How to spend the carnival? Tradition, the history of the holiday

This bright holiday of farewell to winter began to celebrate a few thousand years ago. Of course, in those days the customs were different. The Slavs worshipped the elements and natural phenomena, the pagan tradition and gave rise to Shrovetide.

This is one of the few holidays, which have reached us almost intact. With the advent of Christianity Slavic traditions began to actively eradicated. Perhaps the Carnival survived because the tradition of welcoming spring was in tune with Christian values. This holiday today, people are waiting for winter, knowing how to eat delicious pancakes and socialize with friends. Children independently make a Scarecrow, which is then burned along with their parents.

History celebration

Those interested in how to spend the carnival, you must first learn about the history of the holiday, which is fraught with many interesting facts. Everyone knows that this holiday symbolizes farewell to winter and calls for spring. Originally it was celebrated in day of a spring solstice, but after the baptism of Rus was moved to the week before Lent. So a pagan tradition became an official Church holiday. And now the week of the carnival is not tied to a particular day, and notes depending on what numbers will come out in Easter, and the effigy burned on the last Sunday of the triumph.

The Carnival has many other pagan names, such as Crepes, kolody, Tselovalnik, Oily has torticollis.

Customs of the celebration of carnival

Before the festivities at the carnival lasted a week. Not only the Slavs ate pancakes and burn a Scarecrow, but organized dances and gatherings. It was thought that the fun would attract a rich harvest, and to ask it as a once in spring-before planting season.

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Now hosts a variety of events in honor of this celebration. Carnival in the Park – a good idea for families with children and introducing them to Russian history and traditions.

The Period of carnival can be divided into two parts: a Narrow pancake day (celebrated the first three days) and Wide (last four). In the early days were allowed to work and do household chores. In recent work it was strictly forbidden, pancakes, walk-in guests and make a fun ritual. Now walk not only in villages but in major cities. Especially funny it turns out the Pancake week in Moscow. People walk in the Park. Gorky (metro «October») in the Park "Muzeon" (Krimsky Val), in Babushkinsky Park. No less popular parks Lianozovo, Ostankino, Izmailovo and others.

How are the festivals?

Parks are fair, there are farmsteads, imitating ancient Russian settlements, "resurrected" all the rituals and beliefs. Performing music groups, representing the ethnic, rock and folk direction. Children can play in a historic themed games prepared for them by the organizers of the festival. People are treated to pancakes, watered tea. Visitors can participate in contests and win prizes.

Carnival

Every day has its own name and customs, he related. Monday – carnival meeting. In ancient times, this day was made to go to visit their parents. A good husband was obliged to let his wife to visit his father and mother. And in the evening the whole family gathered together and made plans for the holiday. On Monday it was decided who will be invited, what to cook.

There is another custom is to bake the first pancake and give it to the beggar. It was believed that a good deed will be reckoned to the deceased relatives. Monday was preparing the effigy. The doll was made out of the materials that were at hand, – of old clothes and straw. The Scarecrow was seated in a sleigh and drove across the village. Thus began the Carnival. Sunday-the day when the effigy is burned.

Tuesday – a celebration of fun and laughter. Definitely needed someone to play. On the same day, fun youth. Unmarried girls and unmarried boys went together to ride the sleigh and took food. Often on Tuesday occurred the marriage proposal.

Wednesday – mother-in-law day. She invited son-in-law to enjoy pancakes that cooked itself. On this day it was customary to leave all family quarrels aside and be thankful-a good daughter.

Maslenitsa

Thursday – the beginning of Wide Maslenitsa. To work from that day was forbidden. All work stopped, and started festivities on Shrove Tuesday. To this day many traditional names: the turning point, party, Block, Vlase. It was decided to arrange skating and sled racing, dances and conduct competitions in physical strength.

In the Evening, work up the people sat down to dine. And in the twilight was lit huge bonfires, singing songs and jumping over the fire. It was believed that Thursday, all should leave in the past their quarrels and negative energy. For this staged fisticuffs when everyone could get even with the offender and forgetting about discord.

