Oil week in days. Maslenitsa week How to celebrate Maslenitsa in a year

Celebrating Maslenitsa is one of the most famous and beloved traditions by many. Nowadays, Maslenitsa week is a preparation for Lent, and also marks the end of winter and the welcome of the long-awaited spring.

Maslenitsa is an ancient Slavic holiday. This is the last week before Lent, in which people had the opportunity to eat their fill and celebrate the approach of warm, fine days. In the church, the holiday week is called Meat Empty and Cheese Week due to the ban on meat products and the abundance of cheese products on the table. During this period, people organize mass celebrations and entertainment, because according to beliefs dating back centuries, it is believed that fun will bring prosperity and joy to every home.

Maslenitsa in 2017

This year Maslenitsa falls from February 20 to 26. Her arrival varies from the beginning of Lent to Easter, the time of Jesus' resurrection. It is during this period that mass celebrations begin and pancakes are traditionally baked, a symbol of abundance and prosperity. Also, the pancake, in its shape and color, replicates the sun, so our ancestors believed that the delicacy drove away the cold and contributed to the rapid approach of spring.

During Maslenitsa week, the church calls on Orthodox Christians to devote more time to communicating with loved ones and doing good deeds. Good intentions and daily prayers help to cleanse yourself before Lent and enlist the support of Higher powers.

From February 20 to 26, all people remember the traditions of the ancient Slavs and follow them in order to honor the memory of their ancestors and encourage good luck and abundance. Farewell to winter is marked by burning an effigy, symbolizing the cold and long days without life-giving sunlight. The ritual is also dedicated to the expulsion of negativity, and fire is a symbol of purification and renewal. The ashes from the scarecrow were scattered across the fields so that the year would be rich in harvest. In ancient times, people took stale things out of their houses and got rid of unnecessary trash and damaged household items - all this was burned at the stake.

The last day of Maslenitsa, February 26, is called Forgiveness Sunday - at this time everyone has the opportunity to ask for forgiveness for their actions and forgive others. This ritual helps to free oneself from doubts weighing on the soul and enter the temple with a pure heart to pray to the glory of the Lord. On this day, it is customary to visit the cemetery and offer prayers for the souls of departed relatives.

Maslenitsa is one of the oldest holidays that has survived to this day. Many traditions that were honored by our ancestors are still observed today. We wish you a happy holiday week and a happy Easter. Be happy and don't forget to press the buttons and

06.02.2017 02:02

Maslenitsa is an ancient holiday dedicated to seeing off winter and welcoming the warmth of spring. For a long time his...

For our ancestors, saying goodbye to winter was not just a holiday, but also a way to get rid of life...

Maslenitsa is celebrated in 2017 with February 20 to February 26, and on the 27th the Orthodox Christians begin Lent.

Every year, a week before Lent, Maslenitsa is celebrated. It is believed that this holiday originated during the period of Kievan Rus. The exact date is unknown. But what is known for sure is that on Maslenitsa it is customary to eat pancakes, have a lot of fun and burn an effigy.

The holiday was so iconic that neither the advent of Christianity, nor wars and revolutions, nor even “communism” could cancel it. Moreover, most customs have come to us practically unchanged. They say that in ancient times there were two stuffed animals - Maslenik and Maslenitsa - symbols of certain deities, the embodiment of a man and a woman.

The celebration took place at the spring solstice and symbolized the arrival of the New Year. It is generally accepted that it was then that the saying “How you celebrate the New Year is how you spend it” was born. Most likely, this is the reason that the whole week was filled with a variety of fun and abundant food, symbolizing a prosperous life.

With the adoption of Christianity, this cultural heritage received a new name “Cheese Week” and became a kind of preparation for Lent. With the beginning of Maslenitsa, it is forbidden to eat meat other than fish, but dairy products are still allowed. The main dish is pancakes. The pancake symbolizes the sun. At this time of year we said goodbye to winter and welcomed spring.

Femininity of Maslenitsa

A special feature of the holiday is its certain “femininity”. This period was popularly called “Woman’s Week.” It was believed that women played the main role in most rituals. There were many engagements on Maslenitsa, and marriages were often concluded. Particular attention was paid to girlish innocence, motherhood, and female wisdom.

Procreation is an important element of Maslenitsa. The pagans greatly valued the idea of the circle of life. Mother Earth gave life to the food that fed man. In turn, a person is obliged to give life to another, continuing the race.

The holiday was also a memorial. The pagans were confident that their ancestors, whose soul was in the land of the dead, and whose body was in the earth, influenced the fertility of the latter. In order not to anger them, a sacrifice was carried out, which was accompanied by mourning crying and plentiful meals. All this was called a funeral feast.

