Story
Shrovetide originates in the distant March 1, or March 23 - until the XV century. Shrovetide - This is a holiday of winter farewells and the expectation of the coming spring. She is always rich in pancakes, which personified the circular disk of the sun in the sky. After all, at that time the Slavs were pagans and worshiped the sun god Yarila. Maslenitsa was constantly oppressed by the Orthodox Church, which prohibited this kind of holiday.
And only after some time, with amendments 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 under the other name Cheese Week. The week is the week for which an Orthodox person prepares for Lent. On one of these days, the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian is read, and on Saturday, the reverend fathers of the church are commemorated.
Traditions
Of course, the main tradition of Shrovetide is pancakes. Pancakes bake all seven days, overeating them as much as you like.
During the week, you can eat fish, cottage cheese, eggs and pancakes, but you should already give up meat, on the eve of Great Lent.
Mass festivities take place with huge stuffed animals, feasts, fairs at which people walk, have fun and do not think about anything.
On the last day of Shrovetide (Sunday), according to tradition, it is customary to ask forgiveness from your loved ones. And not only among loved ones, but even among those who have already died. To do this, people went to the cemetery and asked for forgiveness from their dead relatives or acquaintances. We have this Sunday known as Forgiveness Sunday.
Ceremonies
Mandatory rite on Shrovetide - were noisy festivities, in which young boys and girls looked closely at each other in order to create a family in the future.
Fortune telling on warm water, burning effigies on the last day of Shrovetide Sunday, all these are invariable ceremonies that go on from year to year.
Often in Maslenitsa it was customary to arrange bridesmaids, 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, Maslenitsa was still allowed to work, but after that it wasn’t.
First day - Meeting
In the morning, guests were waiting in each hut. The daughter-in-law came to visit her parents, just like the parents, only in the evening, they went to visit her house. Usually they were treated to pancakes, and they also baked pancakes, which they gave to the poor, so that they could remember their dead loved ones.
Second day - Flirtation
On such a day, relatives and friends came to visit each other, and bride's weddings were arranged.
Third day - Gourmands
The son-in-law came to the mother-in-law's house for pancakes, where the mother-in-law was supposed to set a rich table in order to show her respect for him.
Fourth Day - Broad Start
On the main square there is a stuffed Pancake week, near which festivities take place. Fist fights, ritual jumps over bonfires, 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 the mother-in-law to visit, treating her with all kinds of goodies, and in particular pancakes. This expressed respect for the mother of his wife, including his wife.
Sixth day - Zolovkin gatherings
Husband's sisters and other relatives were invited to visit. The daughter-in-law gave gifts to the sister-in-law, expressing her favor to her.
Seventh Day - Forgiveness Sunday
On such a day, relatives asked each other for forgiveness, and in the evening from the dead. They went to the cemetery with pancakes and bowed to their dead relatives, asking for forgiveness for past grievances.
In the evening, a scarecrow was popularly burned, and his ashes scattered over the fields.
Makeup on Shrovetide
Makeup on Shrovetide suggests a more natural look. You can use a small amount of mascara, but do not use shadows and pencil. You can also tint your lips in a bright shade of lipstick or colorless, and apply blush on the cheekbones.
By the way, your hair may have a loose look, but it is better to tie it in one or two braids, as Slavic girls wore earlier.
Dress for Shrovetide
You need to create an appropriate image in the spirit of Russian outfits. To do this, you need a bright shawl, which you wrap your head in, as it should be a Slavic girl.
By the way, the shawl can also be worn on the shoulders, wrapped in it with your hands.
Shrovetide dress should be with a traditional ornament, which symbolizes the sun or other types of charms of the ancient Slavs. Such dresses usually have beautiful, vibrant colors. Mostly it is white and red, but blue and multi-colored dresses are also found. The most important thing is not the color of the dress itself, but its ornament.
What about shoes you can use any red pumps, but preferably on medium or low heels (for a holiday indoors)
But if you are in the image, then you will need exactly those shoes worn by Slavic girls.
But for the street, when the festival takes place directly next to the scarecrow, choose red boots.
Congratulations to Maslenitsa
On the fourth day of Shrovetide - Broad Thursday, it is customary to go home and sing carols or songs. In this case, guests are served pancakes, and in return they wish the house and family well-being.
Greeting Cards
Poems
Forgiveness Sunday
Great pancakes and drink recipes
Rainbow pancakes
You'll need:
- Flour - 3 cups.
- Milk - 200 ml.
- Kefir 0% fat - 200 ml.
- Eggs - 3 pcs.
- Sugar - 3 tbsp
- Butter - ¼ cup.
- Baking soda - 1 teaspoon.
- Salt - ½ teaspoon.
- Food coloring in different colors.
Baking:
In a bowl, combine flour, soda, salt and baking powder, then beat the eggs. Add kefir, milk and butter to the eggs, which should be melted. Combine the first and three and mix well. We divide the dough into 8 parts and color 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
- Hard cream cheese 300 gr.
- Dill.
- Garlic 1 clove.
- Sour cream (25%) 150 gr.
- Red caviar 100 gr.
- Salt pepper.
Baking:
In flour sifted with salt and sugar, add the egg and 1/3 of the milk. Mix well. Add 1 tablespoon of slightly cooled melted butter. Dilute the dough with the remaining milk, gradually pouring it into flour and stirring well. We bake pancakes.
Filling:
Three cheese on a fine grater, add chopped dill and garlic (it is advisable to let them through the press). We mix everything well, salt and pepper to taste. We distribute the filling on the pancakes and add red caviar on top.
Banana pancakes
You'll need:
- 6 eggs.
- 3 bananas.
- 200 gr. walnuts.
Cooking method:
We break the eggs and beat the blender with peeled bananas. After proceeding to frying over low heat and with a minimum amount of oil. Try to often turn the pancake itself so that it does not burn during frying. When the pancakes are ready, sprinkle them with chopped walnuts. You can also serve such pancakes with honey, banana, jam or natural yogurt.
Grog drink
Shrovetide is often prepared for special hot drinks 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 make tea in a teapot, we need 0.5 liters of finished tea. Pour tea without leaves into a pot and bring to a boil. Add spices to taste, including sugar and add 0.5 l wine. Boil over low heat. If you want to do more, follow the rule that tea and alcohol go 1: 1. The grog is drunk from a mulled wine glass (irish glass) and is decorated with a slice of orange, lemon or dried fruit.