Friday – the day when the mother-in-law came to visit his son-in-law. The pancakes should be ready by wife. Friday was a rest from the noisy festivities and spent the day with family.

Saturday – a day in which all young daughters-in-law had to invite their sisters-in-law andto give them something as a gift. Also visit called the whole family of her husband. In Christian tradition, Saturday – a day of celebration of the Cathedral of the Holy fathers.

Shrove Sunday

A week Passes, and we approach the end of the festival ends with a Carnival. Sunday – the day is celebrated the eve before the beginning of Lent. Since olden times it was customary to behave in a modest, noisy celebration is not encouraged. Now this day is called forgiveness Sunday. Traditionally burned in effigy that had been prepared on Monday. Asked for forgiveness from relatives and friends. It was considered that it is necessary to apologize even to those who did evil. In response one would say, “God will forgive you”.

Symbols of the holiday

Those who wish to know how to spend carnival in accordance with ancient customs, it will be interesting to read about the traditional symbols of the celebration. This holiday brought into the present such a famous saying, “First step – lumpy”. Few people know that in the primary version, it sounded like a “First step – comas”.

The First treat was getting poor and then turn to feed the bears – com. In the old state adult brown bear called lumpy and revered as the master of the forest. In some Northern regions fed him first, and only then – destitute. Arranged the ceremony of waking the beast from hibernation.

It was Customary to put on the table for more plates and utensils, as if inviting deceased relatives to share food with living and also to enjoy the spring. The Scarecrow symbolized the cold and winter and death. It was believed that a fire ritual will scare away adversity and call spring and heat.

The main character – pancakes. Without them there was not a single day of Maslenitsa. Pancakes were chosen because they resemble the sun, and the greasy food symbolizes life and joy.

Pancakes

Every housewife had their own recipes for Shrove Tuesday. They decided to keep it a secret and surprise guests with unusual dishes. How to hold the carnival not only fun, but tasty? You need to learn the ancient Slavs.

Some traditional recipes on Shrove Tuesday and came to our days. Here is the best and the most simple: in a plastic bottle (of course, a few centuries ago did, but it's a good life hack for cooking – it is very convenient to pour the batter into the pan) mix 0.5 liters of milk, a little sugar and 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, two eggs, a pinch of salt and half Cup of flour. Shake well. The dough is ready.

A Great recipe for gourmets: mix 250 ml water, milk and plain yogurt, add 2 eggs, add salt, sugar, flour (half Cup) and a pinch of baking powder. Stir and add a tablespoon of vegetable oil. Bake as usual pancakes.

Every woman is trying to vary the usual pancakes original fillings. Women wrapped in various ingredients, coming up with interesting combinations. The most unusual include such combinations of products for the filling: avocado and bacon, cheese and garlic, herring, and pickles.

Pagan custom

How to spend carnival in Slavic tradition? Early farewell to winter celebrated for two weeks. I must say that ancient Slavs had outstanding health – whether a joke, walking 14 days in a row! In the pagan traditions of the Pancake week began a week before the day of the vernal equinox and ended after 7 days.

For those who want to plunge into the pagan Carnival in the Park will not work. All two weeks the Slavs worshiped the God Yarily-patron of the sun and of life. Also, he was a patron of male and female forces, so particularly active walking young and free. It was considered that Jari will help melt snow and warm the ground for planting, and the young boys and girls – find your destiny and create strong family.

Where did the name

The Word “Mardi Gras” – a tribute to Christian tradition. This means that in the week before lent are allowed to eat butter, fish and milk. But meat eating is prohibited. There is another interesting option from linguists and historians: some scholars believe that the name is connected with the Slavic goddess Cherish (Maslenitsa - one of her names). She was considered the patroness of beauty and can appear in the form of tender virgins or Busty beauty. On Shrove Tuesday it was the people with ruddy cheeks, full of health and vitality. She was one of the most revered goddesses of the Slavic Pantheon, but the information about it almost did not survive.