Despite the fact that today Shrovetide is one of the holidays loved by Orthodox Christians, its traditions date back to the times of ancient paganism. Pancake week ceremonies symbolize the end of the winter period and the arrival of spring, which is why it is customary to celebrate the holiday at the junction of the two seasons.
The very vernacular name "Shrovetide" (officially the holiday is usually called "Cheese Week") is associated with food, which certainly had to be consumed a week before fasting, this is, first of all, butter and a wide variety of dairy products. The traditional dish, without which not a single Pancake week usually is complete, today are such pancakes beloved by our people.
Changeable holiday
The date of the holiday varies from year to year and is timed to coincide with the beginning of Lent, 49 days before Easter. Today it is customary to celebrate Shrovetide a week, while in pre-Christian times the holiday lasted as many as 14 days, the middle of which was the day of the vernal equinox. The Orthodox Church shortened such a long period, however, the holiday was not banned, tying it to Christian traditional rites.
In 2014, Maslenitsa fell on February 24, and in 2015 it will fall on 16 and will last until 02/22/2015.
