When the carnival is wide. History and traditions of celebrating Maslenitsa in Russia

Maslenitsa 2017 is an opportunity once again to bake delicious pancakes with a wide variety of fillings. Housewives are sophisticated with recipes for pancake dough and fillers.

When do we celebrate this year?

This year Maslenitsa falls on the last days of February. From February 20 to February 26, we bake pancakes and prepare for the arrival of spring. Maslenitsa ends with the "holiday of the belly" and begins Great Lent before Easter. So Maslenitsa is the last opportunity to eat non-fast food.

In Russian culture, there are different names for Shrovetide week: it is called meat-and-fat for abstaining from meat products, cheese - for the abundance of cheese products that are present in Shrovetide treats, and directly oil - for the abundance of butter, which the housewives generously flavor ruddy pancakes.

Pancakes are the main Shrovetide dish, which without fail must become the main one on the festive table of every housewife. The centuries-old traditions of Maslenitsa celebrations have given us hundreds of recipes for pancakes and pancakes, which everyone can cook.

Classic Shrovetide pancakes are baked with milk and white wheat flour, but this does not prevent you from trying original recipes with water, kefir or whey, with the addition of oatmeal, rye or buckwheat flour. Every good housewife has a signature pancake recipe at hand, which differs both in the dough recipe and in the way the filling is prepared.

Traditionally in Rus', they ate pancakes with a lot of butter and sour cream, but the filling of mushrooms or salmon was no less popular in the last week before Lent. Try to complement the Shrovetide dish with red or black caviar, jam or jam, fresh fruits or exotic vegetables - we are sure that your household will be happy to taste the most delicious pancakes prepared by you.

How to celebrate

The scope of the Maslenitsa festivities is directly related to beliefs: in the old days it was believed that laughter and fun this week would bring abundance and prosperity to the house, so it was supposed to have fun as much as possible.

In the villages on Maslenitsa, they burned an effigy of Maslenitsa, held fistfights, ate pancakes at speed, climbed a pole for prizes, swam in an ice hole and fought bears. Pancakes were the main attribute.

Let's add about the scarecrow that they burned a straw scarecrow, personifying winter and last year's dried up crop on the last day of the week. The ashes from Shrovetide were scattered across the fields. Maslenitsa ended with cleaning: they cleaned all the dishes, burned the remnants of food, and left nothing for a new day. For believers, it was time for Lent.

Basic requirements for this holiday:

The main rule is the absence of meat products in the diet of this week. Dairy products and fish are allowed. Pancakes are baked throughout the week.

You need to eat as much as you want, because food these days is a special form of life.

It was customary to visit the holiday, as well as invite them to their place, honoring friends with delicious pancakes and other treats.

It is customary to arrange parties and have fun until you drop.

Maslenitsa is one of the most delicious holidays of the year. It is during this week that housewives get hidden jars of goodies that they add to pancakes.

Note that in the Christian church calendar there is no such name for the holiday as Maslenitsa. This name is taken from the common people, and the last preparatory week for Great Lent is Cheese Week. That is, the celebration of Maslenitsa (Cheese Week) begins on the last week before Lent, and ends with Forgiveness Sunday. It is also worth noting that a week means one calendar week. Believers who observe fasting are forbidden to eat meat during Cheese Week, but milk, eggs, sour cream can still be consumed, including pancakes.

Sources: comandir.com, svadbagoda.org, wordyou.ru, maslenica.su, etc.

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Every year you can cook and eat pancakes for a whole week - this is a centuries-old tradition. During this week, it is customary to visit guests and organize folk festivals. In order not to miss this significant event, it is advisable to think in advance about what date Shrove Tuesday begins in 2017.

After all, every year this date shifts a little, depending on the celebration of Lent. So, in 2017 it will be held during the period from February 20 to February 26. You can read more about this holiday, traditions and options for a pleasant pastime in this article.

