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Folk holidays in Russia Maslenitsa. Maslenitsa festivities and fun

Folk holidays in Russia Maslenitsa. Maslenitsa festivities and fun

In Russia, many different holidays are celebrated.
But there is one that we inherited from our ancestors and especially beloved - this is Maslenitsa!

The holiday, which will be discussed, is unusual and many-sided. For some, this is a time of repentance and reconciliation, while for others it is a whole week of wild fun. This contradiction has its roots deep in the history of Russia.

The progenitor of modern Maslenitsa was the ancient Slavic pagan Komoyeditsa. Until the 16th century, Russia celebrated the sacred day of the vernal equinox, which was considered the beginning of the New Year according to the solar calendar of the ancient Slavs. And the celebration of Komoyeditsa began a week before the Spring Equinox and lasted a week after.

The Slavs worshiped nature and revered the Sun as a deity that gives vitality to all living things. Therefore, on the spring holiday of Komoyeditsy, it was customary to bake cakes, symbolizing the sun - round, yellow and hot. Subsequently, namely from the 9th century, when leavened dough appeared, the cakes took the form of modern pancakes.

At the same time, people made sacrifices to the sacred beast revered by the Slavs - the bear. Pancakes were presented as a gift to the "bear" god - or in Old Slavonic To whom - from where the saying "the first pancake to the coms", that is, bears, came from.

For two weeks of the holiday, people, surrounded by relatives of their kind, spent in merry games, feasts, competitions and pagan rites.

All these actions had a deep meaning and significance. After the often half-starved winter, the Slavs needed to prepare and gain strength for the upcoming work, which would continue continuously from sunrise to sunset throughout the warm season.

At present, there is very little information about how Komoyeditsa was celebrated, but historians have tried to restore some of the rites and customs of that time.

The festive day began with a visit to the sanctuary, near which grain was scattered, attracting birds, symbolizing dead ancestors. The Slavs believed that in this way the whole family would unite at the sacred spring festival.

At this time, women set the tables, laying them with dishes and drinks prepared from products carefully preserved from winter stocks. Having shared all the refreshments, a fifth of it was carried to the Sacred Fire, bred in an open place, and the altar was covered. Near the fire they put a straw effigy on a pole, called Madder, while saying:

"Come to us,
To the wide yard:
ride on the mountains,
Roll in pancakes
Have fun with your heart.
Red beauty, blond braid,
Thirty brothers sister,
Forty grandmothers granddaughter,
Three mothers daughter, little flower,
Berry, quail.

After tasting the first pancakes, they started a round dance, which they certainly led according to the movement of the sun. After that, everyone began to jump over the fire, thereby being cleansed of evil spirits, and then washed with melt water, which gave beauty and strength. At the same time, couples of newlyweds who got married in a year were glorified, and singles were marked with a rope. To remove the rope, it was necessary to make your choice here or pay off with a treat for the festive table.

Another ritual on Komoeditsu was associated with the prediction of spring weather.

A specially prepared drink was poured into the bowl, surya from charmed milk with magical herbs added to it. With the first cup, filled to the brim with the sacred drink, the priestess of Marena went to the altar, where the priestess of the fruitful goddess Zhiva was waiting for her, who was supposed to knock the cup out of her hands so that not a drop would spill on the altar. Otherwise, the Slavs were waiting for a cold and rainy spring.

“Go away, Winter is cold!
Come, Summer is hot!
With a bad time
With flowers, with grass!

Then, praising God Yarilo and throwing old things into the fire, they burned an effigy of Marena, saying at the same time: “Marena is tanned, the whole world is tired!”

After burning the effigy, the youth performed the ceremony of awakening the bear. Dressed up in the skin of a bear, he lay in an improvised den, and the girls and guys, trying to “wake him up”, threw snowballs and twigs. "Bear" woke up only after the most beautiful girl walked up to him and sat on his back. Then the mummer would get up and, imitating the awakening of the bear, would dance for the amusement of the people.

Having fun, they began a feast. After that, festive fun, games and fist fights began. The day was ending and, saying goodbye, the Slavs treated each other with gifts, “snacks”, bowing and asking for forgiveness for unintentional insults.

Komoyeditsa took place in honoring and observing ancient traditions, glorifying the Slavic family and its customs.

With the adoption of Christianity Orthodox Church tries to abolish all pagan manifestations of the Slavs, including holidays. Therefore, since the 16th century, a church holiday has been introduced in Russia cheese week or Myasopust, which precedes great post. At this time, it was supposed, gradually giving up temptations, to prepare your soul and body for repentance, forgiving offenses and reconciling with relatives and friends.

Even in the ancient times of Christianity, Cheese Week received the rite of worship, as described by Patriarch Theophilos of Alexandria, who lived in seclusion in the 4th century. This ancient decree of the Church in the 7th century was even more established and spread when the Byzantine king Heraclius, exhausted by a long war with the Persians, made a promise to God after the successful end of the war to prohibit the consumption of meat before the Great Forty Days of Lent.

The name “Cheese Week” comes from the fact that being a preparatory stage for the upcoming abstinence, it is forbidden to eat meat during the week, but cheese, eggs and dairy products are still allowed.

On Wednesday and Friday of the Cheese Week, divine services are held with prayer and the usual bows, and on Saturday in the church they remember the saints who shone with fasting and fervent prayer vigil and celebrate the Synod of all the Reverend Fathers.

