Maslenitsa rituals and traditions. The history of the Maslenitsa holiday. Maslenitsa: days of the Maslenitsa week

Winter has always been a test for our man: cold, hungry, dark. Therefore, the arrival of spring was a very joyful event that had to be celebrated. The ancients believed that it was difficult for young Spring to overcome the old treacherous Winter. To help Spring drive away Winter, they organized fun festivities on Maslenitsa. Saying goodbye to Winter, the ancients praised Yarila - the god of the spring sun and fertility. Yarilo was presented to the Russians in the form young man who died every year and rose again. Yarilo, having risen, gave people the sun, and the sunny spring warmth is the first step towards a bountiful harvest.

Shrovetide: why is it called that?

The following version is most likely and widespread: on Maslenitsa, people tried to appease, that is, to butter up the spring. Therefore, the celebrations were called “Shrovetide”.

According to the second version, this name of the holiday appeared after the adoption of Christianity. You can’t eat a week before Lent, but you can eat dairy products. Therefore, people baked pancakes and poured plenty of oil on them. Hence, they say, the name associated with buttered pancakes.

Maslenitsa: holiday date

The number "7", as you know, was magical for the pagans. In ancient times, Maslenitsa was celebrated for seven days before spring equinox and seven more days after it. At this time, as the ancients believed, spring came.

With the adoption of Christianity, the date of the celebration of Maslenitsa shifted and shortened by a whole week. Christian leaders did not dare to cancel this one, although it is pagan. Instead, they found it very convenient: one can no longer eat meat a week before Lent, but people don’t really need it, because pancakes are baked on Maslenitsa. They are quite enough to feel full and not suffer from a lack of meat food.

Celebration of Maslenitsa , however, it goes not only with pancakes, but also with many other goodies. This is a great opportunity for the Orthodox to eat before Lent. That is why the Church did not cancel Maslenitsa, but only established new date, depending on the beginning of Lent - that is, tied pagan holiday to the "flexible schedule" of the most important Orthodox holidays depending on the moving Easter cycle.

However, there have always been dissatisfaction with the desire of the people to celebrate Maslenitsa so cheerfully: people drank, walked, organized fisticuffs, etc. But forbid Maslenitsa celebration it would hardly have happened - this holiday was too significant for common people, the winter for which was a serious test. By the way, in the Orthodox interpretation, Pancake week is a week of forgiveness, reconciliation and preparation for Great Lent.

Kustodiev "Maslenitsa"

It was in honor of the spring sun that round cakes were baked from dough mixed with water and wheat flour. Subsequently, they were replaced by lace pancakes. Round yellow pancakes are a symbol of the sun, which means renewal and fertility. To eat a pancake on Maslenitsa means to swallow a piece of the sun, its warmth, tenderness and generosity.

Baking round “suns” from dough is also a kind of ritual to attract the sun. The more pancakes cooked and eaten, the sooner spring will begin and the warmer the subsequent seasons will be until next winter. In addition to baking pancakes, there were other Shrovetide rites associated with sun worship. So, for example, various ritual actions were performed based on the magic of the circle (the sun is round). Young people, and adults too, harnessed the horses, prepared the sleigh and went around the village several times in a circle.

In addition, they decorated the wooden wheel with bright ribbons and walked down the street with it, fastening it on a pole. During the general festivities, round dances were necessarily led, which were also a ritual associated with the circle, that is, with the sun. It symbolized the sun and fire: the Russians lit a wooden wheel and rolled it along the road, rolling down the hill. A lot of wheels were lit: the one who was able to roll his wheel without a single fall was expected this year by happiness, good luck and prosperity. It was also believed that those who have a bad time on Maslenitsa will be unlucky until the next Maslenitsa.

Another indispensable participant in the Maslenitsa festivities was the bear. People put on a bearskin on one of the men, after which the mummers began to dance along with their fellow villagers. Maslenitsa and the bear - what is the connection between them? It's simple: in winter the bear sleeps in the den, and in the spring it wakes up. The bear woke up - it means that spring has come. Animals - after all, they feel all the changes in nature inside. Having dressed the peasant in a bearskin, people treated him and danced ritual dances, imitating a bear waking up after hibernation.

