What date is Maslenitsa celebrated? Maslenitsa week: traditions and rituals of every day. Saturday - “Sister-in-Law’s Gatherings”
Annually on the last Saturday of March environmental action is being carried out all over the world" Earth Hour", organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).The meaning of the action is in voluntary refusal to consume electrical energy for one hour. Thus, society realizes the importance of taking measures to reduce the negative impact of human activity on the environment.
This great idea was first implemented in Sydney, Australia in 2007. Then about two million residents of the metropolis took part in the action, and energy savings amounted to about 10%.
Inspired by the example, more and more cities began to join the Earth Hour campaign every year. It is expected that in 2020, residents of more than 7 thousand settlements on our planet (more than 2 billion people) will take part in a voluntary power outage for 1 hour. Of course, among the countries participating in the action is Russia.
What date and time does the Earth Hour 2020 campaign take place:
As we wrote above, the event is held annually on the last Saturday of March, with the exception of those years when the last Saturday in March precedes Easter.This year's Earth Hour is scheduled for Saturday. March 28, 2020. The promotion will begin at 20:30 local time and will last for an hour, until 21:30.
That is, the Earth Hour 2020 campaign - what date is it held and at what time:
* Date: March 28, 2020
* from 20:30 to 21:30 local time.
The whole week is divided into two periods: Narrow Maslenitsa And Wide Maslenitsa. Narrow Maslenitsa is the first three days: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Wide Maslenitsa is the last four days: Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. In the first three days, it was possible to do household work, and from Thursday all work stopped, and Broad Maslenitsa began. Among the people, every day of Maslenitsa has its own name.
Monday - meeting
The beginning of Narrow Maslenitsa. In the morning, the father-in-law and mother-in-law sent the daughter-in-law to her father and mother for the day, and in the evening they themselves came to visit the matchmakers. The time and place of the festivities were discussed, and the composition of the guests was determined. Snowy mountains, swings, and booths were completed for this day. They started baking pancakes. The first pancake was given to the poor to commemorate the dead. On Monday, a scarecrow of Maslenitsa was built from straw, old clothes and other improvised materials, which was impaled on a stake and carried in a sleigh through the streets.
Tuesday - flirt
On this day, bride viewings took place. All Maslenitsa rituals, in essence, boiled down to matchmaking, in order to have a wedding after Lent, on Krasnaya Gorka. In the morning, young people were invited to ride from the mountains and eat pancakes. Called relatives and friends. To invite Maslenitsa, the words were uttered: “Our snowy mountains are ready and pancakes are baked - please welcome!”
Wednesday - delicacies
Another name: forest. Fast Wednesday.
On this day, the son-in-law came to his mother-in-law for pancakes, which she prepared herself. On this day, the mother-in-law showed affection to her daughter’s husband. In addition to the son-in-law, the mother-in-law invited other guests.
Thursday - revelry
Other names: Rampant, Wide Rampant, Breaking Point, Wide Thursday, Revelry Thursday; forest Vlas, Vlasy, Vlasye, Volosy, Kolodka, Kolyada Maslenaya, Kolyadha Maslenaya, Crooked Thursday, Shrove Thursday, Thick Thursday.
From this day on, Broad Maslenitsa began, household work stopped, and celebrations unfolded in full swing. The people indulged in all sorts of fun, horse riding, fist fights, and various competitions were held, which ended with noisy feasts. The main action on Thursday is the assault and further capture of the snowy town. The meaning of Wide Thursday, as well as all of Maslenitsa, is the release of negative energy accumulated over the winter and the resolution of various conflicts between people.
Maslenitsa festivities were everywhere accompanied by the lighting of bonfires and ritual jumping over fire. A distinctive feature of the festivities were Maslenitsa songs. “They’re burning fire at Maslenaya. Fires are burning, both here and there. Women in wide skirts jump over fires, and men jump. Here we collect some vali (deadwood) and sing:
Like the middle of Shrovetide, the Jewish plots
Sparrow stole the egg and placed it on a high shelf.
And the blind spied, and the deaf overheard,
And the legless ones ran to catch up, and the armless ones ran to take away.
Maslena, Maslena’s white leg, and whoever doesn’t get married, chiria’s lip.
Maslena, Maslena is white cheese, and whoever doesn’t get married is a son of a bitch.”
In Yaroslavl, carols have been sung since Thursday. On this day, people go from house to house with tambourines, balalaikas and other folk instruments, congratulate their owners on the holiday and “ask for permission to sing a carol,” which they are usually not denied.
Carol song:
How the caroling guys walked,
The carolers, all the factory workers,
We sought our master's court,
The master's yard is seven miles away,
On seven miles, eight pillars.
In the middle of the courtyard, in the middle of the wide,
There are three towers,
Three golden-domed towers.In the first chamber there is a red sun,
In the second chamber there are frequent asterisks,
The master himself is in the house, the master in the mansion,
Mistress of the house, mistress in the high,
The girls in the house are young, like nuts in honey,
Grapes, my red and green!
At the end of the song, the owners give the carolers money and treat them to wine. When parting, the carolers sing gratitude to the owner:
Give thanks, master, with bread, salt and wages.
