Shrovetide is a national holiday. Maslenitsa: traditions, history, interesting facts. Symbolism of the circle in Maslenitsa

Shrovetide is one of the most happy Holidays year, which is widely celebrated throughout Russia. It reflects centuries-old traditions, carefully preserved and passed down from generation to generation. This is a week-long holiday ritual with round dances, songs, dances, games, dedicated to saying goodbye to winter and welcoming spring.

history of the holiday

In fact, Maslenitsa is an ancient pagan holiday. It is believed that Maslenitsa was originally associated with the day of the spring solstice, but with the adoption of Christianity, it began to precede great post and depend on timing.

In Russia, it has long been customary to celebrate the change of seasons. Winter has always been a difficult time for people: cold, hungry, dark. Therefore, the arrival of spring was especially rejoiced, and it was necessary to celebrate it. Our ancestors said that it is 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 pagan god of the sun and fertility. Yarilo was presented to the Russians in the form of a young man who died annually and resurrected again. Yarilo, resurrected, gave people the sun, and the sunny spring warmth is the first step towards a bountiful harvest. Before the baptism of Russia, the Maslenitsa holiday was celebrated 7 days before the day of the Spring Equinox and another week after.

With the adoption of Christianity, the celebration of Maslenitsa shifted and shortened by a whole week. The church did not dare to cancel Maslenitsa and ban entertainment, despite all the merry and not very religious traditions: this holiday was too significant for the people. But Maslenitsa week quite harmoniously fit into Christian traditions. Maslenitsa began to be celebrated on the eve of Lent. A week before Lent, it is no longer possible to eat meat, 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. This is a great opportunity for the Orthodox to eat before Lent. But in the Orthodox interpretation, Maslenitsa week is not so much a week of fun, but a week of preparation for Great Lent, forgiveness, reconciliation, this is a time that needs to be devoted good fellowship with family, friends, charity.

Boris Kustodiev. Pancake week. 1916

Shrovetide: why is it called that?

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

According to another version, this name appeared after the adoption of Christianity. You can't eat meat, but you can eat dairy products. Therefore, people baked pancakes and poured plenty of oil on them. This is where the name associated with butter pancakes comes from. This week was also called meat-fare - due to the fact that there is an abstinence from meat, and cheese - because a lot of cheese is eaten this week.

And they also called Maslenitsa among the people "honest", "wide", "gluttonous", and even "the ruiner".

Traditions and customs

Our ancestors revered the sun as God, because it gave life to everything. People rejoiced at the sun, which, with the approach of spring, began to appear more and more often. Therefore, a tradition appeared in honor of the spring sun to bake round cakes resembling the sun in shape. It was believed that by eating such a dish, a person would receive a piece of sunlight and warmth. Over time, flat cakes were replaced with pancakes. Round, ruddy, hot - pancakes are a symbol of the sun, which means renewal and fertility.

Also in Ancient Russia, pancakes were considered a memorial dish and they were prepared in memory of departed relatives. Pancakes have also become a symbol of Winter's burial.

Pancakes for Maslenitsa had to be baked and eaten as much as possible. They were served with all sorts of fillings: fish, cabbage, honey, and, of course, butter and sour cream. Baking pancakes has become a kind of ritual to attract the sun, prosperity, prosperity, well-being. The more pancakes are cooked and eaten, the sooner spring will begin, the better the harvest will be.

Sergei Utkin. Pancakes. 1957

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, because 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 guys lit the wooden wheels and rolled down the hill. Who was able to roll his wheel without a single fall, happiness, luck and prosperity awaited him this year.

The most popular pastimes that used to be held in the villages during Maslenitsa were fist fights, sleigh rides, climbing a pole for a prize, eating pancakes for a while, and, of course, round dances, songs and dances.

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. Later, in the cities, a live bear was also shown on the square. The bear has become one of the symbols of Maslenitsa and the onset of spring, because in winter the bear sleeps in a den, and wakes up in spring. The bear woke up - it means that spring has come.

And, of course, the symbol of the holiday is an effigy of Maslenitsa, made of straw and dressed in bright clothes. The scarecrow personified both the Maslenitsa holiday itself and the evil winter. On the last day of Maslenitsa, the scarecrow was burned on a ritual fire.

On Maslenitsa, it has always been customary to eat and have fun as much as possible.

Boris Kustodiev. Pancake week. 1919

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

By the way, in pagan times in Russia, the New Year was celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox, that is, Maslenitsa and the New Year were celebrated on the same day. Winter is over and it means the new year has arrived. And according to old beliefs, it was believed: as a person meets the year, so he will be. Therefore, they did not skimp on this holiday for a generous feast and unbridled fun.

Maslenitsa week

Maslenitsa is celebrated for seven days, from Monday to Sunday. The whole week is divided into two periods: Narrow Maslenitsa and Wide Maslenitsa. Narrow Shrovetide - the first three days: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Wide Shrovetide - these are the last four days, from Thursday to Sunday. In the first three days, the housewives could do household chores and clean up. From Thursday, all work stopped, and the Wide Maslenitsa began. On these days, any housework and housework was prohibited. It was only allowed to have fun and bake pancakes.

Each day of Shrove Tuesday has its own name and is filled with a unique meaning.

So, the days of Shrovetide week:

Monday - "Meeting".

The first day of Shrovetide week is called "Meeting" - this is the meeting of Maslenitsa. On this day they start baking pancakes. According to tradition, the first pancake was given to the poor, poor and needy people, so that they would pray for the souls of deceased relatives, or the pancake was left on the doorstep as a tribute to their ancestors.

