When the Russian Maslenitsa approaches, the history of the holiday begins to interest a large number of people. The week before Lent is associated primarily with mass festivities, fun and pancakes. However, the old Russian tradition is filled with a deeper meaning. It has a lot to do with the vernal equinox. The ancient Slavs were pagans and were wary of this natural phenomenon.

How did the holiday come about?

The origins of Maslenitsa go back to ancient times. The day of the vernal equinox evoked awe among the Proto-Slavs. At that time, sharp fluctuations in weather conditions were observed in the territories of their residence. Now the frost will hit, then the thaw begins. People said: "Spring is fighting with Winter." On the day of the vernal equinox, the main battle between Winter and Spring took place. In order for Spring to conquer Winter, the pagans placated the gods. They performed various rituals and prepared sacrificial dishes.

The history of Maslenitsa is closely connected with the pagan Old Slavic Komoeditsa. The celebration of Komoeditsa began a week before the vernal equinox and lasted another week after it. In those days, the most revered animal among the Slavs was the bear. He was called Lump and considered the hypostasis of the pagan god Veles. With the spring awakening of the bear after hibernation, nature came to life and warmth came.

Saying goodbye to Winter, the ancient Slavs glorified Yarilo - the god of the spring sun. To support the young, growing sun Yarilo, the Pre-Slovens baked flat cakes - round and yellow, like a daylight. The first cake went to Whom - the bear. In those days, the saying appeared: "The first pancake is komam" (for bears).

During Komoeditsa, various dishes were prepared from products carefully preserved by the end of winter.

The festive table used to be dominated by vegetarian dishes. They were cooked to appease the bear - a lover of plant foods.

A fifth of the prepared dishes were carried to the Sacred Fire. A straw effigy Marena (Maru) was placed next to the fire. The image of Marena was identified with death and with seasonal rites of death and rebirth of nature.

Grain was scattered near the sanctuary, treating the birds. The birds symbolized deceased ancestors. On the day of the vernal equinox, living and dead representatives of the genus united.

During the celebration of Komoeditsa, ritual jumping over the Sacred Fire was performed. The Pre-Slavs believed that the flame was capable of expelling evil spirits. They washed themselves with water that melted on the Sacred Fire. She gave health, strength and beauty.

Young married couples glorified Komoeditsa in ancient Russia. The bachelors were “tagged with a rope” and forced to make a choice or buy off holiday dishes.

At the end of the celebration, the ancient Slavs burned Marena, glorifying Yarilo.

Some rituals of Komoeditsa are still observed during the celebration of Maslenitsa.

The appearance of the Maslenitsa holiday

The history of Shrovetide dates back several centuries. After the baptism of Russia, pagan cults began to be eradicated everywhere. However, the faith of the ancestors did not disappear. A huge layer of pagan culture, the bearer of which was the people, became part of the new faith. Many Christian holidays coincided with the pagan ones and borrowed their rituals.

The Orthodox Church began to celebrate divine services before Great Lent as early as the 4th century. In the 7th century, Maslenitsa in Russia acquired a new meaning. After the victory over the Persians, the Byzantine king Heraclius fulfills his promise to God not to eat meat before the Great Forty-day Fast. From this period, the tradition of refusing meat dishes for Shrovetide in Russia began to take root.

Since the 16th century, the Orthodox Church recognizes the last week before Lent as a festive one and calls it Cheese Week. Its other name is Myasopust. During Cheese Week, it was supposed to start preparing for abstinence from food, refusing to eat meat. Other animal products (eggs, milk and cheese) were allowed. Holiday Sunday became known as Forgiven. On this day, Christians had to cleanse the soul, forgive the offenders and ask for forgiveness from those whom they offended.

The celebration of Maslenitsa in Russia after the adoption of Christianity has changed little. During the festivities, people still dressed up in bear skins, kindled fires and made cakes. When they learned how to make yeast dough, they began to bake pancakes.

Eating pancakes, people believed that they were eating a piece of the sun and receiving God's blessing, as in ancient times. Later, cheesecakes were also considered a festive symbol.

The tradition of lighting a holiday fire from a sunbeam has been preserved. He was caught with a lens and directed to a pile of dry brushwood. The fire lit from the sun was endowed by ancient people with divine power. He gave them the energy of a daylight.

How did the name Shrovetide come about?

The name of Maslenitsa is an ancient holiday received by the people. Cheese week was called that because it was allowed to eat butter for 7 days.