Of course it was made stuffed carnival made of straw, dressed in women's clothing. During the whole Maslenitsa week, the effigy of Maslenitsa was the main hero of the festivities: they carried it with them, riding a sleigh, and wore it, arranging festive processions. The scarecrow personified both the Maslenitsa holiday itself, and the evil winter, death. On the last day of Maslenitsa, the effigy was torn apart or, more often, burned on a ritual fire.

Maslenitsa: days of the Maslenitsa week

Maslenitsa is celebrated for seven days: each day has its own name and meaning. So, the days of Shrovetide week.

Monday is the first day of Shrovetide week, called "Meeting". On this day, preparations for the holiday were completed: slides, booths, swings, stalls for trade, etc. were completed. Many have already started baking pancakes. The first pancake, by the way, Shrovetide tradition must be given to a beggar to commemorate the dead.

Tuesday is the second day of Maslenitsa called "Fun". The youth began the festivities, in large companies they arranged skiing from the ice slides. On this day, it was already possible to invite each other to pancakes.

Kustodiev "Pancake Tuesday"

Wednesday is the third day of Maslenitsa called "Gourmets". The mother-in-law invited her son-in-law to pancakes.

Thursday is the fourth day of Shrovetide week, which was called "Wide revelry." From that day, real festivities began in honor of Maslenitsa: people rode slides and swings, arranged fun horseback rides, feasted noisily, organized carnivals and fisticuffs among men.

Friday is the fifth day of Maslenitsa called "Teschin Vecherki". On this day, the sons-in-law arranged “answers” ​​- that is, they invited the mother-in-law to their place for pancakes.

Saturday is the penultimate day of Maslenitsa, popularly called "Zolovkina gatherings." The daughters-in-law invited their sisters-in-law to pancakes, while very young daughters-in-law made their sisters-in-law. The sister-in-law is the husband's sister, and the daughter-in-law is the brother's wife.

Sunday is the last day of Maslenitsa. It is called "Forgiveness Sunday". People asked each other for forgiveness and hoped for the best. After the adoption of Christianity on this day, they necessarily went to church: the rector asked for forgiveness from the parishioners, and the parishioners from each other. In response to a request for forgiveness, the phrase "God will forgive" is traditionally pronounced. Asking for forgiveness, people bow.

Have a fun and delicious Shrovetide! She's already on the nose!

Maslenitsa- ancient Slavic holiday, which symbolizes the farewell to winter and the joyful expectation of spring. The folk festival lasts a week and ends with Forgiveness Sunday.

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

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

Since ancient times, Pancake Week has been famous for hearty and plentiful food. The main dish of the holiday is pancakes, which, they say, are especially delicious on Maslenitsa.
On the eve of a long fast, people try to eat delicious and varied dishes, and not deny themselves anything.

But pancakes are not the only treat for the holidays. As a rule, a rich table is laid on Maslenitsa - both pancakes and pies with various fillings (mushroom, cottage cheese, cabbage, and so on) are served.

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

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

Pancakes

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

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

They ate pancakes with butter, sour cream, honey, caviar, fish and vegetable stuffing. It's hard to say what tastes better - everyone has their own opinion on this matter. Someone eats pancakes only with sour cream, others only recognize sweet fillings, and still others adore with herring or red fish.

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

In Rus', there was a custom - the first pancake was always for peace, as a rule, it was given to a beggar to remember all the dead, or simply put on the window.

Traditions and customs

Preparations were made for the Maslenitsa celebration in advance. People started preparing from the Saturday of the previous week and celebrated the "small Maslenitsa".

In the old days, according to tradition, young men gathered in large groups, went around the villages and collected bast shoes, after which they met those returning with purchases from the bazaar or the city with the question: "Are you taking Shrovetide?" For the answer: "I'm not taking", people got decent cuffs with bast shoes.

Also, before Maslenitsa on Sunday, according to the tradition of those times, it was necessary to without fail visit relatives, neighbors and friends, as well as invite them to visit.