On Monday, we dealt with organizational issues related to the festivities. On this day, preparations for the holiday were completed: snow slides, booths, swings, stalls for trade were completed.

In the morning, the father-in-law and mother-in-law sent the daughter-in-law for a day to her father and mother, in the evening they themselves came to visit the matchmakers and treated themselves to pancakes, rejoicing at the beginning of Shrovetide week.

And it was on this day that they made a stuffed Maslenitsa out of straw and other improvised materials, dressed up in old clothes, different rags, at the same time getting rid of junk. Then the effigy was impaled and driven in a sledge through the streets, and finally put on public display in the main street or square of the village until Sunday.

Tuesday - "Games".

Tuesday was traditionally a day of festivities, games and fun. On this day, fun began in the morning, they rode sledges, ice slides, carousels. Buffoons walked the streets, entertaining the people and treating themselves to the generous alms of the hostesses.

Leonid Solomatkin. Pancake week. 1878

On this day, relatives and friends were invited to pancakes.

Flirting was the day of matchmaking in the villages. Young people furtively looked at each other, the guys looked after their brides, the girls stared at the guys and furtively wondered which of them would be the first to send matchmakers. And the parents looked closely at the future relatives and in a comic form began to agree on the upcoming celebration.

All Shrovetide rites, in fact, were reduced to matchmaking, in order to have a wedding immediately after Lent.

Wednesday - "Gourmet".

On Wednesday, according to tradition, the son-in-law came to his mother-in-law for pancakes, which she prepared especially for him. The mother-in-law had to feed her son-in-law to her heart's content and in every possible way showed her disposition to her daughter's husband. From this custom came the expression "The son-in-law came, where can I get sour cream?". There could be several sons-in-law, other guests, relatives, neighbors were invited, and the tables were bursting with refreshments. The sons-in-law praised their mother-in-laws and sang songs of praise to them and played funny scenes with dressing up. Women and girls gathered together, rode sleighs through the villages and also sang cheerful songs and ditties.

Thursday - "Revelry".

From that day on, the Broad Maslenitsa began. Everything chores real festivities in honor of Maslenitsa stopped and unfolded. The people with might and main indulged in all sorts of fun, games and fun. People rode down hills, on swings and carousels, arranged fun horseback riding, sleigh rides, played snowballs, feasted noisily, all this was accompanied by cheerful round dances and chants.

On this day, fisticuffs and wall-to-wall games were usually held, where young people showed their prowess and become, showing off in front of girls and brides. The inhabitants of two villages, landlord and monastic peasants, residents of a large village living in opposite ends could participate in battles and compete. Moreover, they prepared for the battle very seriously: they took a steam bath in a bathhouse, ate hearty meals to gain strength, and even turned to sorcerers with a request to give special conspiracy to win.

One of the favorite traditional pastimes was the assault and capture of the ice fortress. The guys built a town of ice and snow with gates, they planted guards there, and then went on the attack: they climbed the walls, burst into the gates. The besieged defended themselves as best they could: snowballs, brooms and whips were used.

Vasily Surikov. Capture of the snow town. 1891

The meaning of these games, as well as the whole Shrovetide, is a splash of accumulated over the winter negative energy and the resolution of various conflicts between people.

Children and youth went from house to house with tambourines, horns, balalaikas, singing carols. They were willingly treated with delicacies and conveyed greetings and bows to their parents and relatives.

In the cities, residents, dressed in the best outfits, participated in festive festivities, went to theatrical performances and booths to watch fun with a bear and buffoons.

Konstantin Makovsky. Folk festivities during Shrove Tuesday on Admiralteyskaya Square in St. Petersburg. 1869

Friday - Mother-in-law evening.

On this day, the son-in-law invited his mother-in-law to his pancakes. The mother-in-law came with a return visit, and even with her relatives and friends. Pancakes that day were baked by the daughter - the wife of the son-in-law. The son-in-law had to demonstrate his disposition towards his mother-in-law and her relatives. Family gatherings strengthened relations between relatives, and the general fun reminded of the imminent approach of the long-awaited spring and warmth.

Saturday - "Zolovkina gatherings."

On this day, the daughter-in-law honorably invited her husband's relatives to the house for pancakes. If the sisters-in-law, sisters of husbands, were unmarried, the daughter-in-law invited her unmarried girlfriends to common gatherings. If the husband's sisters were already married, then the daughter-in-law called her married relatives. The newlywed, according to custom, prepared gifts for her sisters-in-law and presented them to each.

Sunday - "Seeing Shrovetide". Forgiveness Sunday.

Completes Shrovetide week Forgiveness Sunday. On this day, close people ask each other for forgiveness for all the troubles and insults caused during the year. 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, and bowed, asking for forgiveness. In response to a request for forgiveness, the phrase "God will forgive" is traditionally pronounced. Also on Forgiveness Sunday, it was customary to go to the cemetery and commemorate the deceased relatives.

Like many years ago, the burning of an effigy on Sunday is considered to be the culmination of the whole Maslenitsa today. This action symbolizes the farewell to winter and the onset of spring. On this day, people held fairs, tea parties with bagels, rolls and pancakes, played games, danced around the Shrovetide scarecrow, sang and danced, and, finally, burned the scarecrow, dreaming that everything bad that happened in life would burn with it and the ashes were scattered over the fields.