Maslenitsa holiday in Russia- This is a festive date when you can use milk, butter, cheese, cottage cheese, pancakes. Cheese Week or Maslenitsa has a number of traditions. Fun and games in the fresh winter air will not leave you indifferent to this sincere holiday.

Maslenitsa in 2017 what date what day

February 20 Monday traditionally considered the day of the meeting. On this day, the first pancake baked by the hostess should be given to poor people. Also on this day, a scarecrow is being prepared, exhibited on the main street. On the last day of the holiday, it is solemnly burned.

February 21 Tuesday. Tuesday is intended to search for soul mates. On this day, young people went sledding, the guys looked out for beautiful girls, and those - stately guys. However, weddings were played only after the end of the Great Easter holiday.

February 22 Wednesday. The third day of the week is Lakomka. On Wednesday, it is customary to invite guests over and honor them with pancakes. Each housewife has her own, special recipe, passed down from generation to generation. In addition to pancakes, guests were offered gingerbread and pies. According to tradition, on this day, mothers-in-law honor their sons-in-law with pancakes.

February 23 Thursday. Fourth day - "walk around". This is the time for horseback riding "in the sun". It is believed that this rite allows you to drive away the winter. The biggest fun for men on this day is taking the snow town.

February 24 Friday- "mother-in-law evening." On this day, the son-in-law invites the mother-in-law to the house to feed them delicious pancakes.

February 25 Saturday- "sister-in-law gatherings." On the penultimate day of Maslenitsa, people visit relatives and enjoy pancakes prepared by the hostess.

February 26 Sunday- Day of Forgiveness. The final day of Maslenitsa is not only the time to burn an effigy, but also an opportunity to ask for forgiveness from all your loved ones.

Signs and fortune-telling for Shrovetide in 2016

• In order for warm days to come earlier, our ancestors made a scarecrow out of straw, which, according to tradition, was “collected” by the whole village, while it was burned directly on the day when Maslenitsa ended (this year on the 26th), and when the scarecrow burned out , there was a strict post.
• It should be noted that if frost hits Maslenitsa, then spring will come very soon, and if it is warm, then winter will remain for a long time. Maslenitsa holiday in 2017 should be celebrated cheerfully and noisily, and then 2017 will definitely become happy for you!
• On Forgiveness Sunday, you must fall asleep before midnight, then in the morning you will wake up easily.

Divination was also popular these days. According to the first baked pancake on Shrovetide week, they judged what awaits during the year until the next Maslenitsa:

• If the pancake turned over easily, this year you will get married.
• If the pancake sticks to the pan - another 3 years to sit in the parental home.
• Smooth edges of the pancake - there will be a happy marriage.
• The edges are uneven, torn - you need to think about whether you are going to marry.
• If there is a bake in the middle, the husband will be faithful. If on the side, he will start looking at his neighbors.
• How many holes in a pancake - so many kids on the benches.
• A beautiful ruddy pancake - there will be a lot of health, pale - to illness.
• A thin pancake - for an easy life, a thick one - for work.
• On Shrove Sunday, pancakes with various fillings were baked and treated to passers-by. It was noted who would be the first to take a pancake: a man or a woman - the child will be born of this gender. All the pancakes will be taken apart - a happy fate awaits. How many pancakes will remain - so many years to sit in the girls.

Now you will not forget what date Shrove Tuesday begins in 2017, and you will be able to have fun and properly spend this pancake week. Subscribe to site updates so as not to miss useful articles in the future!

In the Church calendar, there is no such name for the holiday as Maslenitsa. This name is taken from the common people, and the last preparatory week for Great Lent is Cheese Week. That is, the celebration of Maslenitsa (Cheese Week) begins on the last week before Lent, and ends with Forgiveness Sunday. It is also worth noting that a week means one calendar week. Believers who observe fasting are forbidden to eat meat during Cheese Week, but milk, eggs, sour cream can still be consumed, including pancakes.

: in a kindergarten, at school, on a city street, in a village.

