forgiveness Day." On this day, everyone visited relatives, friends and acquaintances, exchanged kisses, bows and asked for forgiveness from each other if offended by words or deeds. The whole week was called "honest, wide, cheerful, boyarynya-Shrovetide, Mrs. Shrovetide."
Monday - meeting
On this day, a stuffed animal of Maslenitsa was made from straw, they put on old women's clothes, put this stuffed animal on a pole and, singing, drove it on a sleigh through the village. Then Shrovetide was set on a snowy mountain, where sleigh rides began. The songs that are sung on the day of "meeting" are very cheerful.
Tuesday is a play
From that day, various kinds of entertainment began: sleigh rides, folk festivals, performances. In large wooden booths (premises for folk theatrical performances with clown and comic scenes), performances were performed led by Petrushka and Maslenitsa grandfather. On the streets there were large groups of mummers, in masks, driving around familiar houses, where impromptu home concerts were arranged. Large companies rode around the city, on triplets and on simple sleds. Another simple entertainment was held in high esteem - skiing from the icy mountains.
Wednesday is a gourmet
She opened treats in all houses with pancakes and other dishes. In each family, tables were laid with delicious food, pancakes were baked, and beer was made in the villages in a club. Theaters and stalls appeared everywhere. They sold hot sbitni (drinks made from water, honey and spices), roasted nuts, honey gingerbread. Here, right under the open sky, one could drink tea from a boiling samovar.
Thursday - revelry(fracture, wide Thursday)
This day was the middle of games and fun. Perhaps it was then that hot Maslenitsa fist fights took place, fists, leading their origin from Ancient Russia. They also had their own strict rules. It was impossible, for example, to beat a lying person (“they don’t beat a person while lying down”), two of them could not attack one (two were fighting - the third one didn’t climb), beat below the belt or hit on the back of the head. For violation of these rules, punishment was threatened. It was possible to fight “wall to wall” or “one on one”. There were also "hunting" battles for connoisseurs, fans of such fights. Ivan the Terrible himself watched such battles with pleasure. For such an occasion, this amusement was prepared especially magnificently and solemnly. And yet it was a game, a holiday, which, of course, corresponded to the clothes. If you also want to follow ancient Russian rituals and customs, if your hands itch a lot, you can have a little fun, probably with a fight - all negative negative emotions will be removed at the same time, there will be relaxation (maybe this was some secret meaning of fist fights), and at the same time it is a duel of the strongest. Just do not forget about all the restrictions and, most importantly, that this is still a festive game duel.
Friday - mother-in-law evenings
A number of Shrovetide customs were aimed at speeding up weddings, helping young people to find a mate. And how much attention and honors were given to the newlyweds at Shrovetide! Tradition requires them to go out in a smart way "on people" in painted sleighs, pay visits to everyone who walked at their wedding, so that they solemnly roll down the icy mountain with songs. However, the most important event associated with the newlyweds was the visit of the mother-in-law by the sons-in-law, for whom she baked pancakes and arranged a real feast (if, of course, the son-in-law was to her liking). In some places, "mother-in-law pancakes" took place for gourmets, that is, on Wednesday during Shrovetide week, but could coincide with Friday. If on Wednesday the sons-in-law were visiting their mother-in-law, then on Friday the sons-in-law organized “mother-in-law evenings” and invited them to pancakes. An ex-boyfriend usually showed up, playing the same role as at the wedding, and receiving a gift for his troubles. The invited mother-in-law (there was such a custom) was obliged to send in the evening everything necessary for baking pancakes: a frying pan, a ladle, etc., and the father-in-law sent a bag of buckwheat groats and cow butter. The son-in-law's disrespect for this event was considered dishonor and insult, and was the reason for eternal enmity between him and his mother-in-law.
Saturday - sister-in-law gatherings
The sister-in-law is the husband's sister. So, on this Saturday, the young daughters-in-law received their relatives. As you can see, on this "fatty carnival" every day of this generous week was accompanied by a special feast.
Sunday - farewell, kissing man, forgiven day.
The last day of Shrovetide week was called "Forgiveness Sunday": relatives and friends did not go to celebrate each other, but with "obedience", asked for forgiveness for intentional and accidental offenses and griefs caused in the current year. When meeting (sometimes even with a stranger) it was necessary to stop and with three bows and "tearful words" ask for mutual forgiveness: "Forgive me for what I am guilty of or have sinned in front of you." “May God forgive you, and I forgive,” the interlocutor answered, after which it was necessary to kiss as a sign of reconciliation.