The Sunday of the week is called "forgiveness Sunday", and the Liturgy on this day says that in order to receive forgiveness from God, we ourselves must forgive our neighbors.

Among the people, Cheese Week was called Shrovetide, since during this period dairy products were allowed, including butter.

Combining pagan and Christian traditions, folk Maslenitsa has long been celebrated in Russia on a grand scale, as evidenced by the royal establishment of the 18th century, in which Peter I prescribed a secular celebration in the image of foreign carnivals.

Tsar Peter, who loved reckless youthful amusements, celebrated Maslenitsa with a truly royal scale. This was noticed at one time by the son of the general of the Russian service, Friedrich Berchholtz, known for his detailed diary about his stay in Russia. He wrote about an unusual procession arranged by the Russian Tsar, consisting of the ships of the Russian fleet, put on a sleigh drawn by horses:

“His Majesty rejoiced truly royally. Not having the opportunity here in Moscow to rush along the waters as in St. Petersburg, and despite the winter, he did, however, with his small dexterous boatswains on a dry route, all the maneuvers possible only at sea. When we rode with the wind, he spread all the sails, which of course helped the 15 horses pulling the ship a lot.

Along with fun, festivities and games, the folk Maslenitsa also has a ritual side. Each day of the holiday week had its own name and purpose.

Butcher Sunday is the last Sunday before Maslenitsa, when we went to visit friends and relatives, invited us to Maslenitsa and ate meat dishes.

Monday: "meeting"
Matchmakers met and agreed on a joint celebration. On this day, young daughters-in-law visited their parents. On a pre-selected place for festivities, ice slides, booths, snow fortresses were built. The hostesses began to bake pancakes, giving the first one to the tramps in remembrance of the dead. And the youth made a symbol of the holiday from straw and shabby clothes - a stuffed Maslenitsa.

Tuesday: "play"
This day was dedicated to the bride. It was believed that if you woo the bride for Maslenitsa, then the wedding will affect Krasnaya Gorka. The youth kept an eye on each other during festivities, merry merrymaking and downhill rides, in order to then send matchmakers to the house of the betrothed.

Wednesday: "sweets"
This day was dedicated to the mother-in-law, who, having prepared pancakes, was waiting for her son-in-law to visit and in every possible way showed him her disposition.

Thursday: "revelry"
The day when the celebrations unfolded in full breadth, all kinds of housework stopped and various competitions were arranged. Entertainment alternated with rich feasts, and the storming of the snowy town became the main event.

Friday: Mother-in-law evening
On this day, the mother-in-law with her friends hurried to visit her son-in-law. The daughter prepared treats and baked pancakes, and the son-in-law had to please the mother-in-law and show the guests his respect for the mother-in-law and her family.

Saturday: "sister-in-law gatherings"
The festive day was held in the house of a young daughter-in-law, who invited her sister-in-law or other relatives of her husband to the table for pancakes. On this day, the sister-in-law was presented with a gift from the relatives of the daughter-in-law.

Sunday: "seeing off"
The last day of Maslenitsa is popularly called "Forgiveness Sunday" or "The Kisser". On this day, they visit the graves of deceased relatives, asking for forgiveness for all the insults caused during the year. By evening, they cleaned the house, solemnly burned the effigy of Maslenitsa and the remnants of festive food.

The rite of "funeral" Shrovetide began with the cultivation of a sacred fire, into which they threw funeral food. Then the effigy of Maslenitsa was carried on a pole throughout the village or carried on a sleigh, which was then burned along with the effigy, and the fields were sprinkled with ashes. It was believed that the attributes of the holiday burned to the ground would bring a good harvest.

Maslenitsa is an ancient and bright holiday in Russia, which unites, thanks to the forgiveness of neighbors and help to the suffering, both those who spend these days in preparation for Great Lent, and those who have fun and participate in mass festivities.

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

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

Maslenitsa: traditions and customs

There are several names for this holiday:

the meat-empty Maslenitsa is called due to the fact that during the celebration they refrain from eating meat;
cheese - because this week they eat a lot of cheese;
Shrovetide - because they use a large amount of oil.

Many people are anxiously awaiting the onset of Maslenitsa, the traditions of celebrating which are rooted deep into 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 arranged in the villages were:

fist fights;
eating pancakes for a while;
sledding;
climbing a pole for a prize;
bear games;
effigy burning;
bathing in holes.

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

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

Maslenitsa: what can and cannot be done?

On Maslenitsa you can not eat meat food. It is allowed to eat fish and dairy products. As a main dish, pancakes should be on the table in every house.
You need to eat on Maslenitsa often and a lot. Therefore, it is customary to invite guests and not skimp on treats, as well as to go on a visit.

Maslenitsa: the 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 "Seeing off the winter."

Our ancestors revered the sun as a god. And with the onset of the first spring days, they were glad that the sun was starting to warm the earth. Therefore, a tradition appeared to bake round cakes resembling the sun in shape. It was believed that by eating such a dish, a person would receive a piece of sunlight and heat. Over time, flat cakes were replaced with pancakes.

Maslenitsa: traditions of celebration

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

brought firewood for the fire;
decorated the 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 residents participated in the festivities:

dressed in the best clothes;
went to theatrical performances;
visited booths to look at buffoons and have fun with a bear.

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

matting;
sled;
skates;
skins;
ice cubes;
wooden troughs.