Maslenitsa is the most fun folk holiday, each day of the week with its own name and meaning. The festive week was divided into the Narrow Shrovetide, which includes the first 3 days, and the Broad, which was given the remaining 4 days.

In the first half, along with festive events it was allowed to do housework, and in the second no one worked - everyone full force indulged in festive pleasures.

Delicious and hearty pancakes were baked all week. They were eaten at home, at a party, at street festivities. And now, in almost every family, there is a tradition - at least once a week, by all means, eat pancakes.

Maslenitsa days

Monday - the first day of Maslenitsa is called "meeting". On this day, ice slides were arranged and rolled out. In the old days, they believed that the farther the sledge or sleigh rolled, the louder the noise and laughter over the ice slide, the better the harvest would be and the longer the flax would be born.

They made an effigy of Maslenitsa out of straw, dressed it in old women's clothes, put the effigy on a pole and, singing songs, drove it on a sleigh through the village. Then this effigy was placed on a snowy mountain, from which the sleigh ride began.

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

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

This day was especially exciting for unmarried girls, because bridesmaids were arranged for a flirt. All Shrovetide rites, in fact, were reduced to matchmaking, in order to have a wedding after Great Lent, on Krasnaya Gorka.

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

Thursday - "walk around". From that day on, Maslenitsa unfolded in full breadth - they walked from morning to evening, danced, danced, sang ditties. The people indulged in all sorts of fun, ice mountains, booths, swings, fist fights, noisy feasts. On this day, to help the sun drive away the winter, people traditionally arrange horseback riding "in the sun" - that is, clockwise around the village.

It was the most loved and beautiful Shrovetide rite. Everyone who had a horse rode out, and along the streets of cities and villages, teams of various colors raced: the rich flaunted well-groomed trotters and painted sledges covered with carpets or bearskins, and peasant horses, polished to a shine, decorated with colored ribbons and paper flowers, clumsily galloped after . Horse hooves rumbled, bells and bells rang, harmonicas sang.

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

Fisticuffs were also held that day. According to the rules, it was impossible to hide something heavy in a mitten, to hit below the waist and on the back of the head.

Friday - "mother-in-law evening". Whole line Shrovetide customs this day was aimed at speeding up weddings and helping young people find themselves suitable couple. Sons-in-law invited their mother-in-laws to visit - they treated them to pancakes. The son-in-law was obliged to personally invite the mother-in-law in the evening.

In some places, “Teschin pancakes” took place on a “gourmet”, that is, on Wednesday during Shrovetide week, but could be timed to coincide with Friday. So sons-in-law could also be invited to pancakes to their mother-in-law. But if on Wednesday the sons-in-law visited their mother-in-laws, then on Friday the sons-in-law arranged "mother-in-law's evenings" and invited them to pancakes.

Saturday - "sister-in-law gatherings." On this day, the young daughter-in-law invited her relatives to her place. If the sisters-in-law were still girls, then the daughter-in-law called her girl friends, if the sisters-in-law were married, then she called married girlfriends or relatives. The daughter-in-law was obliged to give gifts to her sister-in-laws. Maslenitsa was, as it were, an excuse to get together and gossip.

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

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

Resurrection - "forgiveness Sunday", as well as "seeing off, kisser". On this day, it is customary to ask for forgiveness from all loved ones, offended for the harm done, for some of their misdeeds. And forgive yourself with with a pure heart them for the same actions that were accidentally or intentionally caused. This is a very bright and beautiful day before the start of Lent. In 2018, Lent begins on February 19.

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

The scarecrow is set in the center of a huge fire and they say goodbye to him with jokes, songs, dances. They scold winter for frosts and winter hunger and thank for cheerful winter fun. After that, the effigy is set on fire to cheerful exclamations and songs. Then the youth jumps over the fire and this competition in dexterity ends the Maslenitsa holiday.

What do we associate with Maslenitsa week? Well, of course, with pancakes - hot, ruddy, appetizing and always with noisy fun. And although today riding in troikas is already rather exotic, and celebrating seven days is an unaffordable luxury, the people still preserved the traditions of Maslenitsa.