Glorification of the pagan god Yarila as a symbol of the sun and the coming of spring.

According to some sources, the celebration of Maslenitsa is deeply rooted in paganism. During the celebration of Maslenitsa, people praised Yarila, the god of the sun, spring and fertility. In glorification of the Sun, the Slavs baked cakes, according to tradition, they took a handful of flour in their hands, dipped it into water, and then baked a round cake from the resulting dough - a symbol of the solar disk. Later, people began to bake pancakes from dough and sourdough. A hot, ruddy, round pancake is a symbol of the sun, it was believed that biting off a pancake, a person, figuratively speaking, bit off a piece of the sun, along with its warmth and life.

Maslenitsa and Christian Church.

Long before Christianity, the Maslenitsa festivities began seven days before the spring equinox, and continued for another seven days after it. When Christianity appeared in Rus', new holidays also came. But, since Maslenitsa was slightly shifted due to Lent, nevertheless, the Slavs celebrated the holiday in the same way, on a grand scale. According to pagan ideas, the Slavs held wide festivities, danced round dances, burned an effigy of the “Shrovetide”, the personification of winter. After the baptism of Rus' in the tenth century, and the adoption of Christianity, the church adamantly fought against this kind of pagan rites, however, many centuries have passed, and the tradition of burning a straw effigy of the “Shrovetide” has survived to this day, but the people of believers who observe Great Lent, the church still warns against this kind of entertainment. Since, it must be remembered that Cheese Week is a preparation for Great Lent, during which an Orthodox person, a believer, must pray, repent, seek himself spiritually, seek the meaning of life ... But all this, of course, does not prevent a person from participating in such festivities, the main thing so that these festivities do not harm the human soul, the abuse of alcohol is excluded, since it is believed that the use of alcohol only alienates a person from God.

Celebration of Maslenitsa, rituals and traditions.

A well-known custom for Maslenitsa is the baking of pancakes. This custom has its roots in pagan times. Pancakes were baked golden, ruddy, hot - all this is the personification of the Sun, the meeting of spring. During the festivities, the people led round dances, decorated cart wheels and carried it around the streets, all this is connected with the round shape of the Sun, all these rituals were considered as if “causing” the Sun, hence, by the way, the name Maslenitsa comes from.

Another tradition is jumping over the fire, this custom is also deeply rooted in paganism, since it was believed that by jumping over the fire, a person, as it were, singes his sins. But today, if such a tradition has been preserved, it is more for the sake of fun, fun. As for the sinful side of a person, an Orthodox person needs to go to church and bring their repentance to God, and not burn them by jumping over the fire.

At the end of all the festivities, at the end of the celebration, a scarecrow of the “Shrovetide” was burned, the personification of the outgoing winter, and the arrival of spring, the approach of the period of field work. Burning an effigy, people always waited and believed that the year would be fertile and fruitful.

Forgiveness Sunday

The seventh, last day of Shrovetide is considered forgiveness Sunday, on this day all people, preparing for Great Lent, asked for forgiveness from each other, commemorated the dead.

Evening services dedicated to the rite of forgiveness are held in the temples, when the rector asks for forgiveness from the parishioners, and the parishioners, in turn, ask for forgiveness from each other, answering the request “God will forgive.”

Why do we celebrate Maslenitsa seven weeks before Easter?

As we know, the most important Orthodox holiday Easter falls on different dates every year. Every year this holiday is celebrated on different Sundays of the month. This is due to several factors, in accordance with the lunar calendar, the spring equinox, as well as the celebration of the Jewish Passover. And since Easter is a mobile Orthodox holiday, that is, it falls on different dates, other church dates of certain holidays are counted from the date of the celebration of Easter.

Accordingly, the celebration of Shrovetide falls annually on different dates, or rather, just seven weeks before Easter. But since the Maslenitsa holiday itself has pagan roots. And the Orthodox Church is against various pagan worldviews. The last week before Great Lent, which is commonly referred to as simply Shrovetide festivities and seeing off winter for people who believe in fasting, this week is a preparation for Great Lent, that is, half-fast, when it is already forbidden to eat meat products, but eggs, cheese, you can still eat milk.