The people loved Maslenitsa and formed legends about it. One of them told about a girl whom a peasant accidentally met in the forest while collecting brushwood. Believing that she was lost, the man approached her and asked her name and who her parents were. The baby replied that her name was Maslenitsa, and her father was Frost. Then the peasant asked the girl to ease the frosts. Maslenitsa promised to help, and also asked to tell the villagers to prepare meals and wait for her with good news.

She returned to the village of Maslenitsa as a lively, puffy, laughing woman with ruddy cheeks and mischievous eyes. After her arrival, the frosts receded, the sun peeped out and warmed the earth. The joyful people threw a feast in honor of Frost's daughter. They sang, danced and had fun, passing the winter and greeting the spring. The holiday was named Maslenitsa by the name of Frost's daughter.

The legend of Maslenitsa inspired the collector of Russian folklore Alexander Afanasyev the image of the Snow Maiden, which has become a symbol of another folk holiday.

Celebration of Maslenitsa in the era of Peter I

The history of Shrovetide contains many interesting facts. Tsar Peter I loved to have fun on a grand scale. He attended folk festivals with pleasure and took an active part in valiant amusements along with ordinary people. The official of the Austrian embassy, ​​Korb, was surprised that during Maslenitsa the Russian people lost all respect for the authorities.

However, the young tsar himself set the tone for the unbridled self-will. He cheerfully sneered at the authorities and church officials. With the blessing of Peter I, the newly built Lefortov Palace was "consecrated" on Shrovetide in the name of the god Bacchus (the god of wine and fun) by the buffoon's patriarch Nikita Zotov.

Later, the tsar amazed the imagination of his compatriots with an unusual procession that rode all over Moscow. The Pancake week train consisted of a sleigh on which the ships of the Russian fleet were installed.

During the time of Peter I, elements of the carnival appeared in the celebration of Maslenitsa. The tsar spent his entire youth in Western European countries and admired European culture. Wanting to arrange the same merry festivities at home, he issued a decree on the celebration of Maslenitsa on the model of foreign carnivals.

During the time of Peter I, booths appeared at the Maslyanitsa festival. In 1700, the tsar ordered the construction of a "comedy horomin" in Kitay-gorod. After 2 years, the first public performance was given there. Since then, Maslenitsa has been celebrated in Russia by constructing theaters.

Booths for Maslenitsa were built simultaneously with swings, merry-go-rounds and ice slides. They were located in one, two or three lines. Large rich theaters were erected in a conspicuous place, behind them smaller and poorer booths were arranged. The walls were made of wood, and the roof was covered with a piece of rough canvas, by analogy with a big top. The interior decoration of the theater depended on the wealth of its owner.

Russian Shrovetide history has undergone many changes over the centuries. Peter I introduced Maslenitsa fireworks into practice. "Fiery fun", or "fiery fun", became one of the obligatory attributes of the holiday, along with a stuffed animal, a fire and pancakes until the end of the 17th century. With the onset of the new century, fireworks have ceased to be used in Maslenitsa festivities.

How is Maslenitsa celebrated today?

Modern Shrovetide has almost completely lost its original meaning. Many people see Shrovetide rituals as fun. This is a reason to rejoice at the end of winter and enjoy delicious festive dishes.

The celebration starts on the eve of Cheese Week, on Sunday. It is called Meat. On this day, they go to their friends and relatives, inviting them to visit Shrovetide. Meat Sunday is served with meat dishes. On this day, you must eat all the meat products available in the house.

On the eve of Cheese Week, the father-in-law invites his son-in-law to visit him to "eat the ram."

The cheese week is divided into 2 periods. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are called Narrow Shrovetide. On these days, people begin to celebrate the Maslenitsa, but they do not stop working. There is a brisk trade, ice slides, snow fortresses, swings and carousels are being built. People prepare holiday meals and do household chores.

With the onset of Thursday, the Wide Maslenitsa begins. From that day on, all work stops and unrestrained fun begins.

Each day of Cheese Week has its own name and meaning.

Days of the Narrow Shrovetide

The first day of the holiday is called the Meeting day. From that day on, the hostesses begin to bake pancakes. Making pancake dough is also part of the festive ritual. Pancakes from yeast dough are traditionally baked on Maslenitsa days in Russia.

On the evening of Meat Sunday, when the first stars appear, the oldest woman in the family goes to the river (lake, pond or well) and looks into the water. Looking at the reflection of the moon in the water, she asks him to look through her window and blow on the dough. In the morning, women prepare pancakes. The very first baked pancake is given to the poor and asked to commemorate the dead.

