Interesting facts about pancake day. Festivities. Farewell to winter

Every year the true Russian holidays is getting smaller. Of course, people do not deprive come up with to replace the old – new. But still the rejection of the true Russian folk festivals – is the loss of our roots. Not to forget the bright winter holiday, today we will tell you interesting facts about pancake day.

Why festivities got such a great name?

Starting to list interesting facts about the pancake, not to mention about the history of the origin of the holiday. Few people know that until the seventeenth century, in the last week of February, people staged pagan rituals. At this time, the people celebrated the vernal equinox. But with the spread of Christianity, the holiday was renamed. Left entertainment, dance and even ritual burning of effigies.

What, then, brought the Church? She tied the date of carnival to Easter. So now the holiday has become a “floating” and is directly dependent on the Church. The priests did the next best thing, they were guided by the principle: can't stop the madness, to lead it. In the last week of lent, Christians were allowed to eat eggs and butter. That is why a holiday and got such a cute name – Mardi Gras.

What is a bear fun?

Due to which abroad know our state? Thanks to the boots, scarves, vodka and bears. So the next interesting fact about the carnival is associated with furry animals.

Since Ancient times in Russia was so much fun, which was called “bear fights”. These entertainments were arranged on Shrove Tuesday, as the end of winter the animals woke up. Who participated in bear fights? Entertainment was divided into three types:

• Harassment. The bear was tied to an iron pole erected in the center of the square. And furry animal had set the dog. The battle was considered over when falling or bear when the dog dies. If a woodsman were too tenacious and spirited, he was setting dogs loose until, until he finally was tired.

• A Fight with someone. It was a popular entertainment in which the good guys showed their skill and courage. The man walked into the paddock to bear as weapons he had a snag. The battle was going to win. If the bear killed the guy, then a fight came next volunteer.

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• A Circus. But bears don't always engage in a confrontation. Sometimes the animals were tamed and then trained animals showed circus numbers.

Where there was a tradition to climb the pole?

Festivities on Shrove Tuesday was always accompanied by a variety of contests for which prizes were given. One of the most popular for this day of fun – conquest of the ice column.

Where this tradition has gone? From paganism. Earlier, people climbed the pole not for gifts, but for spiritual enlightenment. It was believed that to achieve it can only be a man, body and soul which are in good shape. Gradually, the pole began to hang gifts – it was scarves, coats or boots.

Today on the national holiday of Maslenitsa too, are daredevils who conquer the pillar of ice. But the gifts are waiting for them already not in heaven and on earth. To the top of the column is pinned a piece of paper with a picture of the prize who takes it, and he gets a present.

Why burn an effigy?

Festivities on Shrove Tuesday are all day. And in the evening always burn an effigy. Some genuinely believe that burn down the carnival, but it is not. The effigy symbolizes the winter that people and escorted.

Earlier there was a tradition that all gathered in the square was scolded by cold, hunger and snow. But they did not forget to thank the winter for snowmen, fun and cozy evening. After such moseisley were carried out dances and dances were arranged. And then the effigy burned. This ritual is staged in honor of the coming spring and did the honours, boring winter. After the doll of straw was burned, the young people jumped over a dying fire.

Today stuffed carnival harness out of the habit. Although many people honor this ritual and create dolls from hay alone.

Carnival is celebrated only in Russia?

True Slavic holiday is popular in other countries. In Denmark before the beginning of lent, people bake pancakes instead of muffins. They stuff them with raisins and candied fruit. As decorations favors cinnamon and powdered sugar.

Interesting fact about the carnival is that Norwegians also do not prefer pancakes and muffins, and they get them from neighbors, and very original way. The day before carnival made “carnival branch”. People decorate a birch branch with feathers, flowers or berries. With such a weapon in the morning they go to the neighbors and whip those who sleep. It is believed that "Sonia” “communion” for the sufferings of Jesus. After receiving corporal punishment, the owner of the house must feed unexpected guests buns.

But the Americans have nothing against the Russian Goodies. On Shrove Tuesday they, too, bake pancakes. And eat them within seven days.

What records people were making for pancake day?

Slavic holiday is always celebrated in a big way. In the history of Russia is the Carnival of 1777, this year, Catherine II's grandson was born, and she walked onwide leg. One day the Empress gave the winners of the street contests 150 diamonds. The stones were real, and gorgeous purity.

Andy Robel – the chef is from Australia, was able to make a stack of pancakes in 76 see today is a record high.

Dominic could Cuzzocrea with a frying pan not only to toss the pancake to a height of nearly 10 meters, but caught it in the same pan.

Why is it that the first pancake is always lumpy?

Before the advent of Christianity, our ancestors brought gifts and made sacrifices not only spirits, but also animals.

The Carnival was previously called Comoedia. After all, in the spring Wake up bears, who were called “coma”. They baked pancakes and brought as gifts to the forest. Thus, people are cajoled and spirits, and bears.

A good housewife pancakes do not burn, so the first product was not a success, but “comas”, that is, inhabitants of the forest.

Other interesting facts about the festival

Why on Shrove Tuesday you eat pancakes. There are two explanation. One of them says: damn similar to the sun, and the Carnival – is a celebration of spring. And the second option is more worldly: the food at the beginning of spring was not, and for making rich cakes was not enough food. And pancakes, you can mix eggs, flour and water.

On carnival all the young people of the village participated in games and amusements. One of them was horseback riding. Guys to the carnival bought a beautiful harness, harnessed the horses to the sleigh and rolled the girls around the village.

Were Also distributed the game in the capture of snow small towns. Skiing with the icy mountains is also considered to be fun, which gave honour to the outgoing winter.

Before Mardi Gras was a national holiday, it was considered a sacrament dedicated. People met in small groups, asked the gods for the arrival of spring, burned ritual fires, sang songs and watched the sun rise. All this happened at the vernal equinox.

Today, the Carnival runs from Easter. She is celebrated for 58 days. Maslenitsa lasts a week and each day has its own value. On Monday, our ancestors made a straw doll. Tuesday got dressed up and went to the neighbors. On Wednesday, all the villages began to bake pancakes. Thursday passed fisticuffs. Friday pancakes went to his mother and Saturday to sister-in-law. Sunday was a folk festival, where it danced and burned in effigy.