Maslenitsa Calendar

The Maslenitsa holiday has pre-Christian roots, and it used to be celebrated on the day of the spring solstice.

This Shrovetide is coming, damn it, honey is coming

And now, every year, the date when the Maslenitsa week begins varies depending on the celebration of Easter and the Great Lent preceding it.

Most strict post Christians have seven weeks. If we minus these 49 days from the date of Easter, we get the final day of the Maslenitsa week - Forgiveness Sunday. Accordingly, the previous days, starting from Monday, are holidays.

When does Maslenitsa start in 2016? Light Christ Sunday falls on May 1, we subtract seven weeks of Great Lent - March 13 and will be the final Shrovetide week Forgiveness Sunday. Maslenitsa will begin on March 7th.

That is, the Maslenitsa week always precedes Great Lent.

Cheese week is called in the calendar of Orthodox Christians the week on the eve of Lent. Meat dishes are already excluded from the diet, fish and dairy are allowed.

The folk traditions of Maslenitsa are associated with plentiful refreshments, visits, merry festivities, and each day of the week was celebrated in a special way.

Pancake Week was celebrated on a special scale - from Thursday to Sunday. If in the first three days it was still allowed to manage the household, then from the middle of the week work was canceled, and carnival festivities gained momentum.

Day One - Meeting

Pancake week begins on Monday - a meeting of Maslenitsa. Youth and children made a scarecrow out of straw, dressed it up and rode it around the village on a sleigh with funny jokes, then set it up on a high hill. They rode from it, and whoever moves further, the flax will grow higher and thicker.

On this day, the youth also, having gathered in a company, went from house to house with songs, and the hostesses treated everyone to freshly baked pancakes.

On this day, it was customary to prepare supplies so that everyone would have enough - they baked pancakes, pies, kalachi, pancakes. The first pancake had to be given to the poor, so that they commemorated the dead.

Father-in-law came to visit the matchmakers, discussed how to celebrate Maslenitsa over a cup. By the day of the meeting of the holiday, it was already necessary to prepare ice slides, booths, and other places for festivities.

Tuesday - Play

Merry fun has been gaining momentum since Tuesday: that's what he's flirting with. The people were amused by buffoons, mummers, bear fun was arranged and puppet theaters. Pancake Week is unthinkable without sleigh rides, especially troikas.

And most importantly, what the flirt was for - it's matchmaking. During joint fun, the guys looked closely at the girls, choosing candidates for the role of wife.

The girls, too, did not waste time, looking closely at the gentlemen and making eyes to those they liked. And already at the end of Lent, weddings were played.

Wednesday - Lakomka

The well-known proverb “to the mother-in-law for pancakes” arose thanks to the tradition of the third day of Shrovetide week. Caring mothers-in-law prepared a rich table and invited their sons-in-law to taste the treats. Pancakes were served with butter, sour cream, honey, jams. In many families, they brewed beer and treated guests to an intoxicating drink. They treated not only sons-in-law, but also numerous relatives.

In the cities in the stalls they sold hot tea from a pot-bellied samovar, fragrant sbitni (honey drink with spices), gingerbread, roasted nuts.

Walk around - happy thursday

Shrovetide week by Thursday was already gaining momentum with might and main. From young to old - everyone gathered for mass festivities. They had fun with fisticuffs, taking snow fortresses, songs, buffoons, swinging.

Entire sleigh trains to the cheerful din and laughter, the ringing of bells drove around the villages and towns. And of course, not only pancakes, but also other goodies were eaten with appetite.

Friday - Mother-in-law evening

For mother-in-law, pancakes had to be thanked in a special way - to invite mother-in-law to visit. The son-in-law was supposed to personally call the second mother the day before, and numerous relatives also gathered for this feast.

But the mother-in-law needed to send dishes for pancakes and everything necessary for baking them to the son-in-law's house in the evening. The father-in-law, as usual, sent buckwheat and butter. And try the son-in-law not to follow the tradition - the eternal enmity with the father-in-law and the mother-in-law is guaranteed. So the customs were honored and respected.