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

On Maslenitsa, guys and young men showed their agility in fisticuffs. The inhabitants of two villages, landlord and monastic peasants, residents of a large village living in opposite ends could participate in the battles.

Seriously prepared for the battle:

soared in the baths;
ate well;
turned to the sorcerers with a request to give a special conspiracy to win.

Features of the rite of burning an effigy of winter on Maslenitsa

As many years ago, today the culmination of Maslenitsa is considered to be the burning of an 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 stuffed animal, which is sacrificed, they made a large funny and at the same time scary doll, personifying Shrovetide. 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 Shrovetide week. And on Sunday they were solemnly carried outside the village. There, the scarecrow was burned, drowned in the hole, or torn to pieces, and the straw left 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 resurrect its power in the spring.

Maslenitsa: the meaning of every day

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

Monday called "Meeting Maslenitsa". On this day they start baking pancakes. It is customary to give the first pancake to the poor and needy people. On Monday, our ancestors prepared a scarecrow, dressed it in rags and put it on the main street of the village. It was on public display until Sunday.
Tuesday nicknamed "The Gamble". It was dedicated to the youth. On this day, folk festivals were organized: they rode sledges, ice slides, carousels.
Wednesday- "Gourmet". On this day, guests (friends, relatives, neighbors) were invited to the house. They were treated to pancakes, honey cakes and pies. Also on Wednesday it was customary to treat your sons-in-law with pancakes, hence the expression: “ My son-in-law came, where can I get sour cream?". Horse racing and fist fights were also held on this day.
Thursday people called it "Razgulyay". From this day begins the Wide Shrovetide, which is accompanied by snowball fights, sledding, cheerful round dances and chants.
Friday They were nicknamed "Teschin's Evenings", because on this day the sons-in-law invited the mother-in-law to their house and treated them to delicious pancakes.
Saturday- "Zolovkin gatherings." The daughter-in-law invited her husband's sisters to their house, talked with them, treated them to pancakes and gave gifts.
Sunday- the apotheosis of Maslenitsa. This day was called "Forgiveness Sunday". On Sunday they said goodbye to winter, saw off Maslenitsa and symbolically burned its effigy. On this day, it is customary to ask friends and relatives for forgiveness for the grievances that have accumulated over the year.

Proverbs and sayings for Maslenitsa

Video: the history and traditions of the Maslenitsa holiday

Hello readers of my blog! The most fun holiday is approaching - Maslenitsa. In my article I will talk about the history of the holiday and the weekly Shrovetide calendar.

Shrovetide was celebrated even before the advent of Christianity. Initially, the holiday was associated with the name of the god of fertility and cattle breeding Veles and it meant seeing off winter and welcoming spring.

After the baptism of Russia, Maslenitsa began to be celebrated before the start of the great seven-week fast, seven weeks before. It is not in vain that they say: “Feast while Maslenitsa, but remember fasting without butter.” The original name of the holiday is Myasopust. According to Orthodox custom, meat food was forbidden during these seven days, and only dairy products were allowed to be consumed. This holiday was also called Cheese Week.

Pancakes, which have long been considered a symbol of the sun, have become the main attribute of the spring holiday. On Maslenitsa it was supposed to eat at least 10 pancakes, that is, one and a half to two elbows. So in the old days they measured their number. There was a belief that people who did not meet Maslenitsa with fun were in for trouble, so everyone had fun with all their hearts, laughed at the jesters, danced, sang, rode down the mountains ...

At the beginning of Shrovetide week, there was a special preparation for the holiday: slides were built, huts were decorated, firewood was prepared for fires.

From Thursday to Sunday, the village youth sang carols, walked around the yards with tambourines, horns, balalaikas, went into houses to treat themselves to pancakes and hot tea. Noisy festive festivities were going on in the cities: theatrical performances, games with buffoons, amusing performances of artists with bears.

Maslenitsa lasts seven days, and each day has its own name. The ancient relatives of Shrovetide come from pre-Christian deities. She was considered the niece of Semik and the daughter of Svarog.

People called Shrovetide:

“He called, called honest Semik a wide Shrovetide. My soul Maslenitsa, your quail bones, your paper body, sugar lips, sweet speech, red beauty, Rusa braid, thirty brothers sister, forty grandmothers granddaughter, three mothers daughter, you are my yasochka, quail! Come to my tesovy yard to amuse your soul, have fun with your mind, enjoy your speech.

Young guys wove a straw doll, dressed it up and carried it out into the street shouting: “Yes, there she is! The carnival has arrived!" The girls greeted Maslenitsa with a song:

“Oh, Maslenitsa is entering the yard.
Wide, enters the yard!
And we girls meet her.
And we, the Reds, meet her!
Oh, yes Maslenitsa, stay for a week.
Wide, stay for a week ... "

The children ran to hunt around the yards, asking the guests: “Give it to Shrovetide, to the post from the tail of the radish!” They took out unnecessary things that came to hand. By evening, a tall bonfire of all sorts of rags was burning outside the outskirts. It was getting hot. People danced, danced and said: “Burn, burn brightly. To not go out. Sparks fly, bells ring!

The second day of Maslenitsa is "tricks".

On the eve of the holiday, swings, booths for buffoons, and slides were built in large villages and cities. Ice slides were set up by "shabashniks" - alien craftsmen. Both old and young, everyone enjoyed riding down the hill. It was especially important to roll down the mountain for the newlyweds, who sealed their relationship by marriage a week or two weeks ago. There was a sign associated with skiing from the mountain: the further you slide, the more you grow flax. On the hill, young people looked closely and chose their brides.

