Shrovetide is a traditional holiday for the Slavs, symbolizing the end of winter and the onset of spring. The Orthodox calendar calls it the Cheese Week. This week, people should forgive their loved ones, apologize to them. In addition, festivities are organized on Maslenitsa. Consider all these points in more detail.
What is Shrovetide?
So, let's start with the holiday itself. According to the Orthodox calendar, Maslenitsa takes place in the last week before Lent. Before Christianity appeared in Russia, this holiday was pagan. Celebrated it for two weeks. With the advent of Christianity, the holiday and many beloved Russian traditions have been preserved. Among them - festivities on Shrovetide.
People used to joyfully say goodbye to winter and enjoy meeting the long-awaited spring. This period has always been perceived as the awakening of Mother Nature and Yarila-Sun (the deity most revered in pagan times, giving life and warmth to all). By the way, before instead of pancakes, round cakes were baked. They were a symbol of the sun. They baked them in large quantities and treated all their relatives and friends. Absorbing such a cake, a person believed that he eats a small particle of solar power and heat, filling it with special power.
In a word, festivities on Maslenitsa have been preserved. Only cakes were replaced with pancakes. The name of the holiday itself has also become different. In paganism, he was called the Comedian. Shrovetide was called a holiday, as this is the last week when you can eat animal products - including butter.
Meetings and Tune
Each day of this long-awaited holiday is distinguished by its traditions. There is a peculiar scenario of Shrovetide. Festivities begin on Monday - with the meeting of spring. On this day, people make a stuffed straw, put on a woman’s dress and carry it on a sleigh. Children build snow slides, adults bake pancakes, the first of which is given to the poor or hung on a tree branch in memory of the souls of deceased relatives.
Further, the Pancake week scenario continues as follows : a festivities on Tuesday is called Zaigrysh. A scarecrow is set in the center of the square, round dances are led around it, everyone is treated to gingerbread cookies and pancakes. Young people are eyeing their potential soul mates. In the evening, people go on gatherings.
Gourmets and Walk
On Wednesday, regular festivities begin on Maslenitsa. These are Gourmets celebrated on Wednesday. Son-in-law is invited to visit his mother-in-law and is treated to her pancakes.
On Thursday, the height of festivities begins. On this day it is forbidden even to work. It’s called Walking Out. Sleigh rides, Christmas carols and spring invitations, friendly tea parties - all this happens on Thursday!
Mother-in-law of the evening, Zolovkin gatherings
On Friday, the Party of the Evening begins. On this day, the son-in-law is inviting his mother-in-law to visit pancakes.
Seeing Shrovetide begins on Saturday with the Zolovkin gatherings. Sisters of her husband hurry to the daughter-in-law for pancakes. On the street that day they play in the capture of snowy towns, symbolizing the last refuge of winter.
Forgiveness Sunday
What is the last stage? The final seeing off of Shrovetide is forgiveness Sunday. On this day, people go to visit each other. They apologize for everything they have ever offended their near and dear ones. Well, in the evening a scarecrow is burned, the ashes of which are scattered in the wind, in the villages - in the field. This tradition symbolizes a good harvest.
Festivities on Maslenitsa are not limited to the street
That's not all. The scenario of Maslenitsa on the street, as a rule, takes place according to the above standard. However, in the palaces of culture, in schools, in some enterprises, etc. A variety of events are also held.
Entertaining programs, contests, performances and fairs - all this makes the holiday even more vivid, fun and interesting. Cultural events give everyone the opportunity to feel the joy and warmth of the approaching spring, despite the fact that they take place indoors.
On city squares, too, say goodbye to winter
The scenario of Maslenitsa on the street is thought out in all settlements. And even in many large cities, fairs are organized in central squares, pancakes and bagels are sold, and a scarecrow is set up.
Hundreds of citizens come to the square in order to say goodbye to winter. Traditional games and contests, folk fun, lots of fun - even cloudy weather can not spoil anyone!
People take part in various competitions with great pleasure, compete in their skills, sing songs and dance fervently. The festive atmosphere charges everyone with special energy and positive emotions.
Jokers and jesters
Pancake week, mass celebrations, games and tea parties with pancakes are fun and vibrant Russian traditions. At organized performances in many villages and cities, jokers and jesters often perform. They entertain the audience, make them run, jump and have fun. As a result, people do not notice either cold or fatigue. They simply participate in traditional Pancake week competitions and funs, enjoy the performance of jesters, laugh heartily.
For example, jokers can organize fights with wet pillows on a log, tug of war, lifting weights, conquering ice pillars and even throwing brooms at each other.
They give small rewards to the most active participants in the form of any souvenirs, traditional pancakes, gingerbread cookies, etc. By the way, gifts can also be hung on an ice pillar. Participants with pleasure and great zeal will rise behind them. With prizes on the ground, of course, only the most agile and powerful come down.
There is another contest organized by the jesters. Those present at the festivities can, for example, compete in eating pancakes with sour cream for speed. However, such fun entertainment applies to other dishes. It can be pies, and kalach, and a variety of drinks.
Pageant
In a word, if you want to have some fun, pay your attention to such a wonderful holiday as Shrovetide. Scenarios of street walks often also include various carnival processions.
They begin, as a rule, immediately after the performances of jesters, folk artists, competitions, many other surprises prepared for the residents of a particular locality and its guests.
A large number of people take part in the carnival procession. They put on a variety of costumes, sing songs, dance and have fun. For surroundings during a carnival procession, stilts or sledges are often used. The procession stops not far from the next selling points of pancakes, pies, other goodies and hot tea.
Here, everyone can purchase a variety of jewelry, toys and souvenirs. In addition, at the end point of the carnival procession, the creative works of various artists, photographers, and masters of applied art are presented.
At the end of the Shrovetide festivities, you can see the fire show, the performance of famous artists and, of course, the burning of a scarecrow, called Shrovetide. They carry it in front of them until the very end of the carnival procession.
Scarecrow burning is a mysterious and interesting process.
Pancake week on the street in most settlements is held according to all traditions. The scarecrow is burned last. At the same time, all those present applauded vigorously, but, of course, rescuers and firefighters are responsible for safety.
The effigy burns very brightly and quickly. This is a symbol of the arrival of spring. Accordingly, the cold will no longer freeze the inhabitants of villages and cities . Neither snow nor ice will scare them.
Around the scarecrow before setting it on fire, there are also many sites with various entertainments for the people present. Here you can relax, having a snack, drinking tea, just chatting with those who came for the holiday. All those present with great pleasure will dance in front of a huge bonfire, holding hands, dancing, singing songs designed to attract spring.
In short, Shrovetide is a sea of fun, joyful laughter, warm smiles! Festivities, lasting a whole week, allow you to relax perfectly, escape from the gray working weekdays. Well, the anticipation of the coming spring even more cheers up the people around!