Grapes, my red and green!
He fed me, gave him something to drink, let me out of the yard,
Grapes, my red and green!
Friday - mother-in-law's party
On this day, the mother-in-law came to visit her son-in-law on a return visit. The daughter, son-in-law's wife, baked pancakes that day. The mother-in-law came to visit with her relatives and friends. The son-in-law had to demonstrate his affection for his mother-in-law and her relatives.
Saturday - sister-in-law's get-togethers
Young daughters-in-law invited their sisters-in-law and other relatives of their husbands to visit them. If the sister-in-law was unmarried, then the daughter-in-law invited her unmarried friends; if the husband’s sisters were already married, then the daughter-in-law invited her married relatives. The daughter-in-law had to give her sister-in-law some gift.
On Saturday the church celebrates the Council of All Reverend Fathers.
Sunday - farewell
Also called: Kisser, Forgiveness day, Conspiracy, Forgiveness Sunday; forest Spring, Buttered Zagovins, Postal Zagovins, Lenten Starts, Oiled Zagovins, Masnitsa, Postal Putting, Teal, Chorna Nedilya(Poltava).
The culmination of the entire Maslenitsa week. On Sunday there was a conspiracy before the beginning of Lent. All close people asked each other for forgiveness for all the troubles and insults caused over the year. In the evening on Forgiveness Sunday, they remembered the dead and went to the cemetery to say goodbye to their relatives. On this day we went to the bathhouse. The remains of the holiday food were burned, and the dishes were thoroughly washed. At the end of the holiday, the effigy of Maslenitsa was solemnly burned, and the resulting ashes were scattered across the fields.
In the Kostroma province, on Sunday a “convoy” is organized: “a horseback ride of dressed-up men with straw caps on their heads.” In the evening, the mummers go out of town and burn their caps there - “burning Maslenitsa.” And in the villages in the evening, they take a bunch of straw, put it in one pile and light it - “burn the straw man”
In churches, during the evening service, the rite of forgiveness is performed (the rector asks for forgiveness from other clergy and parishioners). Then all the believers, bowing to each other, ask for forgiveness and in response to the request say “God will forgive.” Lenten services begin. The following week, sometimes “maslenitsa celebrations” were held
Traditionally, before Lent, we celebrate Maslenitsa for a whole week. When to start baking pancakes in 2020, how this holiday appeared and how it is celebrated - read the material on the site.
When is Maslenitsa in 2020?
In 2020, Maslenitsa week begins on Monday, February 24, and ends on Sunday, March 1.
There is no specific date assigned to this holiday; it is celebrated at different times from year to year, since it falls on the seven days preceding Lent (and, accordingly, eight weeks before the Resurrection of Christ).
What is Maslenitsa?
Maslenitsa, which signifies the imminent end of winter and the arrival of spring, has retained the traditions and rituals of paganism and signs of Slavic mythology. The holiday, the essence of which was the glorification of the sun god Yarila, became the only non-Christian holiday that managed to harmoniously enter Orthodox culture and settle there forever. Throughout Maslenitsa week, people have fun, go to visit people, organize folk festivals and bake pancakes - the main symbol of the holiday. Maslenitsa ends with Forgiveness Sunday - on this day you must ask each other for forgiveness for previous offenses. And on the last day of Maslenitsa week they burn an effigy that symbolizes winter.
Maslenitsa (or Cheese or Meat Week) prepares believers for the Lent that follows. At this time, Orthodox Christians are no longer allowed to eat meat, but they can still consume dairy products. When preparing for fasting, one should not indulge in senseless revelry, gluttony and libation, the Church believes. But enjoying life and receiving simple pleasures from it (in moderation, of course) is not a sin at all.
Why do they bake pancakes for Maslenitsa?
Pancakes are the main dish of Maslenitsa. In Slavic culture, the pancake is considered a symbol of the sun, which awakens after winter and warms the earth. In order for spring to come into its own as quickly as possible, stacks of pancakes with different fillings were baked in every house.
Pancakes are also considered a funeral pastry. “On Maslenitsa, the first pancake is for repose,” they said in Rus'. It was customary to remember deceased relatives with the first pancake.
What is customary to do on Maslenitsa?
Each day of Maslenitsa week has its own traditions and names.
Monday – Meeting, February 24, 2020
On the first day of Maslenitsa week, people celebrate Maslenitsa: they make a straw effigy, build slides, install poles, and prepare food for the festive table. And, of course, they start baking pancakes.
Tuesday – Flirting, February 25, 2020
The beginning of Maslenitsa festivities. On this day, people rode down the slides, on sleighs and on carousels. Single men flirted with potential wives, went to bridesmaids, so that after Lent they could get married on Krasnaya Gorka.
Wednesday – Lakomka, February 26, 2020
On this day, first of all, the sons-in-law went to their mother-in-law for pancakes. Although visiting and baking pancakes at Lakomka was customary not only among sons-in-law, but in principle among everyone.
