What is the name of the week following Shrovetide. Maslenitsa week: traditions and rituals of every day. Congratulations on the holiday, pictures, cards

Maslenitsa is the most fun and satisfying holiday of the year. When during the week people indulge in festivities and gorge themselves on delicious pancakes. Shrovetide is celebrated a week, from Monday to Sunday, where the last Sunday is Forgiveness Resurrection, when all loved ones are asked for forgiveness.

In 2020, Maslenitsa fell on March 1, that is, the celebrations will begin on February 24. Further in the article, we will tell you from where Maslenitsa came to us, how the holiday itself is held every day, and also do not forget to mention delicious and beautiful recipes.

History

Maslenitsa originates in the distant March 1, or March 23 - until the 15th century. Shrovetide - This is a holiday of seeing off winter and anticipation of the imminent approach of spring. She is always rich in pancakes, which personified the round disk of the sun in the sky. Indeed, at that time the Slavs were pagans and worshiped the sun god Yarila. Shrovetide was constantly oppressed by the Orthodox Church, which prohibited this type of holiday.

And only some time later, with the changes made to the holiday, the Orthodox Church recognized the holiday, declaring its true purpose in preparation for a serious and important fast before Easter.

In the Orthodox calendar, Maslenitsa is known by another name, Cheese Seed. Seventh is the week during which an Orthodox person prepares for Great Lent. On one of these days, the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian is read, and on Saturday there is a commemoration of the venerable church fathers.

Traditions

Pancakes are undoubtedly the main tradition of Maslenitsa. Pancakes are baked all seven days, overeating on them as much as you like.

During the week, you can eat fish, cottage cheese, eggs and pancakes, but you should give up meat on the eve of Lent.

Mass festivities take place with huge stuffed animals, feasts, fairs where people walk, have fun and do not think about anything.

On the last 7th day of Maslenitsa (Sunday), it is customary to ask your loved ones for forgiveness. And not only among loved ones, but even among those who have already died. To do this, people went to the cemetery and asked forgiveness from their dead relatives or friends. We know this Sunday as Forgiveness Sunday.

Rituals

An obligatory ritual for Maslenitsa was noisy festivities, in which young guys and girls looked closely at each other in order to start a family in the future.

Fortune telling on warm water, burning a stuffed animal on the last day of Maslenitsa Sunday, all these are unchanging rituals that go on from year to year.

Often on Maslenitsa, it was customary to arrange a bride show, which promised a rich and prosperous family life in the future.

How is the holiday going?

Shrovetide is divided into two periods: Narrow and Wide Shrovetide. In the first period of Maslenitsa, it was still allowed to work, but after that it was no longer.

First day - Meeting

In the morning, guests were expected in each hut. The daughter-in-law came to visit her parents, just like the parents, only in the evening, went to visit her house. Usually they were treated to pancakes, and also baked pancakes, which were given to the poor so that they could remember their deceased loved ones.

Second day - Flirting

On such a day, relatives and friends came to visit each other, and the bride's bridegroom was also arranged.

Third day - Gourmands

The son-in-law came to his mother-in-law's house for pancakes, where the mother-in-law had to set a rich table in order to show her respectful disposition towards him.

Day Four - Broad Start

An effigy of Maslenitsa is installed on the main square, near which folk festivals take place. Fist fights, ritual jumping over fires, tug-of-war, dancing, dancing are arranged. The noise of the celebration usually lasts until late at night.

By the way, on Thursday evening, people walked around the huts and caroling, singing songs, wishing well-being to the families in whose house they were.

Fifth day - Mother-in-law's evening

Now the son-in-law is inviting his mother-in-law to visit, treating her with all kinds of delicacies, and in particular pancakes. This expressed respect for the mother of his wife, including his wife.

Sixth day - Cousin's gatherings

Her husband's sisters and other relatives were invited to visit. The daughter-in-law presented gifts to her sister-in-law, expressing her favor to her.

Seventh day - Forgiveness Sunday

On such a day, relatives asked for forgiveness from each other, and in the evening from the dead. They went to the cemetery with pancakes and bowed to their deceased loved ones, asking for forgiveness for past offenses.

In the evening, a scarecrow was popularly burned, and its ashes scattered over the fields.

Shrovetide makeup

Shrovetide makeup suggests a more natural look. You can use a little mascara, but don't use eyeshadow and pencil. You can also tint your lips in a bright shade of lipstick or colorless, and apply blush on your cheekbones.