Here is how the Russian writer I. S. Shmelev presented the Moscow oil hill in his novel “The Summer of the Lord”:

Tall mountains on the ponds. Flags play colorfully over fresh plank pavilions on the mountains. With a snarl, tall "dilighans" (six-seater sledges with a driver) collapse from the mountains, rush along the icy paths, between the shafts of snow with Christmas trees stuck in them. Black on the mountains by the people. Vasil Vasilich orders, shouts hoarsely from the top ... The sedate carpenter Ivan helps Pashka the clerk cut and issue tickets on which it is written: "From both ends once." People with a long tail at the checkout.

... The sledges with velvet benches - “dilighans” - “dilighans”, which have returned from another mountain, are dragged along the knurled tray. The work is strict, do not blink: hold on tightly to the handrails, drive harder on the slope.

- Didn't mutilate anyone, God have mercy? the father of the tall wheeler asks.

It was hot at Shrovetide Hill. A variety of sledges were offered to the guests, "chunks" - with a chair, "trumpets" - with a ruble, "Americans" known for their lightness and agility.

Vladimirskiy Gorki came out light, openwork, with a staircase and an elegant gazebo at the top. There were such tall hills on rivers and lakes, attracting children and adults with their fabulous beauty.

Huge ice slides were built in the villages, from which they rode on an ice rink (a flattened basket with an icy bottom), firewood, planks, sleds, skins, matting, a wooden trough, an overturned bench ...

On the second day, the girls were guessing. The girl took one of the first pancakes from home, went outside and treated them to the first guy she met. They believed that his name would necessarily coincide with the name of the betrothed.

The third day of the festive week is "gourmet".

This day is named after the brother-in-law. The mother-in-law should have taken pity on her son-in-law. There is a pitiful song about the son-in-law:

"In the new grove
Son-in-law went to mother-in-law
Ask for a wife.
Mother-in-law met him:
"Hey, my son-in-law!
Hello, killer whale!”
“Madame mother-in-law!
I'm not very healthy:
The wife was at home."
-What are you, son-in-law?
Why, my killer whale?”
“Madame mother-in-law!
I stupidly did:
Get into the cellar
I ate all the sour cream
Neither more nor less -
Twelve pots.
"My daughter is stupid.
What a little muzzle! ”-
"Farewell, my mother-in-law,
I'm sorry, rascal!"-
"Farewell, my son-in-law,
Forgive me, my sour cream!".

On ordinary days, anything happens to a mother-in-law with her son-in-law: both the mother-in-law will scold, and she will express everything that she thinks. And in a tasty time, the son-in-law is in a special account.

Smart mothers-in-law took matters into their own hands - they baked pancakes: oatmeal and buckwheat, wheat and barley, or from sourdough. The sons-in-law kindly joked: “Dry damn mouth is tearing up!”. It was from the custom of inviting sons-in-law to pancakes that the expression “to the mother-in-law for pancakes” appeared.

Mother-in-law served pancakes with caviar, cottage cheese, onions and eggs. Samovars puffed, honey and sbiten flowed like a river. The guests had fun, ate, saying: “Damn - not a wedge, the belly will not split. Where are the pancakes, here we are… The same pancake, but greased…”

According to custom, more than a hundred different dishes and snacks were put on the table. They said: "On a holiday and a sparrow beer." Everyone deserved royal treats. A wealthy gentleman or merchant always treated the servants that day: “Know, they say, ours!”

The fourth day is “breaking point”, “walk around”, “broad Thursday”.

This is the peak of the festive fun. Three days of fun ahead and behind. As the saying goes: “Who does not sing, he whistles; who does not dance, he clicks. People dressed up in costumes and carried a stuffed Maslenitsa up the mountain.

On broad Thursday in Russia there was a glorious custom - "to go out on fists." This custom is not one thousand years old. Fisticuffs were held according to strict rules: it was impossible to hide a stone or a piece of iron in a mitten, to attack one together, to beat a lying person, to beat below the waist and on the back of the head ... In a word, the Russian hero should not lose honor. The fighters converged on the river and fought "wall to wall" or "one on one". The strongest was enough to strike one blow at a time to find out "who took it."

M. Yu. Lermontov wrote about fist fights in “The Song about Tsar Ivan Vasilievich, a young guardsman and a daring merchant Kalashnikov”:

“How they converged, they were going
Removed Moscow fighters
To the Moscow River, to a fistfight
To roam for a holiday, to have fun ... ”(1837)

The inhabitants of the opposite ends of the same village fought among themselves, the inhabitants of different villages. In a fist fight, young men showed their prowess. They prepared for the battle in advance: they took a steam bath, ate meat and bread, violated the pre-Lenten ban in order to gain strength and win.

The fifth day was called “mother-in-law evenings”.

In mother-in-law evenings, son-in-laws treated mother-in-law: “No matter how sweet mother-in-law’s pancakes are, now son-in-laws treat mother-in-law.” According to the custom, the son-in-law kindly invited the mother-in-law to his house in the evening: “Please, dear mother-in-law, come to our table with all her relatives ...” In response, the mother-in-law sent the son-in-law all the necessary products for making pancakes. The son-in-law baked pancakes and treated his mother-in-law to them.

The sixth day is “sister-in-law gatherings” or “seeing off”.

