As soon as this holiday is not called: “Pancake maker”, and “Shrovetide week”, and “Unite”, and “Milk week”. But, no matter how the Shrovetide was called, it has always been and remains the main holiday of the spring among the Slavic peoples.
Second new year
Shrovetide at all times was the time of the vernal equinox, the time when all nature comes to life and wakes up. Rites and traditions associated with Shrovetide originate in the pre-Christian period. The ritual side of this celebration includes shades of ancestral culture, it also correlates with the transition period of nature, when everything comes to life and carries the function of stimulating fertility. This is due to the fact that Maslenitsa always preceded the beginning of field work. Also, Oily Week precedes the beginning of Lent, during which believers do not consume dairy products. And in Shrovetide it is allowed, hence the name. A special tradition was the festivities on Shrovetide, the burning of a scarecrow, symbolizing winter, going on a visit, all kinds of fun, fortunetelling, and, well, where without Pancake week pancakes.
Burning annoying winter
Now, like many years ago, one of the main symbols of Shrovetide remains a scarecrow. It personifies the winter, which is already time for this time to go back home and give way to spring. Usually, men, women, and children gathered straw all over the village in one place, and then made a doll out of it, dressed it in women's clothing, but brighter. They tied a scarf over a head scarf, put on a skirt, a sweater and carried it in a sleigh around the village. Then they burned it, throwing pancake pancakes into the fire. Around the bonfire of children led round dances and danced. This glorious ceremony has been preserved to this day and attracts the participation of residents of both small villages and large cities.
Games and contests
Ice pillar is a competition held at Shrovetide. For him, some tall pillar is poured with cold water and gifts are hung at a sufficient distance from the ground. To get them, you need to climb this pillar and not slip off it. The strongest and most persistent always win.
Another folk fun is throwing boots. Of course, it’s better to do this outdoors. The essence of the game is simple: you need to throw your felt boots as far as possible and more accurately.
Kids really like this Golden Gate game. For her, two of the players (these may be adults) stand in the center, holding hands and lifting them up so that they get a goal. The kids become a “train” one after another and pass through the gate. At some point, the gates “close”, that is, adults lower their hands and catch one of the children. The one who is caught also becomes the gate and the train is reduced. The game goes on until the gates catch everyone.
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