Semyon Kozhin. Pancake week. Seeing off winter. 2001

There were big fires too. significant tradition, they were burned on purpose to melt the remnants of snow and quickly invite the beautiful spring to visit. Old unnecessary things were thrown into the fires, thus getting rid of everything that interfered with life. Round dances were made around the fires, and one of the favorite pastimes was jumping over a blazing fire. On this day, all old grievances and conflicts were forgotten, and they said: "Whoever remembers the old, that's out of the eye."

Shrovetide omens.

There are many signs associated with Maslenitsa. It is believed that the more pancakes baked, the more luck, money and health will be in the family this year. If you skimp on treats and bake few pancakes, then it will not matter with finances.

If the pancakes turned out to be poorly baked or ugly, this meant that difficult times, illnesses and troubles were not far off. In the process of making pancakes, it was necessary to be in good mood, think about good deeds and wish everyone who treats themselves with a pancake, goodness and happiness. Each housewife had her own pancake recipes for Maslenitsa, and they did not always reveal their secrets. In addition to eggs, flour and milk that are familiar to all of us, they added potatoes, apples, buckwheat, nuts, and corn to the dough.

Even our ancestors believed that the cold and rainy weather before the start of Shrovetide - to a good harvest and well-being. And the girls who wanted to get married had to drunkenly drink all the men they met - acquaintances and strangers, because meeting with a tipsy man on Maslenitsa is also good omen promising a happy and long marriage.

The traditions of celebrating Maslenitsa are rooted deep into our history. And in old days, and now this holiday is celebrated on a grand scale, with a variety of entertainment and, of course, with pancakes. Many Shrovetide traditions have survived to this day. No wonder Shrovetide is one of the most fun folk festivals!

Merry Maslenitsa, delicious pancakes and well-being!

Preserved from the time of paganism is Maslenitsa. holiday description, summary scenarios of rites and rituals requires the creation of a separate article. Therefore, I propose to get acquainted in more detail with the history and traditions of the national celebration.

history of the holiday

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

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

cheese week

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

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

Maslenitsa rites

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

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

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

Day One - Meeting

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

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

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

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

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

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

Day two - Gambling

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

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

Day three - Lakomka

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

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

Day Four - Walk around

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

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

Day five - Mother-in-law evening

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

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

Day six - Zolovkina gatherings

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

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

Day Seven - Forgiveness Sunday

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

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

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

How is Maslenitsa celebrated today?

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

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

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

How is Maslenitsa celebrated in other countries?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Germany, it is customary to cook pancakes, pancakes and fried sausages on Maslenitsa. During carnival processions, people dress up as devils, forest spirits, jesters, and various fairy-tale characters. In Holland and Belgium, the festive carnival lasts three days. These days they treat themselves to pancakes with bacon, pancakes and fried donuts.

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 consideration of the features 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, most cheerful, wide and spectacular Russian holiday, is popular among the Russian people. Today Maslenitsa is a symbol of Russian folk holidays with a thousand-year history.

Abstract: 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, features of the Russian national character

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

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

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

The mind of Russia cannot be understood

Do not measure with a common yardstick:

She has a special become -

One 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. Its character is the character of its people, it is distinguished by complexity and inconsistency.

Many factors influence the formation of a national character that develops over a long period of 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; accumulation and coagulation process national history and culture over an extended period of time; a combined indication of the national character and national culture; a true depiction of the profile of the nation and state. Therefore, with the help of Russian national traditional holidays, it will be useful to further and deeply explore and analyze the Russian national character.

The history of Maslenitsa goes back to pre-Christian Russia. Maslenitsa, as the brightest, most cheerful, wide and 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 rites. Today Maslenitsa is a symbol of Russian folk holidays with a thousand-year history. No other country celebrates anything like this.

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

The introduction includes a presentation 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 consists of two chapters. The first chapter explains general information about Maslenitsa: its origin, traditions of celebration, and influence on modern Russian society.

The second chapter outlines the main features of the Russian national character, manifested in the customs and traditions of the Russian traditional holiday Maslenitsa, analyzes in detail such features as religiosity, militancy, hospitality and catholicity.

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

Introduction

Chapter 1 General information about Maslenitsa

1.1. The origin of Maslenitsa.

1.2. Traditions of Maslenitsa

1.3. The influence of Maslenitsa on modern Russian society

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

2.1. Religiosity

2.2. Militancy

2.3. Hospitality

2.4. catholicity

Conclusion

Literature

Introduction

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

About the national character, in different areas of research there are different terms, such as the main types of personality, national traits, social character, ethnic characteristics, national mentality, national personality, in essence, they all indicate the national character. National character - a unique national coloring of emotions and feelings, ways of thinking and actions, stable and national features of habits and traditions, formed under the influence of living conditions, features of the historical development of a given nation and manifested in the specifics of its national culture. It changes as faith, the natural environment, the social regime, etc., change. In the ethnic consciousness of each nation, 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. . About Russian national identity as the Russians themselves wrote a lot and in very different ways.

Russia, a vast country, has the largest area in the world, a special geographical position even in harsh climates. 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, diligence, 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 require him to make a heavy sacrifice. But when trouble comes - a Russian person is harsh, hard-working and merciless towards the enemy, not sparing himself, he does not spare the enemy either ... In small things, a Russian person can be unfair to himself and others, get off with a joke ... But justice in big ideas and lives on big things. It is indestructible. In the name of justice, in the name of the common, in the name of the Motherland, he, without thinking about himself, 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) "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 attached a collective-tribal principle to the development of the Russian national character and to the fate of Russia. According to Berdyaev, "spiritual collectivism", "spiritual catholicity" is "a high type of brotherhood of people." Such collectivism is the future. But there is another collectivism. This is "irresponsible collectivism", which dictates to a person the need to "be like everyone else." The Russian man, Berdyaev believed, is immersed in such collectivism, he feels himself immersed in the collective. Hence the lack of personal dignity and intolerance towards those who are different from the rest, who, due to their work and abilities, are entitled to more.

