International Pancake Day. Maslenitsa (Pancake Day) in England: customs and traditions. What is Lent

Let's look at the days of Maslenitsa and give their names and characteristics.

Every day Maslenitsa has its own name.

First day of Maslenitsa: Monday - “meeting”

Oh yes Maslenitsa

He's moving into the yard!

The wide one is moving into the yard!

Oh yes, Maslenitsa,

Broad, stay for a week,

A week!

These are the songs the girls and boys sang, took a straw effigy - Maslenitsa - and walked around the village with it. The sedate people began celebrating Maslenitsa by visiting their relatives. By the first day of Maslenitsa, public slides, swings, booths for buffoons, and tables with sweet dishes were built.

The children made snow slides, rode until they dropped, and also went from house to house in a gang and shouted: “Serve for Maslenitsa, for Lent!”

They screamed until the owners brought out old rags for them. The guys collect all sorts of things and take it all to a high place, haul brushwood and light the fire. Such a fire was called an “oil can.” Children dance around the fire and sing: “Burn, burn clearly, so that it doesn’t go out!”

The second day of Maslenitsa - “flirts”

In the morning, young girls were invited to sled on the mountains, eat pancakes, girls' swings were arranged, horseback riding, and snow towns were erected.

The most favorite thing to do on Maslenitsa is to ride on boards filled with water and frozen in the cold. The roots were replaced by sleds and sleds. For skating, a reel of thick logs and poles was built on a steep bank. Such a reel had a “run” (“run”) of up to three hundred meters, so that the skating experience would take your breath away.

Children and adults rode on regular sleds, on chunks (a sled with a chair), on goats or skates, or trumpets (a sled with a railing and a steering wheel - a skate on a board so that it could be controlled). The kids rode on ice boats (ladeykas) - this is a small board, pointed in front and hollowed out like a trough. Even children rode on sheaves of straw and on old calf skins in whole crews and groups.

The third day of Maslenitsa - “gourmet”

Aunt Varvara,

my mother sent me:

Give me some frying pans and a frying pan,

flour and lubricants.

There is water in the oven, the oven wants pancakes.

Where there are pancakes, here we are.

On this day, people feasted on pancakes and other Maslenitsa dishes. Pancakes were baked in an endless variety: wheat, barley, oat, buckwheat, from unleavened and sour dough.

People used to say: “A pancake is not a wedge, it won’t split your belly.”

Mothers-in-law invited their sons-in-law to pancakes for “gourmet treats,” and invited all their relatives to entertain their beloved son-in-law.

The fourth day of Maslenitsa - “Broad Thursday” - “revelry, turning point”

This day was the middle of the butter feast: three days behind, three days ahead. On this day they walked from morning to evening, danced, danced in circles, sang ditties.

The newlyweds were put in a sleigh and brought down the mountain and forced to kiss in front of everyone. If anyone refused, they pushed them into the snow and covered them up to their necks...

On this day they also went out to “kulaks” - to fist fights. According to the rules, it was forbidden to hide something heavy in a mitten or hit below the belt or on the back of the head. In a word, in any fight, a Russian fighter should have remembered honor and not lost his head. They met on the river and fought “itself against oneself” or “wall to wall”.

Fifth day of Maslenitsa - mother-in-law evening - guest day

They used to say: “Even though mother-in-law’s pancakes are sweet, mother-in-law’s sons-in-law treat them to Maslenaya.”

On mother-in-law's evenings, sons-in-law treat their mothers-in-law to pancakes. Invitations can be honorary, with all the relatives for lunch, or just for one dinner. In the old days, the son-in-law was obliged to personally invite his mother-in-law in the evening, and then in the morning he sent elegant invitees. The more people were invited, the more honors the mother-in-law received.

The girls carried out pancakes in a bowl on their heads at noon. They walked to the slide. The guy who was in love with the girl was in a hurry to taste the blink, to find out: would she make a good mistress? After all, she stood by the stove this morning, making pancakes.