Easter traditions

For one of the main church holidays, Easter, Orthodox people prepare in advance, during Holy Week. On Monday, for example, they start a general cleaning of the house, on Tuesday they prepare smart clothes, if necessary, wash them. On Wednesday, you can also continue cleaning the house and yard. On Pure Thursday, it is imperative to complete all the work to restore order in the house. On Good Friday, on the day when Christ was crucified, they brought candles consecrated from the church, and burned them all day in different rooms, they also began to color eggs and bake Easter cakes for fasting and believers, on this day the church forbids the use of any food . Saturday is a day of sorrow, on this day it is forbidden to have fun, drink alcohol, enter into an intimate relationship. Easter services begin in churches. And the resurrection is the onset of Easter, when Jesus Christ was miraculously resurrected. The celebration of Easter takes place at a generously laid table, in the circle of relatives.

On the day of Easter, all Orthodox people are christened, that is, they break each other, or they exchange colored eggs with the words “Christ is Risen” and in response “Truly Risen”. The tradition of cooking eggs for Easter symbolizes the birth of a new life, as a new creature emerges from it. And the tradition of dyeing eggs red is the so-called krashenki or pysanky, a symbol of rebirth through the blood of Christ. Coloring in other colors is more of an innovation, and symbolizes the joy of the Great and Bright celebration of Easter.

Maslenitsa is widely celebrated throughout Russia. This holiday reflects centuries-old traditions, carefully preserved and passed down from generation to generation. Each day of Shrove Tuesday is filled with a unique meaning.

Maslenitsa is not only the week before Great Lent and the upcoming Easter. Traditionally, it is the turning point of winter, when people, tired of the cold, finally meet the imminent approach of spring and enjoy the close warm and fine days. Maslenitsa in 2017 will begin on February 20 and end on the 26th with Forgiveness Sunday and subsequent strict fasting until Easter.

Orthodox people, despite the upcoming fast, are trying to observe age-old traditions, while not forgetting about restrictions on festivities and daily prayers. The meat-free week, which prohibits the use of meat, gives you the opportunity to eat plenty before keeping yourself strict, so pancakes, beloved by Russians, are served with all kinds of fillings: fish, cabbage, honey.

Monday. Meeting.

Shrovetide opens on the first day of the week. On Monday, the housewives baked pancakes. Traditionally, the first pancake was given to beggars to pray for the souls of deceased relatives, or left on the doorstep as a tribute to their ancestors. On this day, they made a straw effigy of Maslenitsa and dressed it up in old clothes, thereby getting rid of the negativity that was unnecessary in the house. Relatives visited each other and treated themselves to pancakes, glorifying the opening of Shrovetide week.

Tuesday. Flirting.

Tuesday was traditionally a day of festivities, games and fun. On this day, young people went to visit each other, ate pancakes and rode a sleigh from the icy mountains. Buffoons walked the streets, entertaining the people and treating themselves to the generous alms of the hostesses. Flirting was the day of matchmaking, when parents looked closely at future relatives and began to talk about the upcoming celebration in a joking manner. Guests were traditionally greeted with pancakes and wine, and then everyone went to mass festivities. Young people furtively looked at each other, grooms chose brides, and girls stared at their future husbands and secretly wondered which of them would send matchmakers first.

Wednesday. Gourmand.

On Wednesday, according to tradition, sons-in-law went to visit their mother-in-laws for pancakes. In those days, there could be several people, so they walked in the houses in a big way, the tables were bursting with treats. In the evenings they praised all the mothers-in-law and sang songs of praise to them and played funny scenes with dressing up. The comic performances continued until late at night. At this time, women and girls gathered together, rode a sleigh through the villages and also sang funny songs and ditties.

Thursday. Revelry.