In the Russian people there is such a proverb: Better to die standing than to live on your knees". This proverb figuratively reflects the militancy of the Russian people. The Russian people are distinguished from other peoples by militancy. The reason is that the 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 behind them there is no individual, their creator is the people, this is a collective creativity. 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, and 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 the 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 study, through the prism of this holiday we analyze the features of the Russian national character, which is our goal of study.

Based on the goal, the following tasks are distinguished:

1) Present the basic information of Maslenitsa;

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 features of the Russian national character with the help of the traditions and customs of Maslenitsa.

To solve the tasks, we use following methods: continuum sampling method; contextual observation method; method of contextual analysis; method of comparison and generalization.

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

Chapter 1 General information about Shrovetidee

1.1. Origin of Shrovetides

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

Maslenitsa is called differently, all these names have the same thoughts. 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 - Maslenitsa, 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, 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 the last week before Lent, which lasts seven weeks and ends with Easter. During Great Lent, the Church instructs believers to refrain from fast food (meat, butter, etc.), amusements and entertainment - that's the people who strive 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 round dances, called out Spring, and burned an effigy of winter. Each ritual had a special meaning. In this holiday, the cult of ancestors, agrarian, as well as family cult. It is believed that the cult of ancestors can be traced in the tradition of baking ritual pancakes (part of the funeral food), as well as in the tradition of forgiveness Sunday. The family and tribal nature of the holiday can also be associated with the name of the days of Maslenitsa. The agrarian cult can be traced in many holidays, including the rites of Shrovetide.

Pancakes are the main symbol of Maslenitsa. They symbolize light, victory over evil and the coming of spring. Such 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 on Maslenitsa, the richer and happier you will live the year.

1.2. Traditions of Maslenitsa

During the celebration of Maslenitsa, Orthodox traditions play a big role in history. The last week of preparation 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, on Shrovetide week, festive feasts with relatives and friends are supposed, going to visit each other - all this brings together, gives reason to ask for grievances and discontent that have accumulated over the year, because at the end of this week, on the day before Great Lent - forgiveness Sunday.

The Church warns the flock against any excess. Drunkenness, frivolous deeds and dangerous games at this time - for fun, one should not forget about the high preparatory purpose of this bright, joyful week. " Let the world with its ancestors weep bitterly: sweet food fallen with the fallen”, sounds in the hymns of the Cheese Week - this is how the fall of Adam and Eve, which occurred from intemperance, is remembered, and contains the praise of fasting with its saving fruits. 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 the Wedding is no longer performed, Liturgy is not served on Wednesday and Friday, and a prayer is said at the Hours.

Folk traditions of Shrovetide also occupy an important place. On Maslenitsa throughout the week, fun, traditions and fun always have an established sequence, which is expressed in the name Shrovetide days. On Monday - a meeting of Maslenitsa, on Tuesday - a game. On Shrovetide Wednesday, 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, hence the expression "to the mother-in-law for pancakes." 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, broad, cheerful, noblewoman Maslenitsa, madam Maslenitsa."

Monday is called "meeting". On this day, ice slides, swings and booths were completed, the Shrovetide effigy was dressed up in old women's clothes. They impaled him on a large pole and carried him on a sleigh with cheerful laudatory songs. Then the scarecrow was installed on an ice slide, from which they arranged sleigh rides. On Monday they started baking pancakes, and the first pancake was usually received by the poor in remembrance of the dead.

Tuesday is called "tricks". In the morning, young people rode from the mountains and ate pancakes, and also invited relatives and friends to visit: “We have mountains ready, and pancakes are baked - please favor.” In wooden booths, theatrical performances were given with the participation of Petrushka and Shrovetide grandfather. Buffoons sang ditties. It was customary to build ice fortresses, arrange comic battles. At the end of the 18th century, festivities were organized in St. Petersburg on St. Isaac's Square, where booths and carousels were installed, and ice slides were built. In Moscow, they rode sledges along the Moscow River and the Neglinka River. Carried out masquerades on the streets of Moscow.

On Wednesday, in "gourmet", in each family they set the tables, offering guests pancakes, dishes from fish, eggs, cottage cheese, milk. In some regions of Russia Special attention on this day they gave mother-in-law to their sons-in-law - “mother-in-law pancakes”. Trade tents were set up in cities and towns, where they offered hot sbitni, Russian gingerbread, nuts, and boiling tea from a samovar.

Thursday was the middle of games and fun. Perhaps it was then that the hot Shrovetide fistfights took place, the fists, leading their origin from Ancient Russia. They also had their own strict rules. It was impossible, for example, to beat a recumbent “they don’t beat a recumbent”, to attack one together “two fight - the third don’t go”, beat below the belt or “one on one”. In addition, everyone enjoyed riding the ice slides, swings and horses, arranged feasts, carnivals, and started caroling. They walked from morning to evening, danced, danced round dances, sang ditties. In vain, Thursday is also called "wide revelry."

Friday was famous for "mother-in-law evenings." Whole line Shrovetide customs was aimed at speeding up weddings, 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 sleighs, pay visits to everyone who walked at their wedding, so that they solemnly roll down the ice 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 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 son-in-law's disrespect for this event was considered a dishonor and insult, and was a pretext for eternal enmity between him and his 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 and gave them gifts. Everything is obvious, at this “Fatty Shrovetide” every day of this generous week was accompanied by a special feast.