By the way, your hair may have a loose look, but it is better to tie it in one or two braids, as previously worn by Slavic girls.

Shrovetide outfit

You need to create an appropriate image in the spirit of Russian outfits. To do this, you need a bright shawl with which you will wrap your head, as it should be for a Slavic girl.

By the way, the shawl can be worn on the shoulders, wrapped in it with your hands.

Shrovetide dress should be with traditional ornament, which symbolizes the sun or other types of amulets of the ancient Slavs. These dresses usually have beautiful, vibrant colors. Basically it is white and red, but there are also blue and multi-colored dresses. The most important thing is not the color of the dress itself, but its ornament.

For shoes, you can use any red pumps, but preferably with medium or low heels (for an indoor party)

But if you are in character, then you will need exactly the kind of shoes that were worn by Slavic girls.

But for the street, when the festival takes place directly next to the scarecrow, choose red boots.

Congratulations on Maslenitsa

On the fourth day of Maslenitsa - Broad Thursday, it is customary to go home and sing carols or songs. In this case, the guests are served with pancakes, and in return they wish the home and family well-being.

Greeting Cards

Poems

Great Pancake and Drink Recipes

Rainbow pancakes

You'll need:

• Flour - 3 cups.
• Milk - 200 ml.
• Kefir 0% fat - 200 ml.
• Eggs - 3 pcs.
• Sugar - 3 tablespoons
• Butter - ¼ cup.
• Baking soda - 1 teaspoon
• Salt - ½ teaspoon.
• Food coloring in different colors.

Baking:

In a bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt and baking powder, then beat eggs. Add kefir, milk and butter to the eggs, which should be melted. Combine the first and three and mix well. Divide the dough into 8 parts and paint each piece with food coloring in different colors. We bake pancakes. For taste, it is worth serving a dish with honey or berries

Pancakes with red caviar

You'll need:

• Flour 200 gr.
• Salt (pinch)
• Sugar 2 tsp
• Egg 2 pcs.
• Milk 0.5 l.
• Butter 200 g.
• Processed hard cheese 300 gr.
• Dill.
• Garlic 1 clove.
• Sour cream (25%) 150 gr.
• Red caviar 100 gr.
• Salt pepper.

Baking:

Add egg and 1/3 milk to flour sifted with salt and sugar. Mix everything well. Add 1 tablespoon of some cooled melted butter. Dilute the dough with the remaining milk, gradually pouring it into the flour and stirring well. We bake pancakes.

Three cheese on a fine grater, add chopped dill and garlic (it is advisable to pass them through a press). We mix everything well, salt and pepper to taste. Distribute the filling over the pancakes and add red caviar on top.

Banana pancakes

You'll need:

• 6 eggs.
• 3 bananas.
• 200 gr. walnuts.

Cooking method:

Break the eggs and beat together with the peeled bananas with a blender. Then we start frying over low heat and with a minimum amount of oil. Try to flip the pancake itself often so that it does not burn when frying. When the pancakes are done, sprinkle with chopped walnuts. You can also serve these pancakes with honey, banana, jam, or natural yogurt.

Grog drink

Often, special hot drinks are prepared for Shrovetide, such as grog. Traditionally, grog is prepared with the addition of rum, but for the female half, you can easily use red, strong wine in this type of drink.

You'll need:

• Black tea without additives (large leaf)
• Sugar (to taste)
• Strong red wine 0.5 l.
• Spices - dried cloves, nutmeg (ground), star anise, allspice peas.

How to cook:

We brew tea in a teapot, we need 0.5 liters of ready-made tea. Drain the tea without leaves into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add spices to taste, including sugar, and add 0.5 liter wine. We boil over low heat. If you want to do more, then follow the rule that tea and alcohol go 1: 1. Grog is drunk from a mulled wine glass (irish glass) and decorated with a slice of orange, lemon or dried fruit.

Preparing for Lent and looking forward to Maslenitsa? It's time to find out where this wonderful holiday came to us from, celebrating which you can eat and walk for your pleasure before the fast days. Find out why the Maslenitsa dates are changing? Where do the roots of the pancake holiday grow from? How did the tradition of baking pancakes come about? What are the days of the week called? What does each of them mean? Read the history and description of the holiday dearly beloved by the people. And celebrate it according to long-standing customs and traditions.

The history and traditions of Maslenitsa

Many Ukrainians know that pancakes are baked on Shrovetide. But if you dig a little deeper, people shrug their shoulders. The holiday itself is well-known, but what it means is not clear to everyone. So where did this interesting holiday come from? What are the signs?