On the same day, a stuffed animal is prepared from straw. Materials and clothing are collected by all the villagers. Everyone tries to contribute to the creation of the stuffed animal. He is carried around the village on a sleigh, then set on a pole in the central part at the highest place.

On Monday, relatives visit each other, eat pancakes and plan how and where they will spend the holidays.

The second day is called Flirting. On Tuesdays, people visit fairs, buy festive outfits, treats and bird-shaped whistles for children. With a whistle, kids invite migratory birds home.

The squares host theatrical performances, competitions, sleigh rides and ice slides. On Tuesday, bridesmaid shows. If the matchmaking takes place, they agree on a wedding after Lent.

On the third day, Gourmet begins. On Wednesday, it is customary to set lush tables and enjoy festive dishes from the heart.

On Gourmet, the mother-in-law invites her son-in-law to her house and treats him to pancakes and honey cakes. If relatives are in a quarrel, on this day they should make peace.

Wide Shrovetide

On the fourth day, Revelry begins. From this day on, people devote all their time only to festivities. They ride slides, swings and merry-go-rounds. Three horses with bells are harnessed into a painted sleigh and ride around the village. Young guys naked to the waist arrange fistfights, storm the snow fortresses and jump over the fires. The young couple, who got married a year ago, are supposed to kiss while rolling down the ice slides. Mummers in bearskins or in sheepskin coats, turned inside out, walk around the houses. They are treated to festive dishes and pancakes.

On Friday, the mother-in-law goes to visit her son-in-law at Mother-in-law's evening. The day before, she gives her daughter all the necessary products and ready-made meals so that the festive table can be set.

Saturday is called Zolovka's gatherings. Young daughters-in-law invite her husband's sisters to visit with their families. Unmarried girls meet with their girlfriends and arrange gatherings. The captured young lady gives gifts to all her relatives on Saturday.

The Old Russian holiday ends with Forgiveness Sunday. On this day, the fun dies down. People ask each other for forgiveness and kiss. A straw scarecrow is placed on a sleigh and a beautiful girl is seated next to it. The sleigh is being carried by three young guys across the village to its outskirts. Here the scarecrow is set on a pole and a fire is made under it. Pancakes and other festive foods are thrown into the burning fire. The ash remaining from the fire is scattered over the fields so that there is a good harvest.

On Sunday, people go to the cemetery and ask for forgiveness from their deceased relatives. They leave pancakes on the grave.

On Forgiveness Sunday, it is customary to sit at the dinner table 7 times. During the last meal at the table, the whole family must be gathered.

It so happened that people are used to celebrating all significant events in life in a special way. In ancient times, man was closer to nature, believed and revered its mighty power. Therefore, all pagan holidays were inextricably linked with her.

Most of them have long since sunk into oblivion. But there is one that was not lost, preserved in the turn of the century. it Shrovetide is a legacy of pagan times, a favorite holiday of the Russian people.

• In 2016, Maslenitsa will come on March 7 and will be celebrated until March 13.

The origins of the holiday

Shrovetide is a unique, multi-meaning holiday. Its original pagan origin, traditions have been filled with new content over time. The Orthodox Church accepted it, rethought it, made it a part of Christian culture.

The pagan Slavs saw off the annoying winter and met the long-awaited spring. People who worked on the land knew that if, due to the prolonged winter, they did not sow, harvest in time, then hunger and misfortune could not be avoided. Therefore, it was a time of celebration of life and fertility, which was expected from the next agricultural year.

In the Christian sense, the holiday was associated with the annual cycle of worship and was celebrated as a preparation for Great Lent, more precisely, as a preparation for Easter. The time of Maslenitsa also depended on the time of the beginning of the fast.

Every year the holiday fell on a new date.

Its current name is five centuries old. He was previously called meat-meat... People also affectionately, like a girl, called him “ sliver», « funny quail», « boyarynya carnival"Or else like this -" cheese week», « pancake maker", "O bastard».

Maslenitsa is celebrated not only by the Slavs. In European countries, it was also customary to see off the winter. The closest thing to Maslenitsa is the Italian carnival, which literally means “goodbye to meat”. Our holiday is similar to it, primarily in the Christian meaning of entering Great Lent.

In Western culture, the carnival was able to survive, becoming a certain branch of entertainment, filled with the meaning of emancipation, the removal of all possible social differences, and, which is characteristic of the carnival, a change in social roles. During the days of the carnival, anyone, at the behest of the crowd, could become the master of the city, its king, even for a day, even for an hour. But our celebration customs are still very different from those in Europe.