We said goodbye to Shrovetide on Sunday. On this day, bonfires were burned in the northern and central regions of European Russia, and a straw effigy of Maslenitsa was buried in the southern regions. Shrovetide is a complex and ambiguous phenomenon. This holiday dates back to the spring agrarian rites of the pre-Christian era of the life of the Slavs, when Shrovetide was timed to coincide with the day of the vernal equinox - the line separating winter from spring. The ritual actions were aimed at making the winter hardships end and spring coming, followed by a warm summer with abundant bread. In the XIX-early XX century. in the celebration of Shrovetide, entertainment elements came to the fore.
Farewell to Shrovetide ended on the first day of Great Lent - Clean Monday, which was considered the day of cleansing from sin and fast food. Men usually "rinsed their teeth", i.e. they drank vodka in abundance, ostensibly in order to rinse out the remnants of the soft drink from their mouths; in some places, fistfights, etc. were organized to “shake out the pancakes”. On Clean Monday, they always washed in the bathhouse, and the women washed the dishes and "steamed" the dairy utensils, cleaning them of fat and remnants of meat.

Maslenitsa is an ancient Slavic holiday that came to us from pagan culture and survived after the adoption of Christianity. The Church included Shrovetide in the number of its holidays, calling it Cheese, or Meat Week, since Shrovetide falls on the week preceding Lent. In 2010 Maslenitsa starts on 8 February.

According to one version, the name "Shrovetide" arose because this week, according to Orthodox tradition, meat was already excluded from food, and dairy products could still be consumed.

Shrovetide is the most fun and satisfying folk holiday lasting a whole week. The people have always loved him and affectionately called him "katatochka", "sugar mouth", "kissing woman", "honest carnival", "merry", "pepelochka", "perebuha", "obeduha", "yasochka".

Horse riding, which was worn with the best harness, was an integral part of the holiday. The guys who were going to get married bought a sled specifically for this ride. All the young couples certainly took part in the skating. Just as widespread as holiday horseback riding was the riding of young people from the icy mountains. Among the customs of rural youth on Maslenitsa were also jumping over the fire and taking the snow town.

In the 18th and 19th centuries. The central place in the festival was occupied by the peasant Maslenitsa comedy, in which characters from the mummers took part - Maslenitsa, Voevoda and others. Maslenitsa itself served as the plot for them with its abundant treats before the upcoming fast, with its goodbyes and a promise to return next year ... Often some real local events were included in the performance.

Shrovetide has retained the character of folk festivities for many centuries. All Shrovetide traditions are aimed at driving away the winter and waking up nature from sleep. Shrovetide was greeted with magnificent songs on the snow slides. The symbol of Shrovetide was a scarecrow made of straw, dressed in women's clothes, with which they had fun, and then buried or burned at the stake along with a pancake, which the scarecrow was holding in its hand.

Pancakes are the main treat and symbol of Shrovetide. They are baked every day from Monday, but especially a lot from Thursday to Sunday. The tradition of baking pancakes has been in Russia since the time of worship of pagan gods. After all, it was the sun god Yarilo who was called to drive away the winter, and the round ruddy pancake is very similar to the summer sun.

Each housewife traditionally had her own special recipe for making pancakes, which was passed down from generation to generation through the female line. Pancakes were baked mainly from wheat, buckwheat, oatmeal, corn flour, adding millet or semolina porridge, potatoes, pumpkin, apples, cream to them.