The sixth day of Maslenitsa - sister-in-law's gatherings

Maslenitsa is already getting old. Finally, her farewell was celebrated. The young daughter-in-law invited her relatives to her sister-in-law's gatherings. If the sisters-in-law were still girls, then the daughter-in-law called her old girl friends; if they were married, then she invited married relatives and took the guests to their sisters-in-law with the whole train. The newlywed daughter-in-law was obliged to present her sisters-in-law with gifts. Maslenitsa was, as it were, an excuse to get together and gossip about this and that.

In the evening they burned Maslenitsa. At first, the effigy of Maslenitsa was surrounded with honor, and then taken out of the outskirts and burned.

So from time immemorial, in a cheerful, carnival manner, with imagination, with abundant refreshments and forgiveness, the people saw off the winter, welcomed the spring, as if they wanted to take a walk and have fun throughout Lent.

The seventh day of Maslenitsa - Forgiveness Sunday - farewell, ceremony

From morning until lunch, godfathers walk around, visiting each other to give gifts. On this day in Rus', everyone, young and old, asked each other for forgiveness: “Forgive me, take the blame away from me!” or “Forgive me if anything went wrong between us,” “Forgive me, a sinner, for Lent!” For their faults, for their annoyances with each other, our ancestors with open souls asked for forgiveness and prayed to forget the grievances, to establish harmony among themselves and not to keep evil in their minds. The children bowed at the feet of their parents and asked for forgiveness for all the grief caused to them. Farewell consisted of a kiss and a low bow.

After lunch, we gathered in church for Vespers, which opened Great Lent.

What is Lent?

Lent is the oldest, most important, strict and longest among the fasts established by the Orthodox Church, it lasts for 7 weeks from Forgiveness Sunday until Easter itself. Even in the Old Testament, the Lord commanded people to give a tithe (that is, a tenth of everything they acquired) every year in order to have blessings in all their deeds.

Taking this into account, as well as in memory of the forty-day fast of Jesus Christ in the desert, the holy Apostles for the benefit of people established approximately a tenth of the year (about 36 days, not counting Sundays), i.e., the time of Great Lent (Holy Pentecost) to be dedicated to God, so that later you can have a blessing in your deeds.

This is a time of prayer and repentance, when everyone must, having renounced worldly goods, entertainment and amusements, devote time to the purification and elevation of the soul: to realize and ask the Lord for forgiveness of their sins (by fasting and confession), so that then, according to the commandment of the Savior, they can worthily receive Holy Communion Christ's Mysteries.

During fasting it is prohibited: arranging and participating in games; singing, dancing, listening to music, laughing and generally wild joy, watching television programs (except informational ones), getting married. You cannot lie, curse, or judge anyone. The first and last weeks of fasting are especially strict.

The entire “pancake week” passes with songs and dances, games and fun. Each day of this week has its own name and its own rules of celebration.

When is Maslenitsa celebrated?

Maslenitsa is celebrated seven weeks before Easter. Since it is determined by the lunar-solar calendar, it does not have a constant meaning and changes every year, therefore the Maslenitsa holiday falls on a new date every year.

Monday – meeting

On this day they celebrate Maslenitsa, dress up a stuffed doll, sing “counter” songs and build snow slides.

From early morning, the father-in-law and mother-in-law send the daughter-in-law to her parents to help with housework.

In the evening they go to the matchmakers, and in a decorous, leisurely conversation the places and times of festivities, visits and celebrations of all seven days of Maslenitsa are discussed.

According to folk traditions, if a person spent Maslenitsa week in boredom, sadness or quarrels, he will be unlucky and unlucky throughout the year.

We wish you a delicious and fun Maslenitsa!

Maslenitsa is one of the oldest Russian holidays. Pagan in origin, Maslenitsa peacefully “coexisted” with the religious traditions of Christianity. From a week of farewell to winter, the holiday turned into a week before Lent - 7 days of rest, fun and hearty food.

Each of the days of Maslenitsa, which this year will last from March 4 to 10, has its own name and purpose. “First Regional” tells what and where to do from Monday to Sunday during Maslenitsa week.

Monday opens the so-called “Narrow Maslenitsa” - the first half of the week. Household work is allowed on these days.