Maslenitsa week

If we talk about Russian traditions, then we need to talk about the seven Shrovetide days.

On Monday - Maslenitsa meeting... A stuffed animal, a symbol of the holiday, was made from straw. With him, on a sleigh, young boys and girls drove around the village and past every courtyard. That is, according to the meaning, Maslenitsa came to every home. People said that "Maslenitsa is coming." Children were looking forward to the holiday most of all, for them it was the time of big winter games. They did not work during the Shrovetide week, they had to rest, walk, visit for seven days.

The second day was called flirting... Those young people who have not yet married, this week looked closely at the brides so that after the fast they could have a wedding.

The biggest feast on Wednesday gourmet... The whole family gathered at the table, ate pancakes and remembered all the relatives. Since pancakes are not only a hot symbol of the sun, but also a dish with which all Slavs traditionally remembered the departed, it was believed that the whole family gathers at the table, celebrates. It was necessary to eat not just a lot, but a lot, as much as fit. Overeating on Shrovetide was not considered a sin.

The widest festivities began on Thursday... Thursday was called Revelry. There were fairs, stalls in the stalls were full of all sorts of delicacies, honey cakes with patterns, bagels, pickles, caviar, fish were sold. Velvet tea was poured from pot-bellied samovars. And, of course, they could not do without the main treat - hot pancakes. Young people rode down the hills, drove around in sleighs and triplets. The wide Maslenitsa was noisy, laughed in dances and round dances. In street theaters, performances went endlessly, for those who wanted to measure their strength - fist games, tug-of-war.

On Friday, according to tradition, the son-in-law went to his mother-in-law for pancakes... The main idea of ​​this day is to unite the family, clan. The older woman had to pass on experience, life wisdom to the younger generation.

For sister-in-law gatherings, on Saturday, the young daughters-in-law received their husband's relatives at home.

Well and Sunday - the end of the holiday... We said goodbye to winter, to everything old, unnecessary, and gone. The scarecrow was taken to the outskirts, a future fire was built from old things, and Maslenitsa was installed on top. Then they burned it, and scattered the ashes in the wind. According to the Orthodox tradition, on this day, everyone reconciled, forgave each other, both obvious offenses and those inflicted inadvertently. Everyone was reconciled, from the common man to the king.

Introduction

Relevance - in this work I consider the theme "Maslenitsa: traditions, customs and modern trends." The dishes I am considering can be included in the assortment of dishes for new businesses.

The problem is that new enterprises are being created; accordingly, it is necessary to expand the range of products.

The goal is to study the assortment of dishes for Shrovetide, develop a technical and technological map for the dish, calculate the rationalization

Research objectives:

Should find out the classification, assortment of dishes, recipes and technological processes for preparing dishes, culinary and confectionery products;

Rules for registration, release of finished products

Research methods - theoretical, empirical, mathematical

Structure:

This term paper contains:

Introduction

· main part

Technological cards

Technical and technological map

Calculation of rationalization of recipes for dishes

Shrovetide: traditions, customs and modern trends

Characteristics of the rites of the Maslenitsa week

Shrovetide is a pagan holiday, but it got its name from the church calendar. During this period of time, the last week before Lent, it is allowed to eat animal products (butter, dairy products, fish). This week is also called Cheese Week in the Orthodox Church.

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

The carnival effigy is burned and symbolically buried. In different parts of Russia, the rituals on this day were slightly different from each other. For example, in the northern, central and Volga regions, a Maslenitsa train was organized, which was carried by several hundred horses. The scarecrow was set on fire, and while it was burning, the traditional memorial food (pancakes, eggs) was thrown into the fire. In the south and west of the country, it was customary to bury Maslenitsa after the burning. The parody of the funeral was also popular. They chose "priest", "deacon" with "deacon" and a group of mourners who would close the funeral procession.

As you know, the church calendar borrowed many pagan holidays. Shrovetide is no exception. A celebration of joy and daring, with a mountain feast and fistfights, Shrovetide is wide, drunk, ruinous - an analogue of the Latin American "carnival" with dances in the squares and demonstrations of frank outfits. Both Shrovetide and carnivals have been persecuted for over a thousand years by the church, which hopes to curb their wild temper. But everything is useless ...

Our ancestors revered the sun as God, and in gratitude for the fact that it began to warm more and more, they first baked unleavened cakes (round like the sun), and when they learned leavened dough, it became a tradition to bake pancakes. Eating a pancake, our great-great-great ... grandfathers and grandmothers believed that with him they received a particle of the sun's warmth and light.