From Thursday, the festivities became massive, and people in whole villages and villages rolled through the streets. At this time, fistfights and wall-to-wall games were held, where young people showed their prowess and become, showing off in front of girls and brides. Children went from house to house and caroled to cheerful songs. Adults willingly treated them to a treat and conveyed greetings and bows to their parents.

Friday. Mother-in-law vespers.

On Friday, the sons-in-law invited the mothers of their wives to visit them and returned their hospitality and hospitality a hundredfold. The rich arranged honorable evenings, when not only the mother-in-law, but also all her relatives. Family gatherings strengthened relations between relatives, and the general fun reminded of the imminent approach of the long-awaited spring and warmth.

Saturday. Zolov's gatherings.

The daughter-in-law honorably invited her husband's relatives to the house. If the sisters-in-law, sisters of husbands, were unmarried, the daughter-in-law invited her unmarried girlfriends to common gatherings. Married relatives were invited to married sisters-in-law. In this case, the sleigh was coupled with a steam locomotive and the daughter-in-law carried her relatives to the sister-in-laws. The newlywed, according to custom, prepared gifts for her sisters-in-law and presented them to each.

Sunday. Forgiveness day.

Shrovetide week ends with Forgiveness Sunday. At this time, relatives went to visit each other and asked for forgiveness. Also on this day, they visited cemeteries and paid tribute to the memory of deceased relatives. On Sunday, they burned an effigy of Shrovetide, danced round the fire, and the bravest jumped over it and made a wish. Seeing off winter ended. The people were in no hurry to go home and burned high hot bonfires to melt the remnants of snow and quickly invite the beautiful spring to visit. Unnecessary and broken things were put into the fire. On this day, all old grievances and conflicts were forgotten. The old people smiled and said: "Whoever remembers the old, that eye is out."

Maslenitsa has always been celebrated on a grand scale. And you do not skimp on the joy in this fun week in 2017. Leave all the hardships of winter and rejuvenated enter a new period of life.

An exception on the territory of all Russian cities will not be the farewell of Shrovetide in 2017. What date the festival will begin is already known. According to the rules, people celebrate the departure of winter during the last week. Accordingly, the beginning of the Maslenitsa period is not static, and flows smoothly from one date to another, following the annual establishment of Easter. This year, Maslenitsa week will last from February 20 to 26.

history of the holiday

No matter how strange it may sound, but if we turn to historical facts, it is easy to find out that this holiday has come in our days since the paganism of the Slavs. Long before the advent of Christianity in Rus', in ancient times, the tradition of merrily seeing off the winter was mandatory. Among the pagans, the change of seasons and seasons was of great importance. Thus, one of the oldest holidays appeared. The ancient Slavs said goodbye to winter every year and joyfully met the warm spring, placing hopes with its arrival on a rich new harvest, the retreat of diseases and well-being in families. This event, at that time, was quite significant and significant and, drawing a parallel with modern celebrations, only the New Year would be on a par with.

Although today in all regions of our country the festivities are held on an unprecedented scale. It should be noted that the tradition originated in Ukraine and Belarus. Over time, the holiday has reached the Russian regions, where now the farewell to winter in 2017 will not be an exception. On what date in Barnaul, for example, will they celebrate Maslenitsa? As well as in other cities, the celebration will come here on February 20. It turns out that the ancient pagan Slavs believed that without the help of spring, heat would not come by itself, it needed help to overcome the winter frosts. For this, they came up with numerous rituals that contribute to filling the earth with strength.

Another feature of the holiday of antiquity was that it wore a kind of funeral outline. Then the people were sure of the influence of the dead, buried in the ground, on productivity and fertility. They tried to appease, win over the spirits of the dead and asked them for help.

How Maslenitsa was celebrated in Rus'

An interesting fact of the national celebration is that during this period it is customary to eat dairy products. Most likely, the explanation for this can be found in the seasonality of the appearance of abundant milk in domestic cows. On the eve of spring, the cattle have more of it every day, but the most important thing is not to let the milk go to waste. This is probably where the tradition of cooking many dishes with milk, which came down to seeing off winter in 2017, was established.