In Russia, there was a custom: the first pancake was always for the repose, as a rule, it was given to a beggar to commemorate all the dead or put on the window. Pancakes were eaten with sour cream, eggs, caviar and other delicious spices from morning to evening, alternating with other dishes.

The whole week on Shrovetide was referred to as "honest, wide, cheerful, boyarynya-Shrovetide, Mrs. Shrovetide". Until now, each day of the week has its own name, which tells what to do on that day. On the Sunday before Maslenitsa, by tradition, they paid visits to relatives, friends, neighbors, and also invited them to visit. Since it was impossible to eat meat during Shrovetide week, the last Sunday before Maslenitsa was called "meat Sunday", on which the father-in-law went to call his son-in-law "to finish the meat."

Monday is the "meeting" of the holiday. On this day, ice slides were arranged and rolled out. Children made a straw effigy of Maslenitsa in the morning, dressed it up and carried it all together through the streets. Swings were arranged, tables with sweets.

Tuesday is "play". Fun games begin on this day. In the morning the girls and fellows rode on the icy mountains, ate pancakes. The guys were looking for brides, and the girls? grooms (and weddings were played only after Easter).

Wednesday is a gourmet. Pancakes, of course, are in the first place among the treats.

Thursday - "take a walk". On this day, in order to help the sun drive away the winter, people traditionally arrange horseback riding "in the sun" - that is, clockwise around the village. The main thing for the male half on Thursday is the defense or the capture of the snow town.

Friday - "mother-in-law of the evening", when the son-in-law goes "to the mother-in-law for pancakes."

Saturday - "sister-in-law's gatherings". On this day, they visit all relatives, and are treated to pancakes.

Sunday is the final "forgiven day", when they ask forgiveness from relatives and friends for insults and after that, as a rule, they sing and dance merrily, thus seeing off the wide Maslenitsa. On this day, a straw effigy that personifies the passing winter is burned on a huge bonfire. It is installed in the center of the campfire site and they say goodbye to it with jokes, songs, dances. They scold the winter for frost and winter hunger and thank for the merry winter fun. After that, the scarecrow is set on fire accompanied by cheerful exclamations and songs. When the winter burns down, the final fun ends the holiday: young people jump over the fire. This competition in dexterity ends the Maslenitsa holiday.

Farewell to Shrovetide ended on the first day of Great Lent - Clean Monday, which was considered the day of cleansing from sin and fast food. On Clean Monday, they always washed in the bathhouse, and the women washed the dishes and "steamed" the dairy utensils, cleaning them of fat and remnants of meat.

Many jokes, jokes, songs, proverbs and sayings are associated with the days of Maslenitsa: "It is not butter without a pancake", "To ride on the mountains, to lie in pancakes", "Not life, but Maslenitsa", "Maslenitsa to eat, money is to lay everything off yourself, and carry out Shrovetide "," Not all Shrovetide for the cat, but there will be Great Lent "," Shrovetide is afraid of bitter radish and steamed turnips "(ie fasting).

The material was prepared on the basis of information from open sources

There is no such thing as the Orthodox Maslenitsa holiday, since this day is not marked in any way in the church calendar. But there is such a thing as Cheese Week - the last Sunday before Lent, on which it is allowed to eat non-fast food.

Is it possible for believers to celebrate Maslenitsa

Great Lent is 40 days, during which it is inadmissible to eat anything meaty and fatty (for the most part), as well as to humble your flesh and desires, to repent before the Lord and to pacify yourself.

The Church understands that not all people (or, more precisely, a few) can endure fasting at all, not to mention a sharp rejection of everything pleasing to the body, therefore gradually introduces parishioners into this state. The last week of preparation for Great Lent is Cheese or Cheese Week (week), which coincides with the pagan Maslenitsa holiday.

You cannot celebrate the Orthodox holiday Maslenitsa, since this simply does not exist, but you can take part in eating pancakes and festivities before plunging into fasting. At this time, meat products have already been excluded from the diet; on Wednesdays and Fridays, liturgy is not performed, but instead a prayer of repentance is read.