The church calls the celebration of Maslenitsa Cheese Week. But here it is worth noting that the roots of this holiday go back to ancient times. It arose long before the adoption of Christianity by Kievan Rus. Let's turn to the history of its origin.

It is interesting that the ancient Slavic holiday, which is now called Maslenitsa, in the past was called Komoeditsa. This name comes from the word "Coma" - that is how the original bread was called. They were prepared mainly from oatmeal. It was also made from barley or pea flour, adding chopped nuts and dried berries to the dough.

Coma was consumed on the last day of Komoeditsa. The celebration lasted 2 weeks. The holiday came a week before the vernal equinox. And still lasted one week after it. Thus, people saw off the winter and welcomed the spring, warmth and sun.

That is why it was customary to bake pancakes during this period - they symbolize the sun. It is customary to serve them hot, generously pouring oil. This has a certain meaning and meaning: as butter melts on pancakes, so do the snowdrifts melt in the sun.

Despite the pagan and everyday roots, the last week before Lent is associated with Shrovetide. This is why the holiday date is floating. Shrovetide week is determined depending on when Easter comes.

After the adoption of Christianity in Russia, the people began to observe Maslenitsa on days of the week. Each of them has its own meaning and means something. Find out what the Maslenitsa dates will be for 2019? What do the names mean by day? When can you go for a walk and have fun, when can you arrange parties, gatherings? On which day do you need to get married, on which day to visit the matchmakers, and on which day - to the mother-in-law? Prepare to celebrate these days according to long-standing tradition!

Schedule of Maslenitsa celebration by day

In 2019, Maslenitsa begins on Monday 4th March and ends on Sunday 10th, that is, lasts a week. Find out what customs, besides eating pancakes, are known in the history of the holiday for each day?

Here is what the days of the week mean, depending on what is customary to do day after day before fasting in a certain sequence:

• Day one - Monday - is called "Meeting". Do not skimp on food this day. Remember to cut meat out of your diet throughout the week. But you can be content with fish, pancakes, pies and pancakes! These dishes should definitely be on your table. Bake them, treat the poor, go to visit and invite friends to your place.

This is why the first day is called Meeting. Do not forget that on this day it is imperative to visit the matchmakers - such a custom. Do not be stingy, be generous, share pancakes and treat from the heart!

In addition to pancakes, on the first day of Maslenitsa, it is customary to start making a stuffed animal. It is necessary to collect all the old clothes (before the children went around the yards, collecting them) and set fire to a mountain of things - such a fire was called "butter dish". The event was accompanied by roller coaster rides, fun and amusements.

• The second day - Tuesday - is called "Flirting". Fun and fun should be forgotten. In its name, the second day implies flirting, and this is nothing more than matchmaking. Grooms can safely go to dinner, where pancakes, pies and pancakes are waiting for them. There is a belief: if the matchmaking takes place on Tuesday at Maslenitsa, then the union will be the strongest!
• Day three - Wednesday - "Lakomka". This day is associated with mother-in-law's pancakes. The son-in-law must visit on Wednesday to taste the mother-in-law's treat. And the table should be bursting with food, demonstrating to the husband's daughter his wealth and affection for him. On this day, not only the son-in-law goes to visit. What's interesting: it is customary to invite other people to stay with everyone in peace and harmony.
• Day four - Thursday - "Revelry". According to the name, this day is celebrated on a special scale - it is full of fun, fun, joy and laughter. Earlier, at the peak of the celebration, Ukraine celebrated Maslenitsa on a particularly large scale. And even the work was canceled.

People kindled fires, jumped over them, even though the day was windy. They also danced in circles, sang songs, danced. All kinds of delicacies were treated not only to relatives and friends, but also to neighbors and even bystanders. And it's okay if the festivities last all night.

• Day five - Friday - "Mother-in-law's evening". After the mother-in-law's pancakes ate on Wednesday, a return visit was scheduled. The wife's mother came to visit her son-in-law for his treats. The table should also burst with food, because it was believed that the richer he is, the more respect the son-in-law shows to his beloved mother-in-law. In no case should you sit at home. You need to go on a visit, invite guests to your house. Celebrate merrily with friends and relatives.
• The sixth day - Saturday - "Sister-wife's gatherings" are celebrated. The penultimate day of Maslenitsa is the most modest. Forget about festivities and fun! On the eve of fasting, it is customary to go to church to pray and be cleansed from sins. And the daughters-in-law invite their sister-in-law. They celebrate this day in the husband's house, guess fortune, predict the future.
• Day Seven - Forgiveness Sunday or "Seeing Off". The last thing people should do on Shrovetide is to ask each other for forgiveness for the wrongs. It is on the forgiven day that the Maslenitsa effigy is burned. If food remained, it was thrown away or burned along with the effigy. And they began to prepare for fasting and church service.