The husband could have many sisters, and the daughter-in-law invited the sister-in-law and all her husband's relatives to her place.

Unmarried sisters-in-law went to get-togethers with their girlfriends.

Those who did not go to visit on Saturday fled to take the snowy town. They built a snow town in the form of an ice fortress with a gate. The fortress was guarded by guards, and foot and horsemen went on the attack, breaking the gates and walls. The besieged defenders defended themselves with snowballs, brooms and whips.

After the capture of the town, the voivode was bathed in an ice-hole, and refreshments were distributed to all the heroes of the fortress.

The last day of the week is Forgiveness Sunday.

On the day of forgiveness in Russia, everyone asked each other for forgiveness: “Forgive me, a sinner, for Great Lent!” They were answered: "God will forgive, and I forgive." In this way, before Lent, everyone tried to cleanse themselves of sins or ask for forgiveness just in case.

On the last day of the week, Maslenitsa was put on a sleigh, and a beautiful girl was placed next to it. Young guys harnessed to this wagon and carried both beauties along all the streets. Outside the outskirts, Maslenitsa was set on fire. Around the fire they danced and had fun. The straw effigy was called Madder. In ancient Slavic beliefs, Marena was the goddess of fertility and the goddess of the kingdom of the dead. Burning Marena, they saw off the winter along with the difficulties, colds, hunger that it brought, and welcomed the arrival of spring, descending to earth from Svarga (the heavenly kingdom of the gods). So people tried to bring the onset of heat closer.

They threw pancakes into the fire and shouted: “Burn a pancake, burn Maslenitsa”, “Come on, winter, winter - spring is coming!”

The burnt symbol of winter was commemorated with pancakes and songs so that the power of Maslenitsa would not be in vain, but would be reborn in cereals:

"Our Maslenitsa is dear,
Darling, lily, dear.
She stood a little.
She stood, she stood, she stood.
We thought for seven weeks
Seven weeks, Leli, seven weeks.
And Maslenitsa - seven days,
Seven days, Leli, seven days.
You lured us, Maslenitsa,
Tricked, lily, tricked.
Planted in Great Lent
Planted, planted, planted.
She put a bitter radish,
She put it on, she put it on, she put it on.
And that bitter radish is bitterer than hell,
Bitter to hell, Leli, bitter to hell.

The bustling Shrovetide week passes unnoticed, and on Clean Monday the first day of Lent begins. This is where the saying came from: “Not everything is Shrovetide for the cat, there will be Great Lent.”

The traditions of celebrating Maslenitsa are rooted in pre-Christian times, paganism. This holiday mixed pagan (burning a scarecrow, playing with buffoons ...) and Christian rites (forgiveness of sins on the eve of Lent). The people were superstitious, but wise, talkative, perky.

Many traditions of celebrating Maslenitsa have been passed down from generation to generation, but, unfortunately, few people are interested in them today. They go out of life. There is an interesting parable about antiquity: “An old oak grows in the field. His crown has long risen high above the roots, but he never forgets about them, as they give him all the vital juices and strength. The tree is a thousand years old and will stand until its roots are cut.” It is impossible to be short-sighted and not know about how our ancestors lived.

In every family, respect for Russian holidays, customs, beliefs, folk songs, sayings should be brought up. They are the roots of morality.

See you soon!

Good afternoon friends. I think each of you loves the days of the merry Maslenitsa, which people celebrate for a whole week. Maslenitsa comes before Lent. During this week, it is no longer possible to eat meat, but butter, milk, cottage cheese are allowed.

What we remember from childhood is the burning of a scarecrow of winter, personifying her farewell and the onset of spring. Various treats, holidays, prize draws. One of the most famous Shrovetide pranks is the need to climb an icy (or oiled) wooden pole up, where a prize of champagne, shoes or other gifts was usually waiting for a person.

Also, on this day, horseback riding and a fun descent from grief on sledges took place. Also, of course, all week you need to bake pancakes, treat them to relatives, neighbors and eat pancakes yourself. Now Maslenitsa is a church holiday. And how was it before?

The history of Maslenitsa in Russia and its ancient name

Shrovetide appeared quite a long time ago, long before the baptism of Russia. Shrovetide was celebrated for two weeks - the week before the day of the vernal equinox and the week after the day of the vernal equinox.

While, New Year celebrated on March 1, and Shrovetide symbolized the beginning of the year. The coming of the sun. The pancake itself symbolizes the circle of the sun. It seems to pass through the celestial circle, symbolizing the sun. On this day, they said goodbye to winter and welcomed spring. In most of Russia, winter lasts a long time, but at the end of March it leaves, which corresponds to the astronomical beginning of spring, the Spring Equinox Day comes.

The name of Shrovetide has several meanings - Maslyona, Komoednitsa. In pagan times, various Slavic gods, they were given different gifts, they were praised. Lada and Lel were especially honored so that there would be harmony in the family.

Also Triglav, Roda, who were the patrons of family ties. Especially Rod, so that the whole family lives together. I don't understand one thing. Greece is an Orthodox country, and the Greek pagan gods are treated with great respect there. And we, Russians, are forced to be ashamed of our Slavic gods, as something alien, unworthy.

But the Slavic gods, for the most part, were kind. These were the gods of goodness and peace, the gods of the harvest, nature. The Slavic tribes did not even have a god symbolizing the war. Then he appeared in the pantheon of Slavic gods from the Germanic tribes. The Greek gods are often insidious, two-faced, engaged in obscene deeds and the Greeks are proud of them!