Zolovkiny gatherings on Saturday

This day was difficult for the young wife - it was supposed to invite her husband's sisters - sisters-in-law - to a plentiful treat. Other relatives of the spouse also came to appreciate the master's talents of the newly-made wife.

It was customary to invite their girlfriends to the company of the unmarried sisters of the husband, and if the sisters of the spouse already had families, then the daughter-in-law invited only married friends.

In addition to a generously set table, the custom also prescribed gifts for the sister-in-law. But, if everything went well, then the young mistress was guaranteed honor and respect. And often - friendly relations with sister-in-laws.

At these brides, the guests even appreciated how the wife looks at young husband as he kisses. After that, satisfied relatives went to other houses.

Forgiveness Sunday

Forgiveness Sunday, Forgiveness Day, Seeing Off, Tselovalnik - this was the name of the day that ended the Maslenitsa week. An effigy of Maslenitsa was burned on a large fire, the ceremony was accompanied by songs, dances, round dances, fun and sledge rides. Winter was thus seen off, giving way to the coming spring.

Let's salute at cheese on Sunday

Be sure to ask each other for forgiveness, so that all insults can be left in the past and enter Great Lent with a light heart and a clear conscience.

Modern Maslenitsa

We, unlike our ancestors, can no longer afford to have Pancake Week last all seven days. The rhythm of life is different, and traditions change over time. But nothing prevents us from inviting each other to visit, preparing delicious treats, visiting the sick and helping the destitute.

In cafes and restaurants today there is always a Shrovetide menu - if you are a very busy person and there is no time for homemade cakes, you can always enjoy pancakes.

Holidays are traditionally held on weekends, where, if possible, the atmosphere of past years is recreated with cheerful booths, snowy towns (if the climate allows), contests and games.

In the traditions of Orthodox Christians, Maslenitsa Week is a preparation for Great Lent. This is a good time to devote to charity, good deeds, calm communication with loved ones. And of course - reconciliation and forgiveness of insults.

In churches, during the service, a special rite is performed, when both clergy and parishioners ask each other for forgiveness and purify their souls on the eve of a difficult test - Great Lent.

Maslenitsa

Maslenitsa called by different names, and all these names mean the same thing. Because of the abstention from meat, the name of the meat-empty came about; from eating cheese - cheese week; from the widespread use of oil - Shrovetide, which lasts a whole week before Lent. In the holy 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 all. famous name this week all over Russia - Maslenitsa.

Maslenitsa- a holiday of seeing off winter, the eighth week before Easter. Maslenitsa took place before Lent, on a cheese week Orthodox calendar, and ended with Forgiveness Sunday.
According to the canons Orthodox Church the cheese 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. Maslenitsa was called an honest, wide, drunken, gluttonous, ruiner. They said that she "sang and danced for a whole week, ate and drank, visited each other, rolled in pancakes, bathed in oil." Maslenitsa was celebrated all over Russia, both in villages and cities. Its celebration was considered obligatory 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 position except for the sick and infirm. Non-participation in the Shrovetide fun could entail, according to legend, "life in bitter trouble." The festivities began with a Maslenitsa meeting on the Sunday before Maslenitsa. However, this rite was not widespread. Where he was famous, Shrovetide was greeted with pancakes, which were laid out on elevated places with calls: “Come to visit me, Shrovetide, in the wide yard: ride in the mountains, roll in pancakes, have fun with your heart!”, As well as singing songs : Shrovetide annual, Our dear guest! She does not come to us on foot, She comes on horseback. She has black horses, Young servants. The first three days of Shrove Tuesday were preparations for the holiday: they brought firewood for Shrovetide bonfires, cleaned the huts. The main festivities fell on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday - the days of the wide Maslenitsa. All carnival entertainment usually took place on the street.
They went into houses only to warm up a little if it was frosty, and to treat themselves to festive dishes. Smartly dressed people - girls, guys, couples, children, old men and old women - everyone poured out into the street, participated in the festive festivities, congratulated each other, went to the fair, where they bought necessary and unnecessary things, were surprised at the miracles that were shown in booths - mobile theaters, rejoiced at puppet shows and "bear fun - performances of the leader with a bear.
The Maslenitsa complex included such entertainments as skiing from the mountains, sleigh rides, various rites of honoring the newlyweds, fistfights, processions of mummers, military games, such as the “Taking of the Snow Town”, etc. characteristic feature Shrovetide was the use a large number fatty foods and intoxicating drinks. From drinks they preferred beer, and from food - sour cream, cottage cheese, cheese, eggs, all kinds of flour products: pancakes, syrniki, pryazets, brushwood, flat cakes. The predominance of dairy food was due to the church ban on eating meat in the week preceding Lent.
Many songs, jokes, sentences sounded on Shrove Tuesday, most of which had no ritual significance, these were funny songs dedicated to Shrovetide and Maslenitsa festivities:
Oh, dear oiler,
Darling, lily, dear. She came to visit us
She came, she came, she came. Yes, she brought cheese with butter,
I brought it, I brought it, I brought it. And we rolled the butter dish,
They rolled, they rolled, they rolled. They rode on a black horse,
We rode, we rode, we rode.

