Dazhdzhob Velikodny, Maslyana, Komoeditsa - the name of the vernal equinox, one of the four main holidays of the calendar of the Ancient Slavs.
The history of this holiday is rooted in hoary antiquity, by archaic pagan times. It was believed that on this day on March 25 (Berezozol) the annual wheel turned to summer, the bright (obvious) half of the year began. The ancients believed that the heavenly gates were opened that day, and the good gods returned to the people, and the souls of the deceased ancestors flew in from bird paradise (Iria) to visit their grandchildren. And most of the Slavic peoples considered this day as the beginning of a new year.
Indeed, the day of the vernal equinox is a holiday of cosmic significance, since it was from this date that the day became longer than the night.
Maslyana's celebration was accompanied by a voluminous, often multi-day, ritual part. The utmost importance was given to the invocation of spring. In different regions of Russia, the course of the celebration could be somewhat different, however, there were characteristic common features.
The celebration itself, as a rule, took place in the fresh air. The youth was divided into 2 conditional troops, one of which "mined" Spring, and the other harrowed Winter, but in the end, of course, surrendered. If the weather allowed, a snow fortress was built and taken in an attack . Demonstrative fights were arranged between the "warriors" on both sides, but the supporters of the Spring certainly won. It was no coincidence that the struggle between spring and winter, cold and heat was chanted precisely on the day of the vernal equinox, when day and night, as it were, they were struggling, measured by forces. As the logical conclusion of the “war”, and as the main meaning of the festive rite, at the end the effigy of Marena-Zima, made by girls from straw and rags, was burned. The fire of a stolen fire burned, and winter burned and burned out with it, giving way to a young Spring.
Pancakes were baked everywhere on Komoyeditsa - “coma” (hence the name). A ruddy, round blink personified the Sun. Another treat is small buns, twisted in a special way in the form of birds, as a symbol of the returning, as it was believed, from Iria, migratory birds. In general, the treats on the day of the vernal equinox among the Slavs were generous and rich. In addition to pancakes and bird rolls, a variety of meat and fish dishes, pastries, sweets, and intoxicating drinks were served.
With the advent of Christianity in Russia, Shrovetide, like other ancient holidays, was banned. However, for several centuries, people continued to celebrate the vernal equinox, as, indeed, most other holidays. And only in the XVII century the interest of the church in the persecution of ancient holidays gradually subsided. Ceasing to be considered “demonic fun”, Pancake Week was filled with a new meaning - Orthodox. Even a clearly pagan (idolatrous) custom survived to burn a scarecrow of winter. Having become part of the Orthodox calendar, the Maslenitsa holiday no longer coincides with the date of the equinox and carries only a ritual burden - after a rich and generous Pancake week, one of the most
strict fasts begins
.Today, an ancient, primordially Russian holiday is loved and revered by many. The celebration of Maslenitsa, which has retained all the echoes of the ancient veneration of the vernal equinox, has been happening on a large scale recently, attracting a huge number of participants.