So why should we be ashamed of our own, pagan gods, whose names most of us even remember names poorly or have no idea about them at all? We were simply forced to forget the Slavic gods!

Unlike, for example, the Romans or Greeks, who still know the names of their gods well and forced the whole world to learn their names! I think the Russians were forced to be ashamed of their gods by the so-called "Civilized Europeans". Even then, we were told that everything Russian is bad, and everything Western is good!

The history of Maslenitsa after the adoption of Christianity

In the beginning, the church did not recognize this holiday, tried to ban it. But Maslenitsa quite sunk into the soul of the Russian people. And over time, as happened with some other pagan holidays, this holiday became a church holiday, only they began to celebrate it not for two weeks, but one, before Great Lent. Moreover, each day of the week of Shrove Tuesday had its own name.

Name of the days of the week of carnival

Every day of the week Shrovetide in Russia was honored in a special way, with its own meaning, its own rituals, traditions that everyone tried to observe.

The first day of Shrovetide was called Meeting. Accordingly, a meeting with Maslenitsa. We tried to quickly complete the construction of the swing, a fun snowy town. Of course, it was during the Meeting that the first pancakes were baked. According to tradition, the first pancake should be given to a beggar to remember the dead.

On this day, the mother-in-law and the father-in-law sent the daughter-in-law for the whole day to her home, to her father and mother. In the evening, the mother-in-law and her husband came to visit the matchmakers to discuss the week of Shrovetide: - Where to celebrate, who to call and so on.

The second day - Flirting. The beginning of the celebration. Neighbors, relatives, fellow villagers were invited to the house to treat them with pancakes. We greeted them with the words: - We have snowy mountains ready and pancakes baked - please favor!

Also, on the second day, a review of brides was held. After that, the matchmakers went to woo the groom to play a wedding after fasting. I think that's where the name comes from - Flirting.

The name of the third day of Maslenitsa is Lakomki. On Wednesday, tables were set en masse with many goodies. A son-in-law went to Lakomka to his second mother to eat plenty of pancakes. In addition to the son-in-law, there were many other guests. The tables were literally bursting with food. In the village in Lakomki they were engaged in brewing.

Fourth day of Maslenitsa - Wide revelry. The word speaks for itself. This is one of the most joyful days of Pancake Week - taking towns out of the snow, horse racing, and other fun activities.

Fifth day - Mother in law parties. On Thursday, the numbness called his beloved mother-in-law to eat pancakes. In the evening, the mother-in-law sent dishes for pancakes to her son-in-law, he also sent butter and flour. Failure to comply with these rules could lead to family feuds. The future son-in-law, who was already engaged to a girl, did the same, with this custom, people, as it were, brought the wedding day closer.

The name of the sixth day of Shrovetide - Zalovka's gatherings. The daughter-in-law on this day called her husband's sister, sister-in-law, to visit. They also prepared a gift for her. And, of course, all dear guests were treated to pancakes.

Regarding Sunday, I think each of you knows the name of this day of Shrovetide week - Forgiveness Sunday. On this Sunday, everyone is supposed to ask for forgiveness - from neighbors, acquaintances, relatives. Also, forgive everyone. Thus, remove the stone from the soul.

In my opinion, a wonderful custom! More often such days in a year! Also, Forgiveness Sunday is the end of all Maslenitsa festivities. This day is remembered by various folk festivals in the squares. Treat not only pancakes, but also dumplings, pies.

But, one of the most memorable customs of this day is the burning of the Scarecrow of Winter, which symbolized the departure of winter and the arrival of spring. The scarecrow was stuffed with straw, rags, sometimes they just turned the caftan inside out with a sheepskin. Further, the burning effigy was taken to the field.

But, in different places of Russia, this doll was treated differently. Sometimes they drowned it, having previously made an ice hole, sometimes they simply tore it into small pieces. The straw and the insides of the effigy, which did not burn, were carried away from the village and fluttered across the field.

The history of Shrovetide dates back to ancient times. It is not known exactly when this holiday appeared, but I am glad that Maslenitsa has survived to this day, albeit in a modified form, unlike most Slavic festivities, which were simply lost. Happy Shrovetide to you!

In Russia, many different holidays are celebrated. But there is one that we inherited from our ancestors and especially beloved - this is Maslenitsa!

The holiday, which will be discussed, is unusual and many-sided. For some, this is a time of repentance and reconciliation, while for others it is a whole week of reckless fun. This contradiction has its roots deep in the history of Russia.

In this article, we will plunge a little into history and talk about what they did in Russia on Maslenitsa and what traditions have survived to this day.

What does the word "Maslenitsa" mean?

According to explanatory dictionaries Russian language D.N. Ushakov and S.I. Ozhegov:

Pancake week- (or outdated maslenitsa), carnival, well. (outdated).

The agricultural holiday of seeing off winter among the ancient Slavs and other peoples, timed by Christians to coincide with the week before the so-called "Great Lent", during which pancakes were baked and various entertainments were arranged. Wide carnival. ( last days this week, from Thursday). They had Russian pancakes at the oily Shrovetide. Pushkin. Not everything is carnival for the cat, there will be a great post. Proverb.

trans. About a free, well-fed life (colloquial fam.). "Not life, but carnival."