The history of Maslenitsa is rooted deep in antiquity. Shrovetide is an ancient Slavic holiday that we inherited from pagan culture, which has survived 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 Maslenitsa. For the Slavs for a long time It was also a meeting of the New Year! Indeed, until the XIV century, the year in Rus' began in March. Even pancakes, an indispensable attribute of Maslenitsa, had ritual meaning: round, ruddy, hot, they were a symbol of the sun, which flared up brighter and longer, lengthening the days. And according to old beliefs, it was believed: as a person meets the year, so he will be. That is why our ancestors did not skimp on this holiday for a generous feast and unbridled fun. And the people called Maslenitsa "honest", "wide", "gluttonous", and even "the ruiner".
Centuries passed, life changed, with the adoption of Christianity, new church holidays, but the wide Maslenitsa continued to live. Nothing could force the Russians to give up their favorite holiday - hospitable and recklessly cheerful. By the way, at one time Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich tried to calm down his daring subjects with the most stringent measures. The governors sent royal decrees to towns and villages, either forbidding private distillation, or demanding that the Russians in gambling did not play, did not conduct fistfights. But neither the formidable royal decrees, nor the instructions of the patriarch were able to cope with overflowing fun.
But in 1724 in St. Petersburg Maslenitsa failed. Peter, a well-known lover of all kinds of amusements, intended to new capital arrange a funny sledge procession, but all the festive week there was a blizzard and a severe frost. For several days, the participants in the procession in costumes and masks gathered at the gathering place, but, having stiffened along the way, they went to warm themselves to visit someone. Alas, the element won, the fun failed.
Catherine II, on the occasion of her coronation, imitating Peter I, staged a grandiose masquerade procession called “Triumphant Minerva” in Moscow during Shrovetide Week. 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 improved. Wooden slides with elegant pavilions began to be erected on the ice of the river or on the squares. Slides decorated colorful flags, spruce and pine branches, even wooden sculptures. Petersburg in early XIX For centuries, the mountains of the merchant Podoznikov were famous. They were built on the Neva against 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 sbiten, tea from smoking samovars, sweets, nuts, pies and pancakes unfolded near the icy mountains. The audience in large booths was amused by buffoons and the beloved folk hero Petrushka.
In villages where there were no booths, the inhabitants themselves became actors an unusual battle - the capture of a snowy town. Having gathered, they together built a fortress from the 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 game were divided into two parties. The equestrian braves 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, was expected by a test: he was forced to swim in an ice hole.
But the most beloved and beautiful Maslenitsa ceremony was sleigh rides. Everyone who had a horse rode out, and assorted teams rushed through the streets: the rich flaunted sleek trotters and painted sleds covered with carpets, and after them galloped peasant horses, polished to a shine, decorated with colored ribbons.
Of course, pancakes were the main treat at Maslenitsa. They were baked and eaten in myriad quantities.

