Shrovetide - a fun holiday of spring

There are many traditional holidays in Russia, the history of which is imbued with a special Slavic culture. One of them is the well-known Maslenitsa. Cheerful folk festivals last a whole week, and there is a tradition for each day

Pancake recipes

According to the old belief, everyone is obliged to have fun on these days, so that later they will have the strength to withstand Lent with dignity. The tribute says that if you do not celebrate Shrovetide, then the whole year a person will be haunted by failures and difficulties.

Photo by Alexandra

We inherited this bright family holiday from our Slavic ancestors. Initially, its roots are associated with paganism, but the tradition of celebrating the departure of gray winter weekdays did not disappear even after the adoption of the Christian religion in Russia. In Shrovetide, some symbols have also been preserved that connect the Russian people with its past.

A prime example of this is the main dish on the table this week. Pancakes with their round shape and golden color they represent the sun and the long-awaited arrival of spring. In many families, from generation to generation, special recipes for making pancakes, so that it is with the arrival of Shrovetide to please the family with this simple, in fact, delicacy. During the holiday, it is no longer possible to eat meat and dishes with its participation. However, you can indulge yourself in plenty of fish dishes, as well as a variety of dairy products on the table. And during the last days of the week, which are called a wide carnival, you need to eat as often as possible.

You can celebrate not only at home. Pancake week - first of all, the celebration of strengthening family ties and friendly relations. These days, a pleasant custom has developed to visit each other, to treat with homemade pancakes and other delicious gifts.

In Russian folklore, there are many proverbs and sayings dedicated to the celebration of the onset of spring. The people say: "Shrovetide of eating away, money of a tidbit", which symbolizes the breadth of festivities and fun.

The festive expanse is also described by such sayings as "Not living, but Shrovetide", "Ride on the mountains, roll in pancakes" and "At least lay everything off yourself, but hold Shrovetide." However, everything has its end, and therefore the saying "Not everything for the cat is Shrovetide, but there will be Great Lent" is intended to remind everyone of the upcoming important event immediately after the holiday.

Photo by natapit

The mention of Shrovetide also penetrated into literary works. I.S. Shmelev colorfully and in detail describes the atmosphere of folk fun in the "Summer of the Lord": "Shrovetide ... I still feel this word, as I felt it in childhood: bright spots, ringing - it evokes in me; glowing candles, bluish waves of children in the contented hum of the crowded people, a bumpy snowy road already oiled in the sun with merry sleighs diving along it, with merry horses in roses, in bells and bells, with playful fingering of accordions. Or did I have a wonderful thing from childhood, unlike anything else, in bright colors and gilding, which was cheerfully called "Shrovetide"? She stood on high counters in the baths. On a big round gingerbread - pancake? - which smelled of honey - and smelled of glue! - with gilded hills along the edge, with a dense forest, where bears, wolves and bunnies stuck out on pegs, - wonderful lush flowers like roses rose, and all this shone, entwined with gold thread ... This wonderful "carnival" was arranged by the old man in Zaryadye, some kind of Ivan Yegorych. The unknown Yegorych died - the "carnival" disappeared. But they are alive in me. Now the holidays have faded, and people seem to have cooled. And then ... everyone and everyone was connected to me, and I was connected to everyone, from an old beggar in the kitchen who went to a “poor pancake” to an unfamiliar troika that rushed off into the darkness with a ringing sound.And God in the sky, behind the stars, looked at everyone with affection: Shrovetide, walk! In this broad word, even now for me, a bright joy is alive, before sadness ... - before fasting? "

The traditional end of Shrovetide is the ritual burning of a scarecrow dressed in a woman's dress - a symbol of the outgoing winter. Although before the clothes were always for men, and it was burned together with the dishes on which pancakes were baked. Spring has always been the personification of something new among the people. Therefore, at the end of Shrovetide, it was customary to burn unnecessary things, rubbish and junk in big fires, so that good new things would take their place.

On the streets during Maslenitsa week you can always meet "mummers" - young people dressed in funny costumes gathering in noisy companies. They usually knocked on houses and asked for food or money. If the owner was greedy, the mummers could arrange a little prank. They also rolled the newlyweds in a sleigh, and for the stinginess of gifts they threw them into the snowdrifts.

Maslenitsa week ends with Forgiveness Sunday. According to the established tradition, on this day people asked all their relatives and friends for forgiveness, to which they usually answered: "God will forgive."