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 in the current 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. The festivities ended, fires were made on the ice slides to melt the ice and drive away the cold. On this day of the final farewell to winter, an effigy of Maslenitsa was burned, and the ashes were scattered across the fields so that there would be a good harvest.

1.3. The influence of Maslenitsa on modern Russian society

Everyone knows that the 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 "purification of the soul", so 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 divination. Weddings were played in autumn or winter, in the intervals between long fasts. Especially popular was the so-called "wedding party" - the period from Christmas to Maslenitsa.

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

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

The influence of Maslenitsa 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 Maslenitsa 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 the meeting of spring, but also serves as a factor in strengthening the family and reconciling all relatives.

Maslenitsa promotes modern Russian society to stability, prosperity and vigor.

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

The Russian national character, its unusualness and incomprehensibility, has long aroused the keenest interest among scientists and the desire to understand, explain one or another of its characteristic features, to find the roots of the tragic circumstances that accompany the history of Russia. However, it seems that the Russian people still cannot understand themselves, explain or even justify their behavior in this or that 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 self-consciousness and the loss of centuries-old spiritual values. The awakening of Russia, of course, must begin with the spiritual rebirth of its people, i.e. from the attempt of the Russian people to understand themselves, to resurrect their best qualities and eradicate shortcomings.

In the process of studying the features of the Russian national character, we notice that in the history of Russia such features as religiosity, militancy, hospitality, catholicity always occupy an absolutely important place. In the future, we fully 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, due to belief in the supernatural, which includes a set of moral norms and types of behavior, rituals, cult actions and the unification of people in organizations. It is also the prevailing worldview in most countries of the world, most of the respondents consider themselves to be one of the religions.

The religious system of representation of the world is based on religious faith and is connected with the relation of a person to the superhuman spiritual world, a kind of superhuman reality, about which a person knows something, and to which he must somehow orient his life. Faith can be reinforced by mystical experience.

The foundations of the religious ideas of most world religions are written down 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 particular religion, great teachers, especially enlightened or dedicated, saints, etc. .

ON THE. 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 independently developed in the first millennium of the Russian era, presented in ancient Indian and ancient 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 people's lives, developed lower mythology, belief in the possibility of influencing the state of things in the world by means of primitive magic, anthropocentrism. Under Vladimir Svyatoslavich in 988 in Ancient Russia, Christianity became the state religion. The adoption of Christianity as the state religion inevitably entailed the elimination of pagan cults, which had previously enjoyed grand ducal patronage. But the clergy condemned pagan rites and festivities (some of them persisted for a long time due to the fact that some researchers qualify as religious syncretism or dual faith).

The ritual side of Shrovetide 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 milestone time - 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. Frazer, considered main goal Shrovetide rites stimulation of fertility, 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 the archaic dying and resurrecting deity. The effigy of Maslenitsa was represented, according to V.Ya. Propp, the center of fertility and fruitfulness, and the rituals of seeing him off were supposed to communicate this fertility to the earth: as you know. The ashes from the effigy, or the oil of the torn effigy, were scattered over the fields.

For a 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 wake up 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 a future birth, an impetus for a new revival of fruitful forces. Many rites of Shrovetide, such as the "tselovnik" (forgiveness day), reviews of the newlyweds, their guests, riding from the mountains and on sleds, comic persecution of singles, are associated with newlyweds and unmarried youth. By this, 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 funeral. According to the ideas of the peasants, the ancestors of their ancestors were both in the other world and in the earth, which means that they could influence its fertility. Therefore, it was extremely important not to anger the ancestors and honor them with your attention. To do this, there is a wide layer of funeral rituals in Shrovetide: elements of feast (fist fights, horse races, etc.), sometimes visiting cemeteries, always plentiful meals (originally funeral), necessarily including pancakes, which have become the main attribute of Shrovetide in the modern mass consciousness .

According to the modern Russian folklorist A.B. Frost, claims that Maslenitsa is its own pagan holiday. Shrovetide rites rethink what the Church offers. In particular, fasting in traditional culture is understood primarily as food restrictions, respectively, before starting fasting, you need to eat as much as possible. The main feature, in which the pagan essence of Maslenitsa is usually seen, is the manufacture and burning of an effigy. But in reality, this effigy has never been considered like an idol, and the rite itself, apparently, has gaming roots.

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

Dual faith reflects the features of Russians in the rites of the holidays. Maslenitsa not only has pagan rites, but also has Orthodox rites. Thus, we can see that Russian writers and philosophers, analyzing the traits of Russian character, arising from the basis of Russian culture - Orthodoxy and Paganism, note their duality and inconsistency: 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 laid down on those character traits that are “innately, natively” inherent in the Eastern Slavs: “openness, straightforwardness, natural ease, simplicity in behavior (up to a fair rusticity)”, non-fussiness, humor, generosity, accommodating, ease human relations(“strangers in a minute meeting can feel close” - G. Fedotov); responsiveness, the ability to understand everything; breadth of character, range of decisions (“ than to live with crying, so die with songs»).

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

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

Among the shortcomings of the Russian character, which are the reverse side of his merits, A. Solzhenitsyn listed: the well-known Russian long-suffering, supported by bodily and spiritual endurance; undeveloped sense of justice, replaced by craving for living justice; the age-old alienation of the Russian people from politics and public activity; lack of desire for power: Russian people 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 the perniciously small ability to unite forces, to self-organize.

