Maslenitsa is a traditional holiday forSlavs, symbolizing the end of winter and the onset of spring. The Orthodox calendar calls it the Cheese Seven. This week, people should forgive their loved ones, apologize to them. In addition, there are organized folk festivals for Shrovetide. Let's consider all these moments in more detail.
So, let's start from the very beginning.According to the Orthodox calendar, Shrovetide is held in the last week before the Great Lent. Before the emergence of Christianity in Russia, this holiday was pagan. Celebrated it for two weeks. With the advent of Christianity, the holiday and many favorite Russian traditions have survived. Among them - folk festivals for Shrovetide.
People are used to happily say goodbye to the winter andpleasure to meet the long-awaited spring. This period has always been perceived as the awakening of Mother Nature and Yarila the Sun (most revered during the paganism of the deity, giving everyone vitality and warmth). By the way, earlier instead of pancakes baked round cakes. They were a symbol of the sun. Bake them in large quantities and treat all their relatives and friends. Absorbing such a cake, the person believed that he eats a small piece of solar power and heat, filling it with a special power.
In a word, the folk festivities for Shrovetidepreserved. Only the cakes were replaced with pancakes. The name of the holiday also became different. In paganism he was called Komoditsey. Pancake week was called a holiday, as this is the last week, when you can eat animal products - butter including.
Every day of this long-awaited holidaydiffers in its traditions. There is a kind of script Maslenitsa. The folk festivities begin on Monday - from the meeting of spring. On this day, people make a straw effigy, put on a woman's dress and carry it on a sleigh. Children build snow slides, adults bake pancakes, the first of which is given to the poor or is hung on the branches of a tree in memory of the souls of deceased relatives.
The script proceeds as followsMaslenitsa: the folk festivities on Tuesday is called the "Zaigrysh". Scarecrow is installed in the center of the square, around it roundelays are conducted, all are treated with gingerbread and pancakes. Young people look at their potential second half. In the evening people go to gatherings.
On Wednesday, the next festivities for the Carnival begins. This Gourmand, celebrated on Wednesday. The son-in is invited to visit his mother-in-law and is treated to her pancakes.
On Thursday, the height of festivities begins.On this day it is forbidden even to work. It's called Razgulay. Catania with slides on sleigh, carols and spring calls, amicable tea-drinking - all this happens on Thursday!
On Friday the evening begins. On this day, the son-in-law is already inviting me to visit my mother-in-law for pancakes.
The farewell carnival begins on Saturday withZolovkin gatherings. To the bride on the pancakes in a hurry the sisters of her husband. On the street this day they play in the taking of snowy towns, symbolizing the last refuge of winter.
Какой же последний этап?The final farewell of Maslenitsa is Proshuenoe Sunday. On this day, people go to visit each other. They ask for forgiveness for everything that has ever offended their loved ones. But in the evening a scarecrow is burned, the ashes of which are scattered in the wind, in the villages - in the field. This tradition symbolizes a good harvest.
Это ещё не всё.Scenario Maslenitsa on the street, as a rule, passes on the above standard. However, in the palaces of culture, in schools, in some enterprises, etc. Various activities are also held.
Entertainment programs, contests,performances and fairs - all this makes the holiday even more vivid, fun and interesting. Cultural events give everyone the opportunity to feel the joy and warmth of the approaching spring, despite the fact that they are on the premises.
The scenario of Shrovetide on the street is thought out in allsettlements. And even in many large cities in the central squares, fairs are organized, pancakes and donuts are sold, a stuffed animal is installed.
Hundreds of citizens come to the square in order to say goodbye to the winter. Traditional games and contests, folk fun, a lot of fun - even the dull weather can not spoil the mood of anyone!
People take great pleasure in participating ina variety of competitions, competing in their skills, singing songs and defiantly dancing. The festive atmosphere charges everyone with special energy and positive emotions.
Maslenitsa, mass celebrations, games and tea drinking withpancakes are fun and vibrant Russian traditions. At organized performances in many villages and cities often come out as joker and jesters. They entertain those present, make them run, jump and have fun. As a result, people do not notice either cold or fatigue. They simply participate in traditional Shrovetide contests and fun, enjoy the performance of jesters, laugh heartily.
For example, joker can organize battles with wet pillows on a log, tug-of-war, lifting weights, conquering ice pillars, and even throwing brooms at each other.
They give small ones to the most active participants.rewards in the form of any souvenirs, traditional pancakes, gingerbread, etc. By the way, you can also hang presents on the ice pole. Participants with pleasure and great zeal will rise behind them. With prizes down to the ground, of course, only the most agile and strong.
There is another contest organized by jesters.Those present at the festivities can, for example, compete in eating pancakes with sour cream for speed. However, similar fun entertainment applies to other dishes. It can be pies, and rolls, and a variety of drinks.
In short, if you want tohave fun - pay your attention to such a wonderful holiday as Maslenitsa. Scenarios of street festivals often include more carnival processions.
They begin, as a rule, immediately afterspeeches of jesters, folk artists, competitions, a variety of other surprises prepared for residents of a particular locality and its guests.
In the carnival procession involved a largenumber of people. They wear a variety of costumes, sing songs, dance and have fun. For the entourage during the carnival procession stilts or sleds are often used. The procession stops near the regular points of sale of pancakes, pies, other goodies and hot tea.
At the end of Shrovetide festivities you canto see a fire show, a performance by famous performers and, of course, the burning of a stuffed animal named Maslenitsa. Carry it in front of him to the very end of the carnival procession.
Shrovetide on the street in most populatedpoints passes by all traditions. The effigy is burned at the very least. At the same time, all those present applauded vigorously, and, of course, safety and firefighters are responsible for safety.
The effigy burns very brightly and quickly. This is a symbol of the arrival of spring. Accordingly, the cold will freeze the residents of villages and cities no longer. Neither snow nor ice scare them.
Вокруг чучела перед его поджиганием также a lot of sites are being developed with a variety of entertainment for the people present. Here you can relax, have a snack, drink tea, just talked with those who came to the feast. All those present will dance with great pleasure in front of a huge bonfire, hand in hand, lead round dances, sing songs intended to attract spring.
Одним словом, Масленица – это море веселья, joyful laughter, warm smiles! Popular festivities lasting the whole week make it possible to relax perfectly, to distract from the gray working weekdays. Well, the anticipation of the coming spring even more uplifting the people around you!