There were certain ceremonies for each day of Shrovetide week. On Monday - a meeting of Maslenitsa, on Tuesday - flirting. For gourmets, that is, on Wednesday of Shrove Week, mother-in-laws invited their sons-in-law and their wives to pancakes. This custom was especially observed in relation to the young, recently married. Surely this is where the expression "to the mother-in-law for pancakes" came from. The most crowded luge rides took place on Broad Thursday. On Friday - the mother-in-law's evening - the sons-in-law called the mother-in-law for a treat. Saturday was reserved for the sister-in-law 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 they offended by words or deeds. The whole week was called "honest, wide, cheerful, noblewoman-carnival, madam carnival."
Monday - meeting
On this day, an effigy of Maslenitsa was made from straw, they put on old women's clothes on it, put this effigy on a pole and, singing, drove it on a sleigh through the village. Then Maslenitsa was set on a snowy mountain, where sleigh rides began. The songs that are sung on the day of the "meeting" are very cheerful.
Tuesday - play
From that day began different kind entertainment: sleigh rides, folk festivals, performances. In large wooden booths (rooms for folk theatrical performances with clowning and comic scenes), performances were given led by Petrushka and Shrovetide grandfather. On the streets there were large groups of mummers, in masks, driving around familiar houses, where merry home concerts were impromptu. big companies rode around the city, on troikas and on simple sledges. Another simple entertainment was held in high esteem - skiing from icy mountains.
Wednesday - gourmet
She opened treats in all houses with pancakes and other dishes. Each family laid tables with delicious food, baked pancakes, in the villages they brewed beer together. Theaters and trade tents appeared everywhere. They sold hot sbitni (drinks made from water, honey and spices), roasted nuts, and honey gingerbread. Here, right under the open sky, one could drink tea from a boiling samovar.
Thursday - revelry(fracture, broad Thursday)
This day was the middle of games and fun. Perhaps it was then that the hot Shrovetide fistfights took place, fists that originated from Ancient Rus'. They also had their own strict rules. It was impossible, for example, to beat a lying person (“they don’t beat a lying person”), to attack one person together (two fight - don’t get the third one), to beat below the belt or to beat on the back of the head. There were penalties for violating these rules. It was possible to fight "wall to wall" or "one on one". There were also "hunting" fights for connoisseurs, lovers of such fights. Ivan the Terrible himself watched such battles with pleasure. For such an occasion, this entertainment was prepared especially magnificently and solemnly. And yet it was a game, a holiday, which, of course, corresponded to clothing. If you also want to follow the 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, a discharge will come (maybe this was some kind of secret meaning fisticuffs), but 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 Maslenitsa customs were aimed at speeding up weddings and helping young people find a mate. And how much attention and honors were given to the newlyweds at Shrovetide! Tradition requires that they go out dressed “to people” in painted sledges, pay visits to everyone who walked with them at their wedding, so that they solemnly roll down the icy mountain to the 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 (unless, of course, the son-in-law was to her liking). In some places, “Teschin pancakes” took place on gourmets, that is, on Wednesday during Shrovetide week, but could be timed to coincide with Friday. If on Wednesday the sons-in-law visited their mother-in-laws, then on Friday the sons-in-law arranged “mother-in-law evenings” and invited them to pancakes. The former boyfriend usually appeared, who played the same role as at the wedding, and received a gift for his efforts. The called mother-in-law (there was also 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 and cow's butter. The disrespect of the son-in-law for this event was considered a dishonor and insult, and was the reason for the eternal enmity between him and the mother-in-law.
Saturday - sister-in-law gatherings
The sister-in-law is the sister of the husband. So, on this Sabbath day, young daughters-in-law hosted relatives. As you can see, at this “fat Shrovetide” every day of this generous week was accompanied by a special feast.
Sunday - seeing off, a kisser, a forgiveness day.
The last day of the Maslenitsa 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 insults and grief caused this year. When meeting (sometimes even with a stranger) it was supposed to stop and with triple bows and “tearful words” ask for mutual forgiveness: “Forgive me, what I am guilty of or have sinned against you.” “May God forgive you, and I forgive you,” the interlocutor answered, after which, as a sign of reconciliation, it was necessary to kiss.