2.2. Militancy

Fisticuffs were held in winter during Christmas time on Maslenitsa and sometimes in Semik. At the same time, preference was given to Shrovetide, the rampant nature of which made it possible for the male part of the village to show their prowess and youth to 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, monastic peasants with landlords, etc. Fisticuffs 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 chose chieftains.

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

So, for example, one of the Russian ancient medical books contains next tip: « Kill the black snake with a saber or a knife, take your tongue out of it, screw it into green and black taffeta, put it in your left boot, and put it on in the same place. Walking away, don't look back, and whoever asks where you've been, 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 fighters were supposed to wear special uniforms: thick checkers hemmed with tow and fur mittens that softened the blow. Fist fighting could be carried out in two versions: "wall to wall" and "clutch-dump".

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

During the battle "clutch-dump" everyone chose his opponent according to his strength and did not retreat until complete victory, after which he "clutched" into battle with the other. Russian fistfight, unlike a fight, went on in compliance with certain rules, which included the following: “do not beat a recumbent”, “do not beat in a maimed way”, “do not beat a smear”, that is, if the enemy has blood, end with fight him. 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 people entered the battle. married men- strong fighters.

This order maintained the equality of the parties. 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 battlefield. On the field, the guys became two "walls" - teams against each other, demonstrating their strength in front of the enemy, slightly bullying him, assuming warlike poses, cheering themselves up with appropriate shouts.

At this time, in the middle of the field, the teenagers arranged a “hitch-dump”, preparing for future fights. Then the cry of the ataman was heard, followed by a general roar, whistle, shout: “Give battle”, and the battle began. The strongest fighters joined the battle at the very end.

The old men who watched the fistfight discussed the actions of the young, gave advice to those who had not yet joined the fight. The battle ended with the flight of the enemy from the field and the general cheerful booze of the guys and men participating in it. Fisticuffs have accompanied Russian festivities for many centuries.

A detailed description of the battles of "good fellow fist fighters" was given by foreigners who visited Muscovy in the 16th-17th centuries. Fisticuffs taught men 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 exploits of the fighters were praised at men's feasts. They were passed from mouth to mouth, found their reflection in remote songs, epics:

Yes, they came together with spears—

Only spears, you in the rings stooped.

Yes, the heroes gathered with sticks—

Only the sticks turned away over the rubble.

They jumped off good horses,

Yes, they grabbed hand-to-hand combat.

The Russian people are originally and historically warlike! From here originates the rebellious spirit, revenge, the thirst for struggle to victory! The most famous robbers and the best warriors belonged to the Russian people. And even now the words “Russian mafia” or “Russian army” cause discomfort in the fifth point of all Russian enemies.

The whole history of the Russian people is saturated with military prowess. Regardless of profession, all men and many women mastered martial arts. 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, with the word round dance, a person imagines girls and boys who, in bast shoes, dance around a birch to mournful songs. But in fact, there were also military dances. Purely masculine, when hands are on the shoulders, and the roar from powerful throats reaches the heavens.

The glory of the military prowess of Russian ancestors thundered not only throughout Europe. Many ancient historians brought information about the glory and strength of the Russian people. All vast Russian territories have been captured and held in wars. And Russian ancestors were all warriors, this can be seen from traditions, customs and history.

The fact is that the severity of the climate and the location of the land greatly affected 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. Thanks to the long winters, the Russians have become patient and melancholy. Gained the ability to a sharp mobilization of forces, due to the need for emergency work in the summer months. The climate and adversity made the Russian man prudent and pragmatic, but at the same time able to act "headlong", because even sound calculation was not always able to protect against the whims of nature. Also, in a harsh climate, the Russians simply needed community and a sense of elbow. Huge spaces gave the Russian people breadth of soul, liberty and desire for freedom.

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

2.3. Hospitality

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

In the minds of Russians, the word "guest" always evokes feelings of "happiness" and "joy": Guest per guest— owner joy. Guest on the threshold - happiness in the house. When the guests arrived, the Russians were happy at once. For good guest and the gate wide open. And everything is ready for a 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 the readiness of a person to let a stranger into his house or even provide him with shelter. For a hospitable person, his house 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.”

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 frying pans and a frying pan,

torments and undercoats.

Water in the oven, wants pancakes oven.

Where pancakes, here we are.

On this day, people enjoyed pancakes and other Maslenitsa dishes. Pancakes were baked with an endless variety: wheat, barley, oat, buckwheat, from unleavened and sour dough. The people used to say: "A pancake is not a wedge, the belly will not open." Mother-in-laws invited their sons-in-law to pancakes for gourmet meals, and for the fun of their beloved son-in-law, they called all their relatives.

The Russians are distinguished by the fact that they like not only to receive guests, but also to visit. Therefore, p the last day of Maslenitsa - mother-in-law evenings—guest day. They said: " Although mother-in-law pancakes are sweet, but mother-in-law is treated to buttered son-in-law».

On mother-in-law evenings, sons-in-law treat their mother-in-laws with pancakes. Invitations are honorary, 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 sent smartly invited ones. The more there were called, the more honors were given to the mother-in-law.

Girls at noon took out pancakes in a bowl on their heads. They were walking towards the rolling hill. That guy, to whom the girl was in love, was in a hurry to taste a blink, to recognize: will a good hostess come out of her? After all, she stood by the stove this morning, making pancakes.

Shrovetide is not complete without delicious meals on the Russian table. Yes, you should invite guests.