It has long been known what date the cheese week will be celebrated in Kursk with festivities. By the way, that's why they call that very week preceding the post. It turns out that the culprit of the name is plain milk. Although the second name of the period of the upcoming Great Lent is also known. 7 Maslenitsa days are often called Baba's week. Since ancient times in Rus', a woman has been a symbol of fertility. These days it was considered good luck to conclude marriages and engagements.

And of course, who does not know about the most important attribute of this holiday? Not a single Maslenitsa passes without. They associate the sun with themselves: the same warm, round and golden. In addition, pancakes attracted the rays of the sun to the earth. After all, a pancake can be safely called bread, which, in turn, was given to the pagan gods as a gift of fertility.

Another feature of winter farewells are fisticuffs. Many centuries ago, they were considered a memorial component of the event, so the actions were real, bloody and dangerous. In our time, such an attribute of Maslenitsa as fistfights serves only for entertainment and amusement of the assembled residents. By the way, it is impossible not to mention another tradition. The pagan Slavs on this day climbed the Maslenitsa poles to be closer to the God of the Sun. Today, this type of entertainment is very popular, and the organizers of the holidays encourage many people to participate in it with various prizes and awards.

Who does not know that such an action as burning an effigy is obligatory for Maslenitsa and symbolizes the main farewell to winter? In 2017 (what date in Chelyabinsk it will be easy to calculate) on the last day of a tasty and satisfying week, which falls on February 26, in all cities people will dress up a huge straw creation. There is a belief that such a scarecrow, symbolizing winter, must be dressed as brightly as possible - the more beautiful it is, the faster spring will come and bring fruitful abundance.

Maslenitsa days

Seeing off winter in 2017 (on what date Spassk Dalniy will start baking pancakes is understandable and so) often represent drawn-out long festivities. The first day of the Maslenitsa week falls on a Monday. It is important that each day of the cheese week is called in a special way and has an unusual meaning for the holiday.

It starts with the first meeting. On this day, it was customary to meet with relatives, meet new people, get a lot of positive emotions from entertainment. By this time, a winter scarecrow was already standing, waiting in the wings. The streets were full of fun and carelessness: they danced round dances, happy children ran everywhere, sang songs.

"Tricks" - that's what they called Tuesday. It did not differ much from the first Monday, it was also devoted to rest and entertainment. Everyone had to play: ride a sleigh, move down an ice slide. This rule did not apply only to children. The Slavs also believed that the longer you ride, the more often luck will visit.

Wednesday was called "gourmet". It's easy to guess what's going on here. The name betrays itself. This day of seeing off the Russian winter in 2017 (what date in Orel and in many cities is not difficult to guess) falls on February 22. On Wednesday, hostesses indulge in a variety of pancakes and delicious toppings to treat all their family and friends.
Just like the first two days, "broad Thursday" is not distinguished by seriousness and restraint. On this day, which is also called "revelry", they continue to have fun, play and have fun in all possible ways. It was on Thursday that fisticuffs were held. After all, this is the very middle of the festivities. In addition, on Thursday it was allowed to kiss everyone. Those who refused such kisses could expect to find themselves in a snowdrift.

Friday is interesting in its own way. This is a kind of day for guests. And it is also called "mother-in-law's evenings." A special feature of Friday is the desire of the son-in-law to please his mother-in-law by treating her with pancakes prepared with his own hands.

On the sixth day of the winter farewell, “sister-in-law gatherings” are arranged. Previously, according to tradition, an effigy was burned on Saturday. On February 25, many daughters-in-law will lay a delicious table to invite relatives and unmarried friends.

So, knowing when the farewell of winter in 2017, what number will not be difficult to calculate. After all, this day, on which it is customary to ask for forgiveness from everyone and forgive everyone who asks, ends the Maslenitsa week before fasting.