Farewell to Shrove Tuesday. On this day in northern and central regions In European Russia they burned bonfires, and in southern Russia they buried a straw effigy of Maslenitsa. Maslenitsa is a complex and ambiguous phenomenon. This holiday goes back to the spring agricultural 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 boundary separating winter from spring. Ritual actions were aimed at ensuring that the winter hardships ended and spring came, and after it warm summer with rich bread. In the XIX-beginning of the XX century. entertainment elements came to the fore in the celebration of Shrove Tuesday.
Farewell to Maslenitsa 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 fast food from their mouths; in some places fistfights, etc., were arranged to “shake out pancakes”. On Clean Monday, they always washed in a bathhouse, and women washed dishes and “steamed” milk utensils, cleaning it from fat and the remnants of the milk.

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

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

Maslenitsa is the most fun and satisfying folk holiday, lasting a whole week. The people have always loved him and affectionately called him "kasatochka", "sugar lips", "kisser", "honest carnival", "merry", "quail", "perebuha", "byedukha", "yasochka".

An integral part of the holiday was horseback riding, on which they put on the best harness. The guys who were going to get married bought sleds especially for this skating. All young couples certainly participated in the skating. Just as widespread as festive horseback riding was the skating of young people from the icy mountains. Among the customs of rural youth on Maslenitsa were also jumping over a fire and taking a snowy town.

In the XVIII and XIX centuries. The central place in the festival was occupied by the peasant Maslenitsa comedy, in which characters from the mummers took part - "Maslenitsa", "Voevoda", etc. The plot for them was Maslenitsa itself with its plentiful treats before the upcoming Lent, with its farewells and next year. Often some real local events were included in the performance.

Maslenitsa has retained its character for many centuries festivities. All Maslenitsa traditions are aimed at chasing away winter and waking nature from sleep. Maslenitsa was greeted with laudatory songs on snowy hills. The symbol of Maslenitsa was a scarecrow made of straw, dressed in women's clothing, with whom they had fun, and then buried or burned at the stake along with a pancake, which the stuffed animal held in his hand.

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

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

In Rus', there was a custom: the first pancake was always for the repose, it was usually given to a beggar to remember 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 for Shrovetide was referred to as "honest, wide, cheerful, noblewoman Shrovetide, Madam Shrovetide." Until now, each day of the week has its own name, which says what needs to be done on that day. On Sunday before Maslenitsa, according to tradition, they paid visits to relatives, friends, neighbors, and also invited them to visit. Since it was forbidden to eat meat on Shrovetide week, last sunday before Maslenitsa, they called "meat Sunday", on which the father-in-law went to call the son-in-law "to eat up the meat."

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

Tuesday - "play". On this day, fun games begin. In the morning, the girls and fellows rode on the icy mountains, ate pancakes. Guys were looking for brides, and girls? grooms (moreover, weddings were played only after Easter).

Wednesday - "gourmet". In the first place in a series of treats, of course, pancakes.

Thursday - "walk around". On this day, 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 a snowy town.

Friday - "mother-in-law evenings", when the son-in-law goes "to his mother-in-law for pancakes."

Saturday - "sister-in-law gatherings." On this day, they visit all relatives and treat themselves to pancakes.

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

Farewell to Maslenitsa 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 a bathhouse, and women washed dishes and “steamed” milk utensils, cleaning it from fat and the remnants of squash.

Many jokes, jokes, songs, proverbs and sayings are associated with the days of Maslenitsa: “It’s not butter without a pancake”, “Ride on the mountains, wallow in pancakes”, “Not life, but Shrovetide”, “Shrovetide is a roundabout, money is saved”, “Though lay down everything from yourself, and spend the carnival, "" Not everything is a carnival for a cat, but it will be Great Lent"," Maslenitsa is afraid of bitter radish and steamed turnip "(i.e. fasting).

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