After the Orthodox Church gave a new status to the farewell to winter, Maslenitsa became the week leading up to fasting. According to the idea of ​​the church, these days people were supposed to be engaged in reconciliation with neighbors, forgiving offenses, preparing for the "repentant path to God" - after all, fewer and fewer days remained before Lent.

Today, for Maslenitsa week, restaurants on Sunday brunch organize a buffet and two special lines where chefs bake pancakes, complementing them with fish, caviar, sour cream, decorate with a “Russian oven” made of sugar and chocolate, decorated with cookies, pancakes, barrels of honey and other sweets ... Waiters dressed in national costumes offer guests a traditional Russian drink - mead.

If in Russia it was possible to arrange noisy festivities throughout the week, then in the modern world this is problematic. Due to the fact that the vast majority of us work, the rituals of every day of the week are practically not followed.

The only thing that almost everyone does is bake pancakes and invite guests to their place for treats. In some families, the tradition of Wednesday and Friday (gourmet and mother-in-law evenings) is preserved.

Be sure to ask each other for forgiveness. They call all their relatives, friends, acquaintances. Young people like to send sms messages in verse, which include a request to forget grievances and sins. On social networks, acquaintances also send similar messages to each other.

There were a lot of beautiful Shrovetide traditions and rituals in Russia. Naturally, it will no longer be possible to revive some of them. Modern Shrovetide is "overgrown" with new traditions that correspond to the realities of our days. But the main thing is that it remains as cheerful and perky as it was centuries ago.

On Monday, which was called "Pure Maslenitsa - a wide boyarynya", they sledged Maslenitsa and Maslenitsa, and then solemnly seated them in the most prominent and highest place, like a bride and groom. The prototype of Maslenik was the thunder god from pagan myths. And the "prototype" of Maslenitsa was the Snow Maiden - a deity that gives and takes life.

The father-in-law and mother-in-law in the morning sent the daughter-in-law to the father and mother, so that in the evening they themselves would come to visit the matchmakers. Here, over a glass, they agreed on how to spend the time of Shrovetide week, when to ride the streets, and who to invite.

On Tuesday, on "Play", at dawn, Maslenitsa was taken to the central square, there were round dances around, young people rode on swings and from the mountains, respectable couples went to visit each other. Groups of masked mummers strolled the streets and staged impromptu concerts wherever they pleased. Separately, it should be said about the "urges" - people through whom some families invited others to visit. At the meeting, “callouts” were treated to wine and pancakes, showing honor and respect, asking them to bow to the owners with children and all household members. Refusal to visit sounded in the form of an expression: "We ourselves have built mountains and guests are welcome." Such a refusal was usually interpreted by the fact that "they want to marry the daughter off to another." Here, as in many Russian amusements and amusements, the motives of matchmaking are noticeable, because, with a positive development of events, at the end of Lent, it was possible to play a wedding on Krasnaya Gorka.

Wednesday - "Lakomka" - gave "a start in life" to the saying "Not living, but Shrovetide." On this day, they ate as much as the soul accepts, tents with hot sbitn, roasted nuts and honey cakes were set up everywhere. Mobile theaters began to work, festivities and fairs were held. In families, tables were set with treats, among which pancakes were in the first place.

"Rampant Quarter" had another name "Fracture Thursday", which reminds of the consequences of fist fights, dashing rollercoasters and transportation through the streets and slopes of burnt carts. Often on the streets one could see how a joker man was being driven, sitting on a special sleigh. The peasant had a burning wheel - one of the symbols of the holiday, and people followed the sleigh with jokes and songs. Another symbol of Shrovetide was a bear - either a real man, chained in chains, or a man disguised as a bear. One of the fun of Russian men was fighting this bear, of course, with the real one.

Friday, "Mother-in-law's Evening" - the day on which the peculiarity of many Russian rituals was most clearly manifested: to promote acquaintances and weddings of young people. The newlyweds were held in high esteem that day: they went out in smart and painted sleighs, came to visit everyone who was at their wedding. But the main event was the visits of the sons-in-law to the mother-in-law, who baked pancakes especially for this occasion. Not coming to the mother-in-law was considered tantamount to an insult, and such an insult could be a source of eternal enmity between the mother-in-law and the son-in-law.

Saturday - "Cousin's gatherings", was considered a family day. On Saturday, the daughters-in-law received guests, the husband's relatives. And if the husband's sisters - sister-in-law - were not yet married, then, in this case, the daughter-in-law also invited her unmarried girlfriends. The newlywed daughter-in-law gave gifts to her sister-in-law.