You can't do without Shrovetide and congratulations. They can be in poetry or prose, postcards or animated pictures.

Congratulations on the holiday, pictures, cards

Choose congratulations that you like. Let your life and your family be as warm and sweet as pancakes on Shrovetide!

Congratulations on leaving winter! Delicious pancakes and sweet life! Let the hearts be open to the coming spring happiness!

Spring sunshine, warmth and good mood! Let the freshly baked pancakes be delicious and sweet! Kindness and light in your home, happiness and sincere smiles! Not to know grief, sadness, but at the right moment to receive the support of family and friends!

Bright spring and vivid impressions! Let everything in life be smooth: it goes like clockwork! Let the resentment and anxiety melt, and the heart will be filled with warmth, love and inspiration! I wish fate to protect from troubles and troubles, happiness, good luck and crispy delicious pancakes!

I wish you warmth and so that spring comes soon! Hospitality, joyful faces in the house, happiness and luck! A generous table, a supply of happiness for the whole year!

Tired of winter? Let's say goodbye to snow and cold, we will gain strength in the spring. May the days be sunny and warm. And the soul will sparkle with all the colors of the rainbow. Wonderful mood, spring in the heart, bright fun!

Let you, dear readers, also let Shrovetide into your house! Bake a mountain of pancakes and invite your guests! Let the children cook crafts with their own hands. Take a souvenir photo, celebrate the holiday with fun, open the doors to wealth!

According to the Orthodox calendar, believers observe fasts and holidays every year. The calendar itself is constantly moving by dates, according to the bright holiday of Easter. In this connection, in 2020 Maslenitsa will begin on February 24, and the holiday will fall on March 1. How Maslenitsa was celebrated in Russia, and how it is celebrated in modern Russia, we read further.

Every year in the Slavic countries, a delicious Maslenitsa holiday is celebrated. The history of the holiday is deeply rooted in the past. Shrovetide has survived to this day, but at the same time it has transformed into a modern being and people's life. Nobody will remember the original meaning of the holiday, but now it's the farewell to winter. On Shrovetide, it is customary to lead round dances, bake pancakes, and at the end of the celebration burn a scarecrow. Connections with what people have questions, when is the farewell to winter, what date is Maslenitsa. We will talk about this further.

Shrovetide history

As we know from history, Shrovetide is a pagan holiday and was timed to coincide with the spring equinox, the beginning of the new year. The holiday survived after the baptism of Rus in the 10th century. For the church, finding a pagan holiday was unacceptable and she tried in every way to prohibit it. But in order not to face serious resistance during baptism, the church did not prohibit such holidays, but tried to limit the celebration.

Maslenitsa is an East Slavic traditional holiday celebrated during the week before Lent, which has preserved in its ritual a number of elements of Slavic mythology. ""

The spring holiday "Maslenitsa" will come very soon, but where are the pancakes? We have selected delicious recipes for you.

Maslenitsa gave the peasants an opportunity to take a break from the long winter. In this connection, there was a kind of compromise that the church had to make at the turn of the 17th-18th centuries. The church was able to reduce the holiday from two weeks to one and find a place on the calendar.

So Shrovetide week became "inscribed" in the church calendar and is called "Cheese week". When it was allowed to eat dairy products and cheese, hence the name of the week. This week is the last week before Great Lent and the bright holiday of Easter. It is worth remembering that Shrovetide always starts 8 weeks before Easter.

On Shrovetide, it is customary to lead round dances, bake pancakes, and at the end of the celebration burn a scarecrow.

Maslenitsa is still a favorite national holiday. On these spring days, our contemporaries happily bake and eat pancakes, arrange festivities, go to their mother-in-law for pancakes, ask for forgiveness and look forward to the onset of a warm, life-affirming spring.