From the history of Maslenitsa in Russia

Maslenitsa (until the 16th century - the pagan Komoyeditsa, according to the old pre-revolutionary spelling they wrote “Maslyanitsa”) is one of the oldest holidays of the religion of the Druids (Magi).

History of Maslenitsa

First, Komoyeditsa is a great ancient Slavic pagan 2-week holiday of the solemn meeting of Spring and the beginning of the Old Slavic New Year on the Day of the vernal equinox. This day marked the transition to spring agricultural work. The celebration of Komoyeditsa began a week before the Spring Equinox and lasted a week after.

In 988, the Varangian conquerors (Rurik Prince Vladimir), in order to strengthen their then greatly shaken power over the heavily oppressed conquered tribes, fire, sword and great blood forced the Slavs subject to them to abandon their primordial gods, symbolizing the ancient Slavic ancestors, and accept faith in the God of a foreign people.

The Slavic population that survived after the mass bloody skirmishes and protests was baptized in the most cruel way (everyone, including small children, was driven by the Viking squads with spears into the rivers for baptism, and the rivers, as the chronicler reports, “reddened with blood”). Images of Slavic gods were burned, temples and sanctuaries (temples) were destroyed. In the baptism of the Slavs there was not even a hint of reverent Christian holiness - just another brutal act of the Vikings (Varangians), who were particularly cruel.

Ivanov S.V. Christianity and paganism

During baptism, many Slavs were killed, and some fled to the North, to lands not subject to the Vikings. As a result of the genocide carried out during the Christianization, the Slavic population of Russia decreased from approximately 12 million to 3 million people (this terrifying population decline is clearly evidenced by the data of the All-Russian population censuses of 980 and 999). Later, those who fled to the North were also baptized, but they never had slavery (“serfdom”).

The enslaved Slavs forever lost their roots and spiritual connection with their ancient ancestors. After the adoption of Christianity in Russia, the Magi fought for the independence of the Slavs and became participants in many uprisings against the enslaving Varangians (Vikings), supported the forces opposed to the Kyiv prince.

The last "real" Magi are mentioned in the XIII-XIV centuries. in Novgorod and Pskov. By this time, paganism in Russia was practically eliminated. Together with the Magi, their ancient runic writing and their knowledge disappeared. Almost all runic records, including historical chronicles, were destroyed by Christians. The original written history of the Slavs until the 8th century became unknown. Archaeologists occasionally find only scattered fragments of inscriptions on the stones of destroyed pagan temples and on shards of pottery. Later, under the name "Magi" in Russia, only various kinds of folk healers, heretics and newly-minted warlocks were understood.

After the adoption of Christianity in Russia, the ancient pagan Slavic holiday Komoyeditsa - the great feast of the sacred Spring, coming on the Day of the vernal equinox (March 20 or 21) - fell on the time of the Orthodox Great Lent, when all kinds of fun festivities and games were forbidden by the Church, and even punished. After a long struggle of churchmen with the pagan Slavic holiday, it was included in Orthodox holidays called "cheese (meat-fat) week", preceding the 7 weeks of Lent.

Thus, the holiday moved closer to the beginning of the year and lost its connection with the astronomical event - the Day of the vernal equinox, the day of the arrival of the pagan sacred Spring.

This broke his sacred connection with the previously traditional among the Slavs religion of the Magi (close to the Druids), in which it is the days of the winter (the longest night of the year) and summer (the longest day of the year) solstice and spring (the day lengthens and becomes equal to the night) and autumnal (the day shortens and becomes equal to the night) equinoxes were the greatest and most sacred holidays.

Among the people, the holiday transformed in a church way was called Maslenitsa and continued to be celebrated on the same pagan scale, but on other dates tied to the day of Orthodox Easter (the beginning of Maslenitsa 8 weeks before Easter, then comes the 7-week Great Lent before Easter).

At the beginning of the 18th century, a lover of feasts and holidays, Peter I, who was well acquainted with the cheerful European Shrovetide customs, introduced in Russia the obligatory universal celebration of the folk Maslenitsa in the traditional European manner with his royal regulations. Maslenitsa has turned into a secular holiday, accompanied by endless fun games, slides, competitions with prizes. Actually, from the time of Peter the Great, our current folk Maslenitsa appeared with merry carnival processions of mummers organized by the authorities, entertainment, booths, endless jokes and festivities.

Traditions of Maslenitsa of Ancient Russia

Until the 16th century, Russia celebrated the sacred day of the vernal equinox, which was considered the beginning of the New Year according to the solar calendar of the ancient Slavs. And the celebration of Komoyeditsa began a week before the Spring Equinox and lasted a week after.

For two weeks of the holiday, people, surrounded by relatives of their kind, spent in fun games, feasts, competitions and pagan rites.

Surikov V.I. Capture of the snow town 1891

At present, there is very little information about how Komoyeditsa was celebrated, but historians have tried to restore some of the rites and customs of that time.

At this time, women set the tables, laying them with dishes and drinks prepared from food carefully preserved from winter stocks. Having shared all the refreshments, a fifth of it was carried to the Sacred Fire, bred in an open place, and the altar was covered. Near the fire they put a straw effigy on a pole, called Madder, while saying:

Come visit us
To the wide yard:
ride on the mountains,
Roll in pancakes
Have fun with your heart.

Red beauty, blond braid,
Thirty brothers sister,
Forty grandmothers granddaughter,
Three mothers daughter, little flower,
Berry, quail.