Sunday, "Forgiveness Sunday", was also called "The Kisser". People walked around the courtyards, kissed the people they met and asked for forgiveness from each other. Seeing a friend, they usually said: "Forgive me, perhaps," and the other answered: "God will forgive you." The meaning of forgiveness is the cleansing from sins before Great Lent. Also, on Forgiveness Sunday, it is customary to go to the cemetery and leave pancakes on the graves.

The newlyweds rode on a sleigh through their relatives, presenting their father-in-law and mother-in-law, boyfriends and matchmakers in return for wedding gifts. On this culminating day of the festival, many dressed in animal skins, depicting evil spirits. The villagers drove them out of the outskirts with sticks, along with a stuffed straw Maslenitsa, where the beating of evil spirits was staged. They threw into the fire everything that would not be useful in the new year, thus freeing themselves from trash. The ash left over from the "mistress of winter" was scattered over the fields in honor of the future harvest. Children were baked "sandpipers" and "larks" from dough. Children, with baked "birds" in their hands, climbed onto the roofs of sheds and houses, inviting an early and warm spring.

Where did Maslenitsa come from, what is the tradition of baking pancakes and dressing up a scarecrow? You will find answers to these and other questions in our article.

The celebration of Maslenitsa in Russia began a long time ago. It has remained since the days of paganism. Let's delve into history to understand where this noisy and vibrant holiday originates from.

Once upon a time, Maslenitsa was called Komoeditsa. According to legend, bears were called comas. And bears, in turn, were considered the progenitors of all people and the keepers of the forest.

There was a tradition on Komoeditsa to bake pancakes in memory of ancestors who have long passed away. It was a kind of commemoration rite, and the burning of a straw figure was equated with a funeral.

Help from history! The first pancake was given to bears - comas. It was a sign of respect for these great animals. This is where the name of the holiday comes from - Komoeditsa.

Few people know where the expression "The first pancake is coma" actually came from. In fact, it means not at all that the first pancake always looks like a lump, but that the first pancake was given to lumps - bears. This proverb has come down to us from ancient times, when people treated nature as a living being, believed in spirits and worshiped the wind, water, and the sun.

The modern version of the pronunciation "The first pancake is lumpy" can also be considered correct, it is adapted to our realities and carries its own meaning.

Many centuries ago Maslenitsa took on a different meaning and began to be identified with the arrival of spring and the farewell to winter. Shrovetide is greeted with joy, songs, dances and festivities. It is not complete without the traditional Pancake feast - pancakes!

By the way, a very interesting story is also connected with pancakes. It turns out that pancakes are baked for a reason. People associated spring with sun and warmth. And the pancake is very similar in shape to the sun - round, gold, hot. Therefore, baking pancakes is a kind of tribute to the sun and spring, so that the harvest is good.

What is the name of each day of the week of a narrow and wide Shrovetide?

Shrovetide lasted a week and each day of this week had its own name and features of its holding.

So, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were called a narrow Shrovetide, and Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday - Wide.

Monday, the first day of the Narrow Maslenitsa, was called "meeting"... On this day, people dressed up a large scarecrow, took it on a sleigh through the villages, showing that spring had come. People who were waiting for the warmth began to cook pancakes, make fillings for them, discuss what competitions they would organize and when they would gather with relatives.

Tuesday, the second day of the Narrow Pancake Week, was called "flirting"... This name is due to the fact that it was on this day that people began to have fun: they went to visit each other and to the fair, and the bride was given a bride.

Wednesday, the third day of the Narrow Maslenitsa, was called "gourmet"... On this day, everyone was busy making pancakes from the very early morning. Tradition required that tables literally burst with an abundance of treats. A poor, poorly laid table was considered bad form. On the same day, people finished all their affairs in order to start having fun tomorrow.

Thursday, the first day of the Wide Maslenitsa. was called "take a walk". On this day, people did not do anything except fun, visiting guests and eating pancakes. Fist fights and sleigh rides were especially popular on this day.

Friday, the second day of the Wide Maslenitsa, was called "mother-in-law of the evening"... On this day, the fun was already in full swing, and in the evening the mother-in-law came to the young people to taste the pancakes prepared for her in advance.

Saturday, the third day of the Wide Maslenitsa, was called “sister-in-law's gathering”. And on this day, the daughters-in-law prepared mountains of treats for the husband's sisters. A poorly cooked dinner was considered a sign of disrespect for the spouse's family.