Shrovetide week days

Many of you know that Shrovetide goes on during the week and every day means something. Every day in Shrovetide week has its own "name":

Monday, the first day of Shrovetide (24 February 2020) - "A meeting". Based on the name, one can understand - they met Maslenitsa. On this day, they began to bake pancakes, of which the first was given to the beggar or left on the window to commemorate the dead. There was an active preparation for the festivities - ice slides, swings, benches, tents for the fair. And, of course, the installation of the scarecrow took place today.

Tuesday, the second day of Maslenitsa (25 February 2020) - "Flirting". It is called that way because the young went out into the street and looked after their soul mate, and then wooed. People started to be active - to ride on sleds from slides and carousels. The buffoons entertained the village. Everyone called to visit them for pancakes.

Wednesday, third day of Maslenitsa (February 26, 2020) - "Gourmet". On Wednesday, according to custom, the sons-in-law came to visit the mother-in-law, who was supposed to feed them plenty of pancakes and please. The table was full of all sorts of sauces, preserves, jams and other things. Residents on this day fervently sang cheerful songs and danced.

Thursday, the fourth day of Maslenitsa (February 27, 2020) - "Revelry". Middle of Shrovetide. All were finishing their business. And the festivities did not stop until late at night. This day was famous for fist fights and wall-to-wall games. So the men boasted of their strength and strength.

Friday, the fifth day of Maslenitsa (28 February 2020) - "Mother-in-law's evening". On Friday, on the contrary, the sons-in-law invited their mother-in-law for pancakes. With such a gesture, he shows her his respect and sympathy. The bride's mother did not come alone, but with her friends or with relatives. Everyone is happy and merry, because hot days will finally come.

Saturday, the sixth day of Maslenitsa (February 29, 2020) - "Cousin's gatherings". Today the young bride invited her husband's sister to her house for a meal. Also, many girlfriends came, and "pancake" bachelorette parties were arranged.

Sunday, the last day of Maslenitsa (March 1, 2020) - "Seeing off Maslenitsa". Forgiveness Sunday falls at the end of the holiday. Everyone apologizes to each other for old grudges. And they see off the winter by burning a straw effigy. They gorge themselves on pancakes, pancakes, because tomorrow is Great Lent.

How is Maslenitsa celebrated in modern Russia?

In modern villages and cities on Shrovetide, there are mass festivities. Costumed characters in the form of buffoons and parsley amuse people, adults and children participate in games and contests, enjoy pancakes and sweets, rejoice and frolic in the open air.

Folk celebrations take place in parks, national museums and central city squares. People have fun from the heart: theatrical performances, round dances, songs and dances can be found at every step. And how many varieties of delicious pancakes, bagels, pies and dumplings you can try! Do not count it! "Not living, but Maslenitsa", - said the people.

How to make a stuffed animal for Maslenitsa

On Sunday, during Shrovetide festivities, an effigy was burned in the city squares. This is how we saw off the winter and greeted spring, the symbolic new year. Together with the scarecrow, everything old and unnecessary burned down, and new and renewed ones came.

But we will tell you how to make a stuffed animal for Shrovetide with your own hands. For this we need the following items:

1. two wooden sticks - one long, the other smaller;
2. nails with a hammer;
3. rope;
4. old magazines, newspapers;
5. straw;
6. a headscarf and old clothes;
7. buttons;
8. pomade.

We make the torso. Sticks must be connected with a cross and nailed. So much so that the short one becomes a stuffed arm, and the long one becomes a body. Next, we rewind them with straw, and on top with a rope for greater strength.

Now the head. Crumple up old newspapers in a lump and wrap a handkerchief around it. You can sew an oval in the shape of a head from fabric and fill it with straw. Instead of eyes, we sew buttons, and paint the nose, mouth and blush with lipstick. We also tie the head to the body with ropes. We dress our creation in old clothes.

Important! It is necessary to burn the scarecrow in an open space, and keep the children under supervision.

What date is Maslenitsa in 2021, 2022, 2023

Lastly, do not forget to watch the good old cartoon "Oh, you Shrovetide!" Based on Hovhannes Tumanyan's fairy tale "Barekendan" - about a poor man who punished a rich man for his greed.

When you found out that Maslenitsa is in 2020: from February 24 to March 1, then do not forget to like it. Repost on social networks, so you can help others know when Maslenitsa is coming.

Maslenitsa is an interesting and beloved holiday that has come down to us from ancient times. It exists among both Slavic and most European peoples.
In folk culture, Maslenitsa week marks the transition from winter to the long-awaited spring, and marks the beginning of a new life cycle. In the Christian tradition, this period precedes Lent - at this time the Orthodox are no longer desirable to eat meat products, while dairy products are still allowed (hence the church name of the week - "Cheese week").