Forgiveness Sunday

Maslenitsa ends with “Forgiveness Sunday.” It is customary on this day to ask for forgiveness from friends and relatives and to do good deeds.

Maslenitsa is not a church holiday. With the advent of Christianity, its sacred content practically disappeared, leaving us only with its external surroundings and gaiety.

The celebration of Maslenitsa came from Slavic pagan culture and survived after the adoption of Christianity. This is the oldest folk holiday of seeing off winter and welcoming spring.

Maslenitsa is one of the holidays that make up the moving part of the calendar. The beginning of Maslenaya Week depends on the date of the main Christian holiday - Easter. According to Orthodox Easter, the celebration of Maslenitsa begins 56 days before Easter.

Maslenitsa, Maslenitsa Week is the colloquial name for Cheese Week, the last week before Lent. In the Christian sense, it is dedicated to one goal - reconciliation with neighbors, forgiveness of offenses, preparation for the repentant path to God. During Maslenitsa, Orthodox Christians, according to church regulations, do not eat meat, but eat fish and dairy products.

Maslenitsa was first mentioned in the 16th century

Maslenitsa is a traditionally significant folk event; it has evolved over centuries and is a complex, multifaceted, regulated ritual with a large number of magical components. The most important ritual elements were memorial rites associated with the remembrance of deceased parents and relatives. In addition, the celebration traditions are associated with newlyweds, Maslenitsa entertainment and farewell to Maslenitsa.

Maslenitsa has long been a national holiday that did not have any age, social, family or gender restrictions. Non-participation in the holiday could be justified only by a person’s injury, weakness or illness. She was joyfully greeted by both the population of the rural outskirts and the residents of the capital, large provincial and small district cities of Russia.

Little Maslenitsa

We started preparing for Maslenitsa from the middle of the previous week. At this time, the housewives cleaned all corners of the house - from the attic to the cellar: they refinished the whitewash of the stoves, scraped tables, benches and floors, prepared holiday dishes for use, swept out garbage from the yard and in front of the gate. They bought a large number of products for the holiday: different types of flour for pancakes, baked goods and pies, salted fish, gingerbread cookies, sweets and nuts for children, collected milk, cream, sour cream and cow butter.

The Saturday before Maslenitsa was called “little Maslenitsa.” On this day it was customary to remember deceased parents. A special treat was baked for them - pancakes - and placed on the shrine, dormer window or roof, left on the graves in the cemetery, and distributed to the poor in churches.

Maslenitsa week

Maslenitsa celebrations began on Monday of the following week. For the entire Russian population, the coming seven days were the most fun and favorite time of the year. Each of them had its own name: Monday - “meeting”; Tuesday - “flirts”; Wednesday - “gourmet”; Thursday - “revelry”, “turning point”, “wide Thursday”; Friday - "mother-in-law's evening"; Saturday - “sister-in-law’s get-togethers”; Sunday - “seeing off”, “forgiveness”, “forgiveness day”.

The most important were the last four days of the holiday, called “broad” or “rambunctious Maslenitsa”. Before them, they washed themselves in the bathhouse to “cleanse” themselves from the hardships and misfortunes of the past year. People stopped working in their homes all the time and started visiting relatives and friends.

Pancakes - a pagan symbol of the sun

On Maslenitsa, rich, hearty tables were set with flour and dairy foods, as well as eggs, fish dishes, pies, kvass, and beer. The festive meal necessarily included pancakes - a pagan symbol of the sun and an obligatory attribute of funerals.

These days, class, property, and official differences weakened. Unknown people, wanderers, and beggars could be invited to the table. Relatives visiting each other for pancakes brought them closer together and provided a convenient reason to forget the grievances and discontent that had accumulated over the year.

Maslenitsa was marked by the performance of a large number of rituals associated with honoring young spouses who got married this year. They were rolled in the snow, rolled down the mountains on frozen animal skins and sleds, and placed on overturned harrows.

Everywhere, the main holiday activity was sliding down slides - on sleighs, pet skins, overturned benches, icy troughs and sieves. In the north and in the Volga villages, parallel poles were laid on elevated places during Maslenitsa week for young people to ride in pairs. Also, smartly dressed youth rode horses, moving from village to village with noise, songs and playing the harmonica. The horses were decorated with ribbons, flowers and ringing bells.

Farewell to Maslenitsa

On the last day of the week, Maslenitsa was celebrated in the provinces of Russia. In some areas the ritual took the form of burning a Maslenitsa effigy, in others - in the form of a funeral.