Sunday, the fourth day of the Wide Maslenitsa, was called "Forgiveness Sunday"... The day when people went to church and asked each other for forgiveness for all quarrels and offenses. And before that, the festivities ended with the burning of a straw effigy, round dances, songs and dances. After visiting the church, people often stopped by the cemetery to remember their relatives and ask them mentally for forgiveness.

Another name for Forgiveness Sunday is kissing

On this note, Maslenitsa ended. After her Great Lent began, which is considered the most responsible in Orthodoxy.

Rite of burning stuffed animals on Shrovetide from straw

In the old days, Maslenitsa could not take place without burning the effigy. The scarecrow was prepared in advance, even on the first day of the Narrow Maslenitsa, that is, on the Monday of Cheese Week.

According to one version, the scarecrow was an image of winter, which was burned to give way to young spring.

There is another legend that tells us that a straw stuffed animal, or rather the ritual of burning itself, means a funeral. And Shrovetide is a tribute to the memory of ancestors.

Round dances were performed around the stuffed animals, they sang songs, organized fistfights and performances with bears.

Now the celebration of Maslenitsa in families rarely ends with the burning of a scarecrow. In an urban setting, it is difficult for an ordinary family to organize this event. Therefore, people are limited only to pancakes.

Burning a stuffed animal can be called a real "show"

Celebration of Russian Orthodox Maslenitsa: mummers, bear, fair, festivities

Not a single Maslenitsa celebration was complete without mummers. People specially dressed up in costumes of magi, beggars, brides, young couples, pregnant women, the dead, roosters, bears, buffoons.

The church did not welcome such behavior, but tradition is tradition. The rule of dressing up came from antiquity, from Komoeditsa. Therefore, the mummers must be sure to burn some part of their costume at the evening fire on the last day of Maslenitsa and go to church to cleanse themselves.

The fair was held traditionally. A lot of food, clothes, ornaments were sold there.

By and large, the fair was a gathering place for a huge number of people, where anyone could have a bite to eat pancakes and drink a glass of hot sbitn or tea.

The festivities were in full swing from the middle of the week to the end. People were having fun, dancing, joking. And all this before Great Lent, which was impossible to enter without going to church on Forgiveness Sunday.

Celebrating Russian Orthodox Maslenitsa: fistfights

Fist fights were famous throughout the country! People jokingly said that fistfights "knocked out pancakes."

Do not confuse fistfights with regular fights. There were strict rules that people were required to follow:

• do not hit the back of the head, kidneys and liver;
• fights are strictly one-on-one, two cannot beat one;
• only men and boys who had reached a certain age fought;
• the rule was "they don't beat someone who is lying down";
• it was forbidden to use foreign objects;

Traditional Russian pancakes for Maslenitsa: Russian customs and rituals with pancakes

Pancakes for Shrovetide are prepared in a special way. The main component for dough is snow. Yes, not simple, but collected in the light of the month with special words.

They used to guess on the pancakes. For example, the first pancake was used to judge the life of the family next year, and unmarried girls thus wondered whether they would marry this year.

Another interesting fortune-telling was as follows: unmarried girls gathered in one hut and cooked many pancakes with different fillings. Then the pancakes were wrapped in such a way that the filling was not visible. Each girl chose a random pancake and judged the qualities of her future husband by the filling. Pancakes with sour cream spoke of the groom's cowardly character, pancakes with meat promised a rich husband, and pancakes with honey promised a handsome spouse.

The last day of Shrovetide - Forgiveness Sunday

Forgiveness Sunday is the day when it is customary to ask each other for forgiveness for everything. Parents ask their children for forgiveness, and children ask their parents. Now this usually ends the tradition, but in the old days it was different.

At first, people asked each other for forgiveness, ate pancakes, had fun, sleigh rides. Then there was the largest event of the holiday - the burning of an effigy. The whole holiday was directed to this very last day. We saw off the winter and welcomed the spring.

After the fire, people went to church to cleanse their souls of unnecessary fun and acquire quiet joy. After the service, where everyone was obliged to commune, the people went to the cemetery - to ask for forgiveness and to commemorate their departed relatives.

Video: Pancake week. Traditions and history of the holiday

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

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

Shrovetide: traditions and customs

There are several names for this holiday:

• meaty Pancake week is called due to the fact that during the period of celebration they refrain from eating meat;
• cheesy - because they eat a lot of cheese this week;
• Shrovetide - because they consume a large amount of oil.