Sixth day of Maslenitsa—sister-in-law gatherings. Maslenitsa is already old. Finally, her farewells were noted. The young daughter-in-law invited her relatives to her sister-in-law gatherings. If the sisters-in-law were still girls, then the daughter-in-law called her old girl friends, if they were married, then she invited married relatives and took the guests to the sisters-in-law with the whole train. The newlywed daughter-in-law was obliged to present gifts to her sister-in-laws. Maslenitsa was, as it were, an excuse to get together, to gossip about one thing and another.

This clearly and clearly manifests Russian hospitality.

2.4. catholicity

Sobornost is a concept with a bright Russian taste, introduced by the Russian philosopher A.S. Khomyakov, developed in the 19th century by the Slavophiles, originally derived from the principle of the canonicity of the Church. Subsequently, it began to be interpreted much more broadly, covering the entire way of life, a complex of moral and ethical standards within the community. These norms unconditionally condemn individualism, the desire of an individual to oppose himself to the community of "fellow believers". Sobornost 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 catholicity was accepted and developed by Russian religious philosophy. And today it covers all spheres of the life of the national organism, becoming one of the components of the definition of the concept of nationality, which "is the catholicity of the clan, language and way of life of the country (fatherland, motherland), bound by faith, enlightenment and expediency predetermined by the Lord God."

The two customs of Maslenitsa, including fisticuffs and the capture of a snowy town, fully express the catholicity of Russians. Such dangerous entertainments include the well-known all of them on Maslenitsa.

There are two types of fisticuffs known. In the first case, two rivals fought, and in the second, they went wall to wall, not sorting out in the heat of battle who was theirs and who was a stranger. Such a massacre allowed to relieve tension and let off steam. The men, flushed with liquor and high-calorie foods, beat each other to death.

The capture of a snowy town is a favorite pastime of Siberians. This, so to speak, is the "calling 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, it nowhere reached the scale and scope that was inherent in the "capture of a snowy town" in Siberia. But in the southern regions of Russia, where there was no snow and ice, there was a version of the Maslenitsa game “taking the city”. The “city” here was understood as a company of girls defending themselves from guys and young men.

As it is right, not only fisticuffs, but also the capture of a snowy town go between two villages or villages. The reason is that it was precisely 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 vast majority of the population of Russia until the beginning of the 20th century, lived in communities that were then the basis of the molecule of social life. The community is the custodian of the main models and values ​​of this life and the main mechanism that instills 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, this is a fact.”

Conclusion

National character is an abstract generalization of all the properties of a people that has 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 present, when humanity is entering the era of the "global village", world civilization will merge together. The national character, as a window to the history and life of a given people, occupies a very important place in intercultural communication.

Character traits of a people are reflected in their national holidays celebrated by this people. Because in society, holidays are the most vital and imaginative part. Maslenitsa, as the most popular, wide and cheerful national holiday in Russia, can reflect the features 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, militancy, hospitality and catholicity. In particular, dual faith as part of religiosity clearly reflects the mutual influence and connection between paganism and Orthodoxy. It should be noted that for the broad 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 features of the Russian national character. We just want our modest initiative to find more worthy successors.

All nations are equal bearers of universal human values. Every national soul has its own mighty and weak sides, its advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it is necessary to mutually understand the difference in people's souls, to love the qualities of each other's people's souls and to be indulgent towards their shortcomings. So between different nations in the world it will be possible to realize truly peaceful coexistence.

Pancake week

Pancake week 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. The well-known name of this week throughout Russia is Pancake week.

Pancake week- a holiday of seeing off winter, the eighth week before Easter. Maslenitsa took place before Great Lent, on the cheese week of the Orthodox calendar, and ended on Forgiveness Sunday.
According to the canons of the 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, regardless of age and social status, took part in it, with the exception of 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, Maslenitsa, to the wide yard: ride in the mountains, roll in pancakes, make fun of 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, boys, couples, children, old men and old women - all poured out into the street, participated in the festive festivities, congratulated each other, went to the fair, where they bought necessary and unnecessary things, marveled 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, war 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 Shrovetide, most of which had no ritual significance, these were funny songs dedicated to Shrovetide and Shrovetide 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 Russia began in March. Even pancakes, an indispensable attribute of Shrovetide, had a ritual meaning: round, ruddy, hot, they were a symbol of the sun, which flared up brighter, 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 appeared, but 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 around towns and villages, either forbidding private distillation, or demanding that Russians not gamble, do not hold fisticuffs. 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 organize a funny sledge procession in the new capital, but a blizzard swept through the holiday week and there was 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 plan of the empress, 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 Shrovetide rite there was sledding. Everyone who had a horse rode out, and teams of various colors raced 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. In each family, tables were set with delicious food, pancakes were baked, 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, the 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 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 and probably fight - all negative negative emotions will be removed at the same time, relaxation will come (maybe this was some kind of secret meaning of fisticuffs). 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 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 sleighs, pay visits to everyone who walked at their wedding, so that they solemnly roll down the ice 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 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 in the current 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.

Saying goodbye 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 making the winter hardships end and spring would come, followed by a warm summer with abundant 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.