Another ritual on Komoeditsu was associated with the prediction of spring weather.

Go away, winter is cold!
Come, Summer is hot!
With a bad time
With flowers, with grass!

Then, praising God Yarilo and throwing old things into the fire, they burned the effigy of Marena, while saying:

Madder tanned, The whole world is tired!

After burning the effigy, the youth performed the ceremony of awakening the bear. Dressed up in the skin of a bear, he lay in an improvised den, and the girls and guys, trying to “wake him up”, threw snowballs and twigs. "Bear" woke up only after the most beautiful girl came up to him and sat on his back. Then the mummer would get up and, imitating the awakening of the bear, would dance for the amusement of the people.

B.M. Kustodiev. Fistfight on the Moscow River

Komoyeditsa took place in honoring and observing ancient traditions, glorifying the Slavic family and its customs.

With the adoption of Christianity, the Orthodox Church is trying to abolish all pagan manifestations of the Slavs, including holidays. Therefore, since the 16th century in Russia, the church holiday Cheese Week or Myasopust was introduced, which precedes Great Lent. At this time, it was supposed, gradually giving up temptations, to prepare your soul and body for repentance, forgiving offenses and reconciling with relatives and friends.

The Sunday of the week is called "forgiveness Sunday", and the Liturgy on this day says that in order to receive forgiveness from God, we ourselves must forgive our neighbors.

Among the people, Cheese Week was called Shrovetide, since during this period dairy products were allowed, including butter.

Combining pagan and Christian traditions, folk Maslenitsa has long been celebrated in Russia on a grand scale, as evidenced by the royal establishment of the 18th century, in which Peter I ordered a secular celebration in the image of foreign carnivals.

Tsar Peter, who loved reckless youthful fun, celebrated Maslenitsa with a truly royal scale. This was noticed at one time by the son of the general of the Russian service, Friedrich Berchholtz, known for his detailed diary about his stay in Russia. He wrote about an unusual procession arranged by the Russian Tsar, consisting of the ships of the Russian fleet, put on a sleigh drawn by horses:

His Majesty rejoiced truly royally. Not having the opportunity here in Moscow to rush along the waters as in St. Petersburg, and despite the winter, he did, however, with his small dexterous boatswains on a dry route, all the maneuvers possible only at sea. When we rode with the wind, he spread all the sails, which of course helped the 15 horses pulling the ship a lot.

Vasily Surikov. "The Great Masquerade in 1722 on the streets of Moscow with the participation of Peter I and Prince-Caesar I.F. Romodanovsky", 1900.

Along with fun, festivities and games, the folk Maslenitsa also has a ritual side. Each day of the holiday week had its own name and purpose.

Meat Sunday is the last Sunday before Maslenitsa, when we went to visit friends and relatives, invited us to our Maslenitsa and ate meat dishes.

Monday: "meeting"

Matchmakers met and agreed on a joint celebration. On this day, young daughters-in-law visited their parents. On a pre-selected place for festivities, ice slides, booths, snow fortresses were built. The hostesses began to bake pancakes, giving the first one to the tramps in remembrance of the dead. And the youth made a symbol of the holiday from straw and old clothes - an effigy of Maslenitsa.

Tuesday: "play"

This day was dedicated to the bride. It was believed that if you woo the bride for Maslenitsa, then the wedding will affect Krasnaya Gorka. The youth kept an eye on each other during festivities, merry merrymaking and downhill rides, in order to then send matchmakers to the house of the betrothed.

Wednesday: "sweets"

This day was dedicated to the mother-in-law, who, having prepared pancakes, was waiting for her son-in-law to visit and in every possible way showed him her disposition.

Thursday: "revelry"

The day when the celebrations unfolded in full breadth, all kinds of housework stopped and various competitions were arranged. Entertainment alternated with rich feasts, and the storming of the snowy town became the main event.

Friday: Mother-in-law evening

On this day, the mother-in-law with her friends hurried to visit her son-in-law. The daughter prepared treats and baked pancakes, and the son-in-law had to please the mother-in-law and show the guests his respect for the mother-in-law and her relatives.

Saturday: "sister-in-law gatherings"

The festive day was held in the house of a young daughter-in-law, who invited her sister-in-law or other relatives of her husband to the table for pancakes. On this day, the sister-in-law was presented with a gift from the relatives of the daughter-in-law.

Sunday: "seeing off"

The last day of Maslenitsa is popularly called "Forgiveness Sunday" or "The Kisser". On this day, they visit the graves of deceased relatives, asking for forgiveness for all the insults caused during the year. By evening, they cleaned the house, solemnly burned the effigy of Maslenitsa and the remnants of festive food.

Playwright A.N. Ostrovsky, having decided to introduce into the play "The Snow Maiden" the scene of seeing off the carnival, wrote down ritual festive songs heard in Russian villages. And in The Snow Maiden, the Berendey tribe, who lived in “prehistoric times,” said goodbye to Shrove Week in the same way as the playwright’s contemporaries, as, perhaps, they still say goodbye to her in the Russian outback:

Farewell, honest Maslyana!
If you're alive, see you.
At least a year to wait
Yes, know, know
That Maslyana will come again...

Proverbs and sayings for the holiday Maslenitsa

Not living, being, but Maslenitsa.
Not everything is Maslenitsa for the cat, there will be Great Lent.
Maslenitsa walks for seven days.