In the northern, central and Volga provinces, Maslenitsa was burned on a special bonfire on the last day of the holiday. The participants of the Maslenitsa train brought the symbol of the holiday or brought it impaled on a pole immediately after the festivities and going around the village, closer to dusk. At the same time, everyone accompanying them sang loudly, laughed and shouted. Participants in the procession often dressed themselves in straw caps and caftans, which were also later thrown into the fire. Maslenitsa could have various incarnations - in the form of a straw or wooden doll; a sheaf with a painted face placed on a pole; a pine or spruce branch decorated with ribbons, scarves and bells.

The entire population of a given village or hamlet necessarily took part in the burning of the Maslenitsa doll, but the main performer of the ritual was the youth.

Maslenitsa today

Although by the 19th - early 20th centuries most of the rituals had lost their ritual significance and began to be of an entertaining nature, Maslenitsa still symbolizes the turn of winter and spring, a well-fed, cheerful life during Maslenitsa week and asceticism, fasting and repentance of Lent.

The last Sunday before the start of Lent is called Forgiveness Sunday. On this day, after the evening service, a special rite of forgiveness is performed in churches, when clergy and parishioners mutually ask each other for forgiveness in order to enter Lent with a pure soul, reconciled with all their neighbors.

In South Ossetia

The traditions of Russian Maslenitsa and Lauyzganenta in South Ossetia are significantly different. This is also an ancient custom, but the main difference is that in Ossetia it is not so much a holiday as a memorial day for the dead. They occur during Lent - on its second, third and fourth Fridays. These days, Ossetians also bake pancakes (lauyzta), but lean ones - only from flour, water and sourdough. They are usually served with garlic sauce, to which crushed walnuts and salt are added. Such pancakes, together with sweet boiled wheat or corn, are the main dishes of the funeral table.

Maslenitsa is certainly one of the most fun and favorite holidays of the year. It is celebrated on the eve of strict Lent, which is probably why Maslenitsa week is spent so much fun. In 2017, Maslenitsa begins to be celebrated on February 20 and ends on February 27. For a whole week people bake pancakes, invite each other over and have fun. It is very important to have a fun Maslenitsa and then start fasting.

Big and Small Maslenitsa

Maslenitsa week is divided into two parts:

Small Maslenitsa is celebrated on the first three days of the week. In 2017 it is February 20, 21 and 22. These days, people were not too distracted from their usual affairs, but pancakes were served on the table every day. It was always customary to give the first pancake baked during Maslenitsa week to the poor.
Big Maslenitsa - February 23, 24, 25 and 26, 2017. Its other name is Razgul. It is on Thursday that the most fun time of Maslenitsa week begins. All household and household work was put aside and the celebration began. These days included sledding, fist fights, various agility competitions, and jumping over a fire. Tables were set on the streets, where everyone brought something from the treats.

Throughout Maslenitsa week, children caroled, sang traditional songs and begged for treats.

Maslenitsa week by day

It is accepted that:

February 20th. Monday. This first day of Maslenitsa week is called “Meeting”. It is on Monday that the effigy is made, which will subsequently be burned. This was usually done by children, who then carried the stuffed animal throughout the village and left it on the hill, from where they began sledding. Adults also rode, and there is an interesting sign - whoever skates the furthest will have an excellent flax harvest next year. The first pancake baked on Monday must be given to the poor or taken to the cemetery.
February 21. Tuesday. The day is symbolically called “Zigrysh” and is intended for visiting. Relatives, friends, acquaintances - everyone had to be received and fed pancakes. Young guys look for brides on this day. This day is considered a great day for newlyweds.
February 22. Wednesday. On this day, housewives begin to bake pancakes at full speed and demonstrate their skills to the owl. The day is called “Gourmand”; pancakes with all kinds of fillings and additives are served on the table. On Wednesday it is customary to go to your mother-in-law's for pancakes.
February 23. Thursday. This day goes by several names - “Run out”, “Fat Thursday”, “Wide Thursday”. On this day they remember the scarecrow that stands on the hill. All the people gather around him, everyone is dancing and having fun. By the way, in the villages on this day even domestic animals were fed pancakes.
24 February. Friday. This day is especially important for young families. The very name “Mother-in-law’s Evening” suggests that the mother-in-law should be honored on this day. A young family or a separate spouse should go to their mother-in-law and invite her to visit them. A personal invitation from the son-in-law is a must, otherwise it may offend the mother-in-law.
25 February. Saturday. Visiting guests, fun and festivities continue. On this day, the youngest daughter-in-law invites her relatives to her place; it’s not for nothing that the day is called “Sister-in-law’s Evening.” The effigy can be burned on Saturday, but you need to dance around the fire. have fun, dance in circles. The noisier and brighter you spend the winter, the better next year will be.
February 26. Sunday. This is the so-called Forgiveness Sunday, when it is customary to ask each other for forgiveness for all the offenses caused. Despite the fact that this day is considered the culmination of the holiday and everyone continues to walk and have fun, on Sunday they already think about Lent, which begins the next day.