The first day of Maslenitsa is called the Meeting. According to custom, matchmakers meet, and everything happens on the territory of the daughter-in-law’s house. From the very morning she is sent to her parents, and in the evening her father-in-law and mother-in-law come for her, at the same time agreeing on the place of the general celebration.

On Monday, the construction of snow cities, swings and booths for a mass holiday will be completed. A scarecrow of Maslenitsa is made from straw and old clothes, which is carried through the streets on a sleigh.

On the same day they start baking pancakes. The first one is supposed to be given to poor neighbors so that they, not being able to cook pancakes, will remember the deceased.

Tuesday is called Flirting. On this day, guys and girls get to know each other, ride down the slides, and go to each other’s pancakes. Parents actively encourage this: it is customary for young people to get married during Maslenitsa week, because the church prohibits weddings during Lent. In case of luck, the wedding takes place on Krasnaya Gorka - the first Sunday after Easter (in 2019 Krasnaya Gorka falls on May 5).

Lakomki is the third day of Maslenitsa week and the last day of “Narrow Maslenitsa”. On this day, the mother-in-law greets her son-in-law and his friends with a rich treat, while she herself watches the passing feast. You can determine his character by his son-in-law's taste preferences. It is believed that if a man reaches for pancakes with salty filling, he has a difficult character. Sweet lovers are soft and affectionate.

On Wednesday you can eat plenty of pancakes.

Thursday, or Razgulay, is the first day of “Broad Maslenitsa”. On this day it’s time to stop chores and start celebrating.

Both young and old go out into the street to ride a sleigh, watch fist fights, battles for snowy cities, or become participants in them, and sing jokes. On this day, ritual bonfires are lit and people jump over them.

Friday is called Mother-in-law's evening. On this day, a man meets his wife's mother. She should be officially invited. His mother-in-law comes to his house with her friends. At the table - songs, fun, good advice about family life.

True, the wife prepares refreshments for all those gathered.

The day of the sister-in-law, the husband's sister, falls on Saturday. It's called Sister-in-law's gatherings. On this day, a woman should call her husband’s relatives to her place, the main one of whom is her sister. If she is unmarried, then she is supposed to invite unmarried friends into the house, but if she is married in a church, family people should be next to her. All guests are treated to pancakes, and the sister-in-law is given a nice gift.

The last day of Maslenitsa week is Farewell. On Sunday, the effigy of Maslenitsa is carried on a sleigh to the field. This is called the “Maslenitsa train”. Then the effigy is burned - this is a “funeral”. The ashes are scattered across the fields to ensure a fertile year. From now on, winter should go away, giving way to a sunny and warm spring.

With the advent of Christianity, Farewell to Maslenitsa became known as Forgiveness Sunday. On this day, it is customary to perform the rite of forgiveness in churches, to ask each other for forgiveness for all the grievances of the past year. In the evening, as on Monday, they commemorate the dead and, if possible, visit the cemetery.

Keeping all the traditions of pancake week is fun and tasty. But for Maslenitsa to be a joy and not a burden, you need to eat in moderation and choose only the right pancakes. How to do this, read

In addition, the holiday had several other important meanings. Firstly, it contributed to the strengthening of family relationships. For example, in the villages they were given a kind of show: they were put up against the gate posts and forced to kiss in front of everyone.

Also, according to tradition, young couples had to “go out in public.” The husband and wife dressed up, got into a painted sleigh and went to see friends and relatives who had attended their wedding a year ago. In addition, many rituals took place during Maslenitsa week, which

Secondly, Maslenitsa week is during the festivities

Thirdly, on Maslenitsa, people splashed out the negative energy accumulated over the winter, and approached Lent “purified.”

The entire Maslenitsa week is divided into two periods - Narrow Maslenitsa and Broad Maslenitsa. Narrow Maslenitsa, when it was possible to do household work, included the first three days: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

All other days of the week - Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday - refer to Shiroka Maslenitsa. During this period, all work stopped and mass fun began.

