The holiday, which is revered by many as a religious Christian - Maslenitsa - actually has a deep sacred meaning for the pagan Slavs, who considered Maslenitsa the main holiday in honor of the sun god, as well as in honor of the beginning of a new summer. The imposition of Christianity in Russia made adjustments to the traditions of celebrating Maslenitsa, but did not eradicate them.
It is reliably known that Maslenitsa is one of the most important holidays of the pagan Slavs, but today, along with church holidays, adherents of the Orthodox religion willingly take part in Maslenitsa festivities. Another name for this festivities was Komoeditsa, but now it is practically not used. The fact is that in the days of paganism, bears were called comas, and the bear could symbolize the patron saint of cattle and fertility, the god Veles, because it was he who was worshiped by the pagans.
Pancakes were also not an empty tradition - they were considered the personification of the spring sun, and the first pancake was given either to a beggar or a trained bear. This is where the proverb "The first pancake is lumpy" came from. It was not accepted to eat pancakes at the festive table, because they have always been an attribute of a memorial, not a festive dinner.
Maslenitsa is, in fact, the Slavic new year, because the Slavs kept chronology for years, and on the day of the vernal equinox, when the holiday was celebrated, a new circle of the sun began, and with it the new year.
Features of pagan rites
The peculiarity of the Maslenitsa folk festivities was that every rite, every day was a sign of affection for the gods, people tried to attract their mercy, to put in a word for a good harvest in the new year. That is why the people burned a scarecrow or made other sacrifices, mentions of which are partially preserved in ancient Russian legends.
In addition to entertainment and general joy, Maslenitsa had another, social significance. At evenings and festive parties, the people supported neighbors' communication, discussed many economic issues, and also brought the young people together. Parents could look out for a bride for their son, and brides could find a future husband and try to please him. Round dances, friendly meetings, feasts - all this was often just an excuse for getting to know each other, moreover, such holidays helped people to diversify their difficult life.
They believed that the Shrovetide engagement was for life, so the young people sacrificed curls to the forces of the Earth during the festivities, and the hostesses locked up "good things in the house," so that they could have enough for themselves and the daughter-in-law.
Making bonfires on Shrovetide is also a ritual tradition, it was believed that ancestors warm up by the fire, by the way, it is also necessary to heat the bathhouse on Maundy Thursday in order to “wash the spirit”.
But rituals of blood fraternization on Shrovetide was not accepted, this rite was considered serious and to agriculture, for the sake of the fertility of which Shrovetide was celebrated, which had no relation.
Union with the Church
Keeping a pagan holiday in church tradition is definitely a compromise. Christianity, implanted by force, met with a strong rebuff, depriving the people of their favorite holiday and the belief that the rituals would bring prosperity was akin to a purposeful organization of a riot. Of course, over time, the church eradicated many traditions, the rituals were forgotten, a significant layer of Slavic culture was lost.
However, the traditions of Maslenitsa are so deeply rooted in the minds of the Russian people that to this day it is a special holiday, one of the funniest events of the year.
