Maslenitsa (28/02)

Maslenitsa — is an ancient Slavic holiday with numerous customs, which has survived to this day centuries later. Celebrated during the week before Lent. Maslenitsa in 2024 is celebrated from March 11 to 17.

Maslenitsa — is a cheerful farewell to winter, illuminated by the joyful anticipation of close warmth and spring renewal of nature. The main attributes of the holiday have traditionally been the — effigy of Maslenitsa, fun, sleigh rides, festivities and, of course, pancakes — round, ruddy, hot, previously they had ritual significance, since they were a symbol of the sun, which flared up more and more brightly, lengthening days.

Perhaps pancakes were also part of the memorial rite, since the Saturday before Maslenitsa week was revered as «parent day» — Slavs worshiped the souls of their deceased ancestors.

Centuries passed, life changed, with the adoption of Christianity in Rus', new church holidays appeared, but wide Maslenitsa continued to live. She was met and seen off with the same unstoppable prowess as in pagan times.

By the way, at one time the Russian Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich tried to calm down his daring subjects with the strictest measures. Voivodes sent royal decrees to hail and villages, either banning private distilling, or demanding that people not gamble or conduct fist fights. But neither the formidable royal decrees nor the instructions of the patriarch were able to cope with the overwhelming fun.

One of the main attributes of Maslenitsa is pancakes (Photo: Marina Onokhina, licensed from Shutterstock.com)

There were certain rites for each day of the oil week. Monday — starts cheese week — Maslenitsa meeting, Tuesday — flirts. For gourmet foods, that is, on Wednesday of the oil week, mothers-in-law invited sons-in-law and their wives to pancakes. This custom was especially observed in relation to young people who had recently gotten married. Surely this is where the expression «k mother-in-law goes to pancakes».

The most crowded luge rides took place on Wide Thursday. On Friday — mother-in-law's evening — sons-in-law called their mother-in-law for a treat. Saturday was allotted to Zolovkin's gatherings.

Sunday was called «forgiveness Sunday» or «forgivenessday». On this day, everyone visited relatives, friends and acquaintances, exchanged kisses, bows and asked for forgiveness from each other if they offended with words or actions. And also on the last day of Maslenitsa week, a Maslenitsa farewell ritual was always held with the obligatory burning of an effigy of Maslenitsa.



• Article «How to celebrate Maslenitsa? The most interesting traditions in the old days and today»

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