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

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

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

Evidence of the "royal" celebration of Shrovetide has been preserved. For example, in 1724, Peter the Great decided to arrange a grand celebration, but the frosts prevented a huge masquerade, a sledge procession and other fun. The strong Russian frost did not allow to celebrate Maslenitsa, once again confirming that changing the dates of the Maslenitsa week is not the best idea for a holiday. The fact is that Shrove Tuesday was supposed to take place on the days of the spring solstice, which fell at the height of Lent. At the insistence of the church, the celebration was postponed a month ago, and now the last day of Maslenitsa was supposed to be a week before the start of Lent. But there were also good celebrations. According to the memoirs of the Austrian secretary Korb, who happened to be in Russia on Shrovetide week, “all respect for the highest authorities disappears, the most harmful self-will reigns everywhere.” The same Korb witnessed the case when the newly built Lefortov Palace was illuminated by a mummered pseudo-patriarch at the head of the “most jesting and most drunken cathedral” with a cross made of tobacco pipes, a censer with tobacco smoke and, to top it off, serving a service in honor of Bacchus. During the Maslenitsa holiday in the palace, the tsar himself was the ringleader and the first merry fellow. A two-day feast began in the "consecrated" palace, while guests were forbidden to sleep or leave, and only for foreign guests they made an exception and set aside several hours for sleep, after which they woke up and dragged them back to the feast. In 1722, Peter the Great staged a grand procession in Moscow, putting boats and yachts on sledges, and this procession passed through Moscow in front of an astonished public. All the same pranksters were sitting in the boats: the “patriarch”, “Bacchus”, there was also a Neptune costume dressed up, sitting in a sleigh in the form of a huge shell. completed the procession big ship on which the king rode. The ship sailed into the wind with her sails spread and constantly fired from the cannons mounted on the deck. The entire structure was pulled by 15 horses. Another case is when Catherine II arranged a festive carnival, poorly understanding the traditions of the people of the country she ruled. The “Triumphant Minerva” masquerade consisted of a carnival procession traveling around the capital, playing and ridiculing human vices: embezzlement, bribery, red tape of officials and others. The metropolitan traditions of the festivities were adopted by the provinces, and throughout Russia of that time Maslenitsa was celebrated widely and powerfully. For the rulers, the holiday was an occasion to appease the people, to show them their closeness. Ancient traditions were not respected, and the celebration was an average Europeanized carnival with kitsch elements and pancakes as an understandable and accessible symbol. However, some elements of the holiday "in the European manner" only strengthened and enriched Shrovetide, diversifying its festive, fun part.

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

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

Tuesday - games. On this day, it was customary to guess. A proverb appeared about the custom of this day: "Choose a husband for pancakes, and a wife for pies." What kind of pancakes a man prefers, such is his character. Real tough men love pancakes with caviar - they will provide for their wife, and they will keep the economy strong. But you should not expect affection from such a man. If the betrothed prefers pancakes with red fish, then his temper is affectionate, he is more of a dreamer, an artist. Such one will speak tenderness, but the economy may fall into disrepair. Good men love pancakes with cottage cheese. With sour cream - a person without a strong character, who is easy to convince. Gentle men eat pancakes with butter - such a one will love-kiss, but he doesn’t like household chores very much. Those who like to have many children eat with sugar, and the wife will look after them. The most unpleasant husband candidates are those who eat pancakes with boiled eggs. Bores at home and at a holiday, they perform household and marital duties, but somehow out of duty. Pancakes with jam are loved by handsome guys, the first in the village, in front of everyone. Being such a wife is flattering, but a hubby can go on a spree.

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

Thursday - go for a walk. Fisticuffs, wall to wall and other "men's fun". By this day, snow fortresses were built, which rivals conquered with noise. In the Christian calendar, the same day falls on Candlemas (that is, a meeting). This holiday is in honor of the bringing of the baby Jesus Christ by the Blessed Mary to the church and the meeting on the way with the elder Simeon. In ancient pagan traditions, this day was the meeting of the new year. They baked pigeons and larks from dough, and the kids “clicked on the sun” so that it “appeared from behind the mountain.”

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

On Saturday - sister-in-law gatherings. Unmarried sisters-in-law invited unmarried friends to visit. The daughter-in-law was supposed to give them gifts, and they should treat and entertain the guests.

Sunday is the last day of Maslenitsa, forgiveness Sunday, seeing off winter and burning the effigy of Winter. Before burning, the effigy is carried around the city, and after that they are installed in the square and dance round dances, while they scold Winter in every possible way, drive it away and, in the end, burn the effigy. The fun is completed by jumping over a huge fire. And this Sunday is called forgiven because everyone asks for forgiveness from their ancestors. They are called bonfires, they are invited to a plentiful treat. This appeasement of the spirits of the dead in the Christian era has been slightly distorted, and people ask for forgiveness from God and from each other. It is customary to say: “Forgive me”, receiving the answer: “God will forgive”, after which everyone goes to the bath, which can be considered a rite of purification before a long spring, and among Christians - before Lent.

Pancakes are the most popular dish on Shrove Tuesday. This recipe is a simple dish prepared with special skill. Here the skill and accuracy of the hand, a trained eye, culinary flair and endurance are important. That is why pancakes are so simple and at the same time complex dish. Word pancake common Slavic. In Ukrainian there is mlynets, in Bulgarian - mlyn. Mlyn- this is a millstone in windmills, a round stone, which, by rubbing against another equally flat, but lying motionless, abraded grains of cereals, turning them into flour. Damn-mlyn these are words from the terminology of the mill craft, which among the Slavs was one of the central ones. In French the mill is called moulin, in German - Muhle, in Italian - mulino, and in English - mill, that is, also similar to mlyn.

Interesting origin of the expression the first pancake is lumpy- in modern language it is unequivocal - com, failure, the first pancake turned out to be a lump. But it used to mean how, but to whom damn, that is comam- dead ancestors. This first pancake was an offering to the komas. So it turns out that the old spelling coincides with the new meaning - the living Russian language is constantly changing.

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

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