Maslenitsa is widely celebrated throughout Russia. This holiday reflects age-old traditions, carefully preserved and passed on from generation to generation. Every day of Maslenitsa week is filled with a unique meaning.

Maslenitsa is not only the week before Lent and the upcoming Easter. Traditionally, it is the turning point of winter, when people, tired of the cold, finally welcome the imminent approach of spring and rejoice at the approaching warm and fine days. Maslenitsa in 2017 will begin on February 20 and end on the 26th with Forgiveness Sunday and subsequent strict fasting until the onset of Easter.

Orthodox people, despite the upcoming fast, try to observe centuries-old traditions, while not forgetting about restrictions on celebrations and daily prayers. Meat week, which prohibits the consumption of meat, provides an opportunity to eat plenty before being strict, so the favorite Russian pancakes are served with all sorts of fillings: fish, cabbage, honey.

Monday. Meeting.

Maslenitsa opens on the first day of the week. On Monday, housewives baked pancakes. The first pancake was traditionally given to the poor so that they could pray for the souls of deceased relatives, or left on the doorstep as a tribute to their ancestors. On this day, they always made a straw effigy of Maslenitsa and dressed it up in old clothes, thereby getting rid of unnecessary negativity in the house. Relatives visited each other and enjoyed pancakes, celebrating the opening of Maslenitsa week.

Tuesday. Flirting.

Tuesday has traditionally been a day of festivities, games and fun. On this day, young people visited each other, ate pancakes and sledded down the icy mountains. Buffoons walked the streets, entertaining people and enjoying the generous alms of housewives. Flirting was the day of matchmaking, when parents looked closely at future relatives and began to joke about the upcoming celebration. Guests were traditionally greeted with pancakes and wine, and then everyone went to mass celebrations. The young people secretly looked at each other, the grooms chose their brides, and the girls looked at their future husbands and secretly wondered which of them would be the first to send matchmakers.

Wednesday. Gourmand.

On Wednesday, according to tradition, sons-in-law went to visit their mothers-in-law for pancakes. In those days there could be several of them, so the houses were celebrated in a big way, the tables were laden with treats. In the evenings they praised all the mothers-in-law and sang songs of praise to them and acted out funny scenes with dressing up. Comical performances continued until late at night. At this time, women and girls got together, rode sleighs around the villages and also sang funny songs and ditties.

Thursday. Revelry.

Since Thursday, the festivities have become massive, and entire villages of people rode through the streets. At this time, fist fights and wall-to-wall games took place, where young people showed off their prowess and standing, showing off in front of girls and brides. Children went home and caroled to cheerful songs. Adults willingly treated them to delicacies and conveyed greetings and bows to their parents.

Friday. Mother-in-law Vespers.

On Friday, sons-in-law invited their wives' mothers to visit them and returned their hospitality and hospitality a hundredfold. The rich organized honorary evenings, when not only the mother-in-law, but also all her relatives. Family gatherings strengthened relationships between relatives, and general fun reminded of the imminent approach of the long-awaited spring and warmth.

Saturday. Sister-in-law's get-togethers.

The daughter-in-law honoredly invited her husband's relatives to the house. If sisters-in-law, sisters of husbands, were unmarried, the daughter-in-law invited her unmarried friends to common gatherings. Married relatives were invited to visit married sisters-in-law. In this case, the sleigh was coupled with a steam locomotive and the daughter-in-law transported her relatives to her sisters-in-law. The newlywed, according to custom, prepared gifts for her sisters-in-law and presented each one with gifts.

Sunday. Forgiveness day.

Forgiveness Sunday ends the Maslenitsa week. At this time, relatives went to visit each other and asked for forgiveness. Also on this day, people visited cemeteries and paid tribute to their deceased relatives. On Sunday, they burned an effigy of Maslenitsa, danced around the fire, and the bravest ones jumped over it and made a wish. The farewell to winter was ending. The people were in no hurry to go home and lit high, hot fires to melt the remaining snow and quickly invite the beautiful spring to visit. Unnecessary and broken things were put into the fire. On this day, all old grievances and conflicts were forgotten. The old people smiled and said: “Whoever remembers the old, look out.”

Maslenitsa has always been celebrated on a grand scale. And don't skimp on the joy this fun week in 2017. Leave all the hardships of winter and enter a new period of life refreshed. We wish you happiness, and do not forget to press the buttons and

13.02.2017 03:05

For our ancestors, saying goodbye to winter was not just a holiday, but also a way to get rid of life...