Monday - meeting

On this day, the father-in-law and mother-in-law sent their daughter-in-law to her father and mother in the morning, and in the evening they themselves came to visit the matchmakers. Together they agreed on the time and place of the festivities, and also discussed the list of upcoming guests.

By the first day of Maslenitsa week, snowy mountains, booths, and swings were being completed. The first pancake was given to the poor to commemorate the dead. A Maslenitsa scarecrow made from straw and old clothes was also made on Monday and carried through the streets in a sleigh all week.

Tuesday - flirt

A day that was especially exciting for unmarried girls, since bridal shows were organized for the flirtation - many oilseed rituals boiled down to matchmaking in order to have a wedding after Lent. As a rule, this happened on Krasnaya Gorka, which falls on the first Sunday after Easter.

On the second day of Maslenitsa, young people started skiing from the mountains in the morning and eating pancakes. All the relatives and friends gathered and called for Maslenitsa, saying: “Our snowy mountains are ready and the pancakes are baked - please welcome!”

The mummers walked the streets and rode on troikas or even simple sledges. Performances were held in street booths, one of the main characters of which was Petrushka and the Maslenitsa grandfather.

Wednesday - delicacies

Photo: Mikhail Dzyabenko

By the middle of the week, Maslenitsa was gaining momentum. They began to celebrate it en masse in all homes - they baked pancakes and invited guests. Also on this day, the mother-in-law showed affection for her son-in-law and invited him to a treat. In the villages, beer was brewed together.

A brisk trade began on the streets. They sold sweets and drinks: gingerbread, roasted nuts, hot sbitney and tea.

Thursday - revelry, turning point, wide Thursday

This day was the first day of Broad Maslenitsa, when all kinds of fun, fist fights, and horse riding were organized. Various contests and competitions were held, ending with massive feasts. The culmination of the fun of this day was the capture of the snowy town.

Celebrations and games, in which a large number of people participated, helped to throw out the negative energy accumulated over the winter and resolve various conflicts between people. This is one of the important moments in the celebration of Maslenitsa - one had to approach Lent “purified.”

Friday - mother-in-law's evening

The son-in-law, in response to his mother-in-law’s recent hospitality, also had to demonstrate his good attitude to her, as well as to her loved ones. If he violated traditions, this disrespect of the son-in-law was considered an insult and dishonor.

Saturday - sister-in-law's get-togethers

And his other relatives. If the sisters were unmarried girls, then the wife could invite her unmarried friends. If the sisters-in-law were family, then for her part the wife also invited married friends or relatives. The daughter-in-law had to give her sister-in-law some gift.

Sunday - farewell, kisser, Forgiveness Sunday

The last day of Maslenitsa is the culmination of all festive festivities. On Sunday there was a conspiracy before the beginning of Lent. On this day for all the grievances and troubles caused during the year. Traditionally, people greeted each other with a kiss. At the same time, one said: “Forgive me, perhaps.” The second had to answer: “God will forgive you, and I forgive!”

On Sunday it was supposed to remember the dead. They brought pancakes to the graves of loved ones, and sometimes also vodka. Then the women on their knees asked for forgiveness from the dead. They bowed three times and said: “Forgive me (name), forget everything that I was rude to you and harmed you.” After that they left. Dear women, as a rule, tried not to talk. Silently, they came to the cemetery and also, silently, left it.

Maslenitsa Photo: www.russianlook.com

Traditionally, however, at first the stuffed animal was carried through the streets: they put it on a sleigh, and sat it next to beautiful girl. Three guys were harnessed to the sleigh. Behind the main sleigh with Maslenitsa there were other sleighs. All this was called the Maslenitsa train.

The effigy was burned outside the outskirts. The ashes scattered across the field. Before setting Maslenitsa on fire, she was given a pancake. And when the scarecrow began to burn, the people said: “Burn, pancakes, burn, Maslenitsa!” Pancakes and leftovers from other holiday foods too

Maslenitsa Photo: www.russianlook.com

The songs for Forgiveness Sunday were no longer as cheerful as before. They often say that having eaten all their supplies, people will now have to cut back on food and observe Lent.