This is the last opportunity to satisfy your flesh and have fun before an important spiritual test.

Pancakes for Shrovetide

history of the holiday

Shrovetide is a primordially pagan holiday celebrated long before Christianity, at a time when people worshiped Yarila, Perun and other pagan gods. Therefore, the Church does not consider it a real church holiday, but celebrates Cheese Week, which falls on the same time and implies eating goodies before Lent.

Shrovetide as a holiday is very joyful and symbolizes the meeting of winter and spring, i.e. a kind of transition from death to life. The custom of celebrating it begins with the Greek and Roman holidays, when they celebrated spring, and later these carnivals mixed with Slavic rites during the vernal equinox.

Important! Maslenitsa has become a symbol of the expulsion of winter and the meeting of warmth and sun for the Slavs, which is why it is customary to have fun, hold contests and games - after all, spring must be met with fun!

Shrovetide has its own traditions and legends, but they are all pagan, therefore, a believer should not delve deeply into the meaning and significance of them. It is only worth knowing that, according to pagan beliefs, Maslenitsa was the daughter of Frost and its task was to drive out cold and winter, i.e. she became a symbol of spring and sun.

Why didn't the Church initially ban it? Christianity is simply not used to acting with such methods: it does not prohibit everything negative or wrong, thereby not turning people away, but gives it a new meaning, pure.

Of course, we are not talking about obvious sins, but if it is possible to transform a pagan holiday into a Christian one, why not? The church deprived Shrovetide of its pagan significance and turned it into an ordinary week of rest. At this time, believers can prepare for Great Lent, meet with relatives, show their hospitality and feed those in need.

About culinary traditions:

Why does the church celebrate Maslenitsa

In fact, the church celebrates Cheese Week. The Church simply did not completely abolish the pagan tradition of celebrating the approach of spring and the end of winter, which was celebrated by religious rituals, so as not to alienate people, but as it were, brought a different meaning to them.

The same thing happened with carols and radonitsa and with Christmas. The church connected Shrovetide with Cheese Week (preparation for Easter fast), replacing the pagan meaning with a Christian content.

A half-fast meal on Shrovetide reminds Christians of imminent fasting and makes them think about spiritual food. On the Tuesday of Shrovetide week, the prayer of repentance of Ephraim the Syrian is read in churches, and drunken revelry is already incompatible with this. Therefore, the Church allows to have fun on Shrovetide, eat tasty food, but in moderation, in order to accumulate strength for fasting.

Of course, the vision of the Church and the people is significantly different, so you can still observe pagan rituals and rituals in the streets, as well as widespread drunkenness, but believers should know that the Church forbids doing this and this is a sin.

Advice! You should not spend this week in binge and drinking, as well as gluttony.

It is the believers who should think about how they spend this week, because those who come to church only at Christmas or Easter are hardly interested in Church decrees and their own spiritual life. But true believers should take care of their spirits and not associate with the gatherings of the wicked, as stated in the first psalm.

Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk once said: "Whoever spends Shrovetide in atrocities becomes an obvious disobedient to the Church and shows himself unworthy of the very name of a Christian."

The meaning of the holiday

Considering the meaning of the pagan Maslenitsa holiday, it must be said that before the revolution it had a much broader meaning than now.

It was based on the time cycle and the change of seasons, which is why it was celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox. In the middle zone of Eurasia (Russia, Ukraine) at that time there was unstable weather: either frost or thaw, so Maslenitsa was the last frontier between heat and cold.

Important! In addition to the idea of ​​cyclicality, Maslenitsa also contains the idea of ​​fertility. People sought to help the earth to revive after the winter cold in a sacred way, i.e. sanctify it and fill it with strength. Shrovetide was a pagan worship, only people worshiped nature and the earth, and not the Lord.