Thursday – Razgulay, February 27, 2020
Wide Maslenitsa began with Razgulay. In Rus', on this day people stopped working and started having fun: they organized competitions, fist fights, danced in circles, jumped over the fire, sang songs.
Friday – Mother-in-law's evening, February 28, 2020
And on this day, the mother-in-law had to go to visit her son-in-law for pancakes, and her daughter baked pancakes. In Rus', it was customary to take friends with you on a visit, to whom you could brag about your son-in-law.
Saturday – Sister-in-law’s gatherings, February 29, 2020
At Sister-in-law's gatherings, the young daughters-in-law hosted guests. Most often, their husband’s relatives, or rather his sisters, came to them (hence the sister-in-law’s get-togethers). The hostess set the table with treats and gave gifts to her sisters-in-law.
Sunday – Forgiveness Sunday, March 1, 2020
On the last day of Maslenitsa week, they said goodbye to winter by burning a straw effigy. On Forgiveness Sunday, loved ones ask each other for forgiveness for all the grievances they have caused, and in the evening they go to the cemetery and remember the dead.
Related materials
You need to prepare for the holiday in advance, so the first thing that is usually done before it arrives is to clean the house. In Rus', housewives whitewashed ceilings, washed stoves, and cleared debris from corners. It was imperative to stock up on food, so we bought flour, butter, sugar, eggs, nuts and other sweets. The youth learned ditties, songs, dances, and came up with a script for the festivities to make it interesting.
Then, when Maslenitsa arrived, the real fun began. Its main venue is the city square. Children and adults dance there, ride sleds, walk on stilts, and have funny pillow fights. Everyone around is enjoying the bright spring sun and the approaching warmth. There is still a belief among people that the more fun you celebrate, the better you will live next year. You can’t sit at home and be sad, because then the joy goes out of life.
According to tradition, housewives bake pancakes. This came down to us from our ancestors: the pancake is a historical symbol of the sun. They tried to bake them evenly, on good dough and in a round shape. The more beautiful the pancakes turn out, the more luck will come this year. Therefore, the housewives did not skimp and prepared more delicacies so that there was enough for everyone. You can still find pancake eating competitions at fairs and squares. The one who ate them the most will be rich and successful.
Since on Maslenitsa it was customary to say goodbye to the cold and prepare for work in the field, people had signs about the weather:
- frost on the holiday foreshadowed a warm summer in the first half;
- if there are a lot of icicles on the street, the harvest will be generous;
- rains and cold are good signs: spring will be warm and summer will be sunny;
- sudden warmth means late spring, there will still be frosts.
On a note!
Maslenitsa is the last chance to eat your fill of homemade tender pancakes made with milk and eggs, since it is followed by Lent, which means you will have to abstain from food of animal origin until Easter.
When does Maslenitsa week come and how does it go?
Maslenitsa is usually divided into 2 periods: narrow (lasting from Monday to Wednesday) and wide (from Thursday to Sunday). During the first half, it was still allowed to do basic housework: cleaning, housekeeping, laundry, etc. In the days following Wednesday, household chores were put aside and turned to entertainment.
Every day of Maslenitsa week is special:
- On Monday, when the new week had just begun, we were preparing for the upcoming festivities: we were learning dances, songs, and preparing charades. They made a scarecrow out of straw and clothes to burn. On Monday you need to bake pancakes and give them to those in need. In this way they commemorated deceased relatives;
- On Tuesday, grooms came to woo the girls. The bridesmaids settled down, the families agreed on a dowry. It is customary to have a wedding no earlier than Easter, then the marriage will be successful and happy;
- On Wednesday, in large families, the mother-in-law invited her sons-in-law for pancakes. When visiting, you need to eat your fill, so the tables were filled with delicious homemade food. And the housewives didn’t bake any kind of pancakes: with fillings, with lacy edges, and with choux pastry;
- From Thursday it was time for fun. Young people were riding on the slides from the very morning, buffoons and parsley entertained the people. For the bravest people there was a competition to climb onto an ice pillar and knock down a gift. And in the center of the square they placed an effigy for burning;
- on Friday, the sons-in-law invited their mother-in-law to tea, and the young housewife, her daughter, cooked pancakes. The son-in-law was supposed to behave hospitably and be cordial with guests. If quarrels and omissions arose at the table, then there will be eternal enmity between mother-in-law and son-in-law;
- with the onset of Saturday, young girls invited the groom’s sisters or their husband’s sisters-in-law to visit, and organized bachelorette parties where they kept secrets about feminine things. The newlywed should present gifts to the guests and warmly welcome them into her home;
- On the last day of the week, the culmination of the ancient holiday occurs. The celebrations become louder and larger, people have fun, and then burn the effigy as a sign of the end of winter. With the adoption of the Orthodox faith, Forgiveness Sunday begins with Maslenitsa. People ask each other to forgive old grievances, even sworn enemies make peace. On Sunday it is customary to go to the cemetery and visit deceased relatives.
Interesting!
The tradition of asking for forgiveness originated with Palestinian monks. Being in the distance for a long time, completely alone, they realized that they might not meet each other again, so they asked for forgiveness in advance.
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, asking 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