Shrovetide has long been considered a holiday of the sun. All this week in Russia it is customary to bake pancakes, which symbolize the luminary. It is customary to treat this ritual food with reverence and reverence - so, pancakes were never allowed to be cut or pierced. Pancakes were necessarily treated to both their loved ones and all the people they met, especially orphans, beggars and wanderers. According to popular beliefs, the more satisfying the pancake table will be, the more abundant and happier the coming year will be.

There were a great many pancake recipes. More often the dough was kneaded with yeast, milk and buckwheat flour - pancakes on this basis turned out to be the most lush and satisfying. Less common were the thin lacy wheat flour pancakes so popular today. The fillings in the Pancake Week were dense, but not meat - cottage cheese, sour cream, mushrooms, fatty fish, caviar. Pancakes with baking were considered a special delicacy - the filling was laid out on the prepared pancake, and on top it was poured with an additional layer of dough.

Any type of pancake is best baked in a well-roasted skillet, lightly oiled to avoid lumps. By the way, folklorists have a version that the well-known saying “the first pancake is lumpy” is not connected at all with the difficulties of cooking, but with another important Maslenitsa action. In some regions of Russia and Belarus, the custom of ritual feeding of bears that woke up after hibernation was recorded. The owner of the forest, whose real name was taboo (the Slavic names "bear" or "lump" served as euphemisms), were brought the first pancakes as a gift and a sign of respect. That is, in reality, the first pancake relied on comAm. Another interpretation of this proverb is associated with the tradition of eating the first pancakes in memory of deceased relatives. From the bitterness of the loss of loved ones, the pancakes got "a lump in the throat."

In addition to rituals associated with pancakes, Maslenitsa is famous for various festivities and amusements - sleigh rides, visits to guests, and, of course, the culminating burning of a scarecrow. Traditionally, all these actions had their own scenario and were timed to a specific day of the week.

Monday - "Meeting"... The beginning of the Narrow Maslenitsa, preparation for street festivities - filling the hills, making a stuffed Maslenitsa. Pancakes were eaten for the repose of loved ones and given to the "poor brethren." On this day, the father-in-law and mother-in-law let the daughter-in-law visit her father and mother, and in the evening they themselves came to the matchmakers.

Tuesday - "Flirt" - on this day there were youth street festivities, snow games, matchmaking, bride brides. All agreements on marriage had to be concluded before Great Lent, since weddings were not performed during Lent.

Wednesday - "Lakomka"... On "Lakomka" the sons-in-law went to visit their mother-in-law, bringing their family with them. It was a matter of honor to set a generous table and to feed the guests deliciously. It was believed that at “Lakomka” one should eat as many pancakes as possible.

Thursday - "Take a walk" opened the Wide Maslenitsa. All household work stopped, the most large-scale festivities began. Traditional entertainment - fist fights, taking snow towns, dressing up, carols, jumping over fires. The girls called out the spring, singing ritual songs.

Friday - "Mother-in-law's evening"... Mother-in-law, often with their girlfriends, came to visit the daughters' husbands for pancakes.

Saturday - "Cousin's Gatherings"... The daughters-in-law invited her husband's sisters to visit. On this day, the commemoration of the dead also took place, it was customary to go to the cemetery. Even domestic animals were treated to pancakes: "so that the cattle in the house would not be transferred."

On "Forgiveness Sunday" in churches a special church rite of forgiveness was performed - those who gathered asked each other for forgiveness for the offenses inflicted during the year, in order to enter the period of Great Lent with a pure heart. The culmination of the day is the festive farewell to Maslenitsa. At lunchtime, a pre-prepared straw scarecrow - a symbol of winter - was burned (in the southern provinces - it was buried). The remains of the festive feast were often sent to the fire. Ashes from the burnt scattered across the fields as a gift to Mother Earth. The more ash was collected, the more fertile the year was expected.

On the first day of Great Lent, Clean Monday, the final farewell to Maslenitsa took place. The whole family was steamed in a well-heated bath. The hostesses thoroughly swept the house, washed the dishes left over from Shrovetide from fat and crumbs.

Maslenitsa is an old and surprisingly well-preserved Russian holiday, which does not lose its popularity to this day. Its dates are different every year, as they depend on the time of Easter. In 2017, Maslenitsa is celebrated from 20 to 26 February.