They say that spring begins with Shrovetide. Shrovetide festivities in Russia from time immemorial were noisy and magnificent, this pagan holiday was so loved by the people that even the church had to not just recognize it, but "legalize"
Perhaps every Slav loves Shrovetide, but few people know where all the attributes of the Shrovetide celebration came from - why they burn a scarecrow, bake pancakes and break a town from snowballs. But the history of Shrovetide dates back to the times when the unbaptized Russian people glorified the pagan gods and followed their strange rituals.
The sacred meaning of being
Slavic Maslenitsa is a celebration of the sun, that is where the cult of pancakes, which so resemble a solar disk, come from. The pagans brought gifts to the gods, praised Yarilo and did it only on the day of the vernal equinox, i.e. March 22. It was believed that on this day the spirits of nature awaken, they wake up animals. On Shrovetide, the host bear came out of the den, it had to be appeased, i.e. feed. The first pancake was intended for the bear, and the expression "first pancake comAm" did not mean a spoiled pancake, but a pancake that must be given to the beast - to whom. People did not eat pancakes at Shrovetide until the 16th century, because pancakes have always been a memorial dish.
Shrovetide always symbolized the transition from winter to summer (the Slavic chronology did not know spring and autumn, the years were counted as summer), from cold weather to the warm sun - the new year began. That is why it was so important for people tired of the harsh cold weather. For the same reason, the people arranged merry festivities for two whole weeks, and, of course, the hostesses tried to please their relatives, baked pancakes and ate them with filling, jam, and sour cream. It is known that Maslenitsa festivities were celebrated on a special scale, and this is not surprising - after all, the traditions of a generous feast have always been important for the Slavs. But the Shrovetide feast also had a sacred meaning, during the meal one had to ask for forgiveness in order to enter the new summer with a pure soul.
It is interesting that even after Prince Vladimir baptized Russia, Maslenitsa remained among the holidays, and the church accepted it. However, its celebration was postponed so that it would not coincide with the traditional fast. From that moment, the festivities lasted no more than a week, and Shrovetide played a special role - before Great Lent, people could get enough of delicious food, so that later they could curb their desires for a long time.
Celebration traditions
In the week of Shrovetide festivities, every day has a special meaning. Monday is the meeting of the holiday. On this day, people were just starting to bake pancakes, and the first pancake was usually given to a beggar so that he could pray for the dead. And on Monday, the wife could leave her husband's family to stay with her parents for the whole day, such was the tradition.
On Tuesday people started festive festivities, invited their acquaintances, relatives and friends to stay. On Tuesday, it was customary to get married, to arrange a bride show.
On Wednesdays, festive feasts were held and the best treats were exhibited. There was a table with delicious food in every house, people went to visit and congratulated each other.
From Thursday, they began to celebrate the holiday in earnest, they rode on sleds, built fortresses from snow and destroyed them. Friday and Saturday were the funniest days. The fact is that the Maslenitsa festivities were aimed not only at amusement, but also at meeting the grooms with the brides, so an invitation to visit could easily end with an engagement.
On Sunday, a scarecrow of winter was burned and Shrovetide was seen off. All festivities on this day ended, and people traditionally asked each other for forgiveness, leaving only bright memories in their souls.