The third idea of ​​the celebration was the continuation of the family and the idea of ​​the cycle of life. The earth gives life to plants, people feed on them, thereby continuing life, therefore it is important to pass this life on to children. Life was the most important value.

The last important moment of Shrovetide consisted in its memorial essence: the peasants believed that the bodies of their ancestors, being in the ground, could affect its fertility and, by respecting them, a greater harvest could be achieved. Therefore, on Shrovetide, funeral dinners and mourning laments were arranged.

After the accession of Christianity in Russia, the sacred meaning of Maslenitsa disappeared, leaving room only for external surroundings and fun.

On the celebration of other non-church holidays:

Burning stuffed animals on Shrovetide

Celebration traditions

All traditions of the holiday are associated with food and fun. The main tradition is to cook pancakes with a variety of fillings for seven days. And the Church invites Christians to eat dairy products, eggs and fish this week: everything except meat.

Also this week, it is considered traditional to visit friends or invite them to your place. It is also important to provide food for those in need: it is at this time that street feasts allow the homeless to be fed and give them the opportunity to participate in the common table.

Advice! An invitation to pancakes is considered an excellent reason to make peace with loved ones and improve relationships.

Traditional festivities are also important:

• carousels were installed in the squares;
• competitions and contests were held;
• tasks for ingenuity and dexterity (get a prize from a smooth post, fistfights);
• tables were set with pancakes, gingerbread, rolls, samovars and nuts in sugar;
• sledding, ice skating and skiing were arranged.

The church is not against festive festivities, but all this should be done in moderation and without excesses.

Rituals

Almost all Shrovetide traditions can be attributed to folk rituals. Even the custom of eating dairy food, although this is a church institution, peasants, long before Christianity in Russia, ate dairy food at this time. The roots of this custom are natural - at the beginning of March, cows begin to calve, and they have milk. So the name of the holiday appeared - Maslenitsa.

Its other name is "Kolodiy", and it came from another custom - "block life": people dressed up a deck and exhibited it as a man.

Such a game stretched out for a week:

• Monday - "birth";
• Tuesday - "baptism";
• Wednesday - "living life";
• Thursday - "death";
• Friday - "funeral";
• Saturday - "mourning";
• Sunday - the holiday ended.

During Kolodia, women tied a deck to unmarried, i.e. tried to pay off and gave bright beads, ribbons and scarves. So the deck was overgrown with things.

No less expressive is the custom of instilling "femininity" in the holiday. The original legend says that Maslenitsa is the daughter of Frost, and therefore she was called Babskaya week by the people. Usually during this time there were engagements and weddings. This is how the idea of ​​procreation and procreation was embodied.

Fist fights on Shrovetide

Pancakes as a symbol of Shrovetide

But most of the rituals are associated with eating. Memorial meals were held, during which ancestors were remembered and instruments were set for them, traditional pancakes and memorial pies were baked. Families traditionally had dinner together.

One of the main traditions of Maslenitsa (which has survived to this day) is baking pancakes. v. This has become a tradition for many reasons:

• at the end of the 19th century, they began to believe that a pancake is an image of the sun;
• this dish was a memorial dish among the ancient Slavs;
• it has a round shape without end, which prompts thoughts of eternal life;
• served warm, which implies earthly joy;
• it is made from common foods that speak of life in general.

Usually, on the first day of the week, pancakes were placed on the attic window so that the dead ancestors could also treat themselves to a treat, or they were given to the beggars, on the condition that they remember the deceased.

The traditional custom was to arrange fistfights in the squares. It was believed that the shed blood (and before the battles went to the first blood) acts as a sacrifice to the spirits of the dead. The victim was a doll tied from straw, which was burned at the end of the week on the main square of the settlement. Later, this custom was transformed into the burning of winter.

Important! The Church regards these rites as remnants of the pagan past of the Slavs. Today everyone knows that there is only one Lord, and He does not require sacrifices or pancakes, He only requires a pure, sincere heart, and this is the main thing.

Watch a video about Shrovetide