Many people await with trepidation the onset of Maslenitsa, the traditions of which are rooted in our history. Today, as in the old days, this holiday is celebrated on a grand scale, with chants, dances and competitions.

The most popular amusements that used to be organized in the villages were:

• fist fights;
• eating pancakes for a while;
• sleigh rides;
• climbing a pole for a prize;
• games with a bear;
• burning a stuffed animal;
• swimming in ice holes.

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

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

Shrovetide: what can and cannot be done?

1. On Shrovetide, you cannot eat meat food. It is allowed to eat fish and dairy products. Pancakes should be used as a main course on the table in every home.
2. You need to eat often and a lot on Shrovetide. Therefore, it is customary to invite guests and not skimp on treats, as well as to visit themselves.

Shrovetide: history of the holiday

In fact, Maslenitsa is a pagan holiday, which was eventually changed to the "format" of the Orthodox Church. In pre-Christian Russia, the celebration was called "Farewell to Winter".

Our ancestors revered the sun as a god. And with the onset of the first spring days, we were glad that the sun was beginning to warm the earth. Therefore, a tradition appeared to bake round, shaped like the sun, flat cakes. It was believed that having eaten such a food, a person will receive a particle of sunlight and heat. Over time, pancakes were replaced by pancakes.

Shrovetide: traditions of celebration

In the first three days of the holiday, there was an active preparation for the celebration:

• they brought firewood for the fire;
• decorated huts;
• built mountains.

The main celebration took place from Thursday to Sunday. They came into the house in order to treat themselves to pancakes and drink hot tea.

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

• dressed in their best outfits;
• went to theatrical performances;
• visited booths to look at buffoons and fun with a bear.

The main entertainment was the skating of children and young people from the ice slides, which they tried to decorate with lanterns and flags. Used for riding:

• matting;
• sled;
• skates;
• skins;
• ice floes;
• wooden troughs.

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

On Shrovetide, boys and young men showed their agility in fistfights. Residents of two villages, landowners and monastic peasants, residents of a large village living in opposite ends could take part in the battles.

Seriously preparing for battle:

• steamed in the baths;
• ate hearty;
• turned to the sorcerers with a request to give a special conspiracy to win.

Features of the rite of burning a scarecrow of winter on Maslenitsa

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

As a scarecrow, which is sacrificed, they made a large, funny and at the same time scary doll, personifying Maslenitsa. They made a doll out of rags and straw. Then she was dressed up in women's clothing and left on the main street of the village during Pancake Week. And on Sunday they were solemnly carried outside the village. There, the scarecrow was burned, drowned in an ice-hole, or torn to pieces, and the straw left over from it was scattered across the field.

The ritual burning of the doll had a deep meaning: it is necessary to destroy the symbol of winter in order to revive its power in spring.

Shrovetide: the meaning of every day

The holiday is celebrated from Monday to Sunday. At Shrove Tuesday, it is customary to spend every day in its own way, observing the traditions of our ancestors:

1. Monday called "Shrovetide Meeting". On this day, pancakes begin to bake. It is customary to give the first pancake to poor and needy people. On Monday, our ancestors prepared a scarecrow, dressed it in rags and displayed it on the main street of the village. It stood on public display until Sunday.
2. Tuesday nicknamed "Flirting". It was dedicated to youth. On this day, festivities were organized: they rode on sleds, ice slides, carousels.
3. Wednesday- "Gourmet". On this day, guests were invited to the house (friends, relatives, neighbors). They were treated to pancakes, honey cakes and pies. Also on Wednesday, it was customary to regale their sons-in-law with pancakes, hence the expression: “ Son-in-law came, where to get sour cream?". Also on this day, horse races and fist fights were held.
4. Thursday popularly nicknamed "Razgulyay". From this day, the Wide Maslenitsa begins, which is accompanied by snowball games, sledding, merry round dances and chants.
5. Friday nicknamed "Mother-in-law's evenings", because on that day the sons-in-law invited the mother-in-law to their house and treated them to delicious pancakes.
6. Saturday- "Sister-wife's gatherings". The daughters-in-law invited her husband's sisters to their house, talked with them, treated them to pancakes and gave gifts.
7. Sunday- the apotheosis of Maslenitsa. This day was named "Forgiveness Sunday". On Sunday they said goodbye to winter, saw off Maslenitsa and symbolically burned her effigy. On this day, it is customary to ask friends and family for forgiveness for the grievances that have accumulated over the year.

Proverbs and sayings on Shrovetide

Video: history and traditions of the Maslenitsa holiday