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Tuesday, 09 February 2010 08:27 |
Last week before the Lent coincides with the pagan holiday of winter's end and spring meeting, which was celebrated by all the peoples of Europe in the pre-Christian period.
This holiday was called "Maslenitsa (Pancake week)" by eastern Slavs.
The rites of Pancake week, preserved in the folk tradition, nowadays are directly connected with the pagan cults of ancestors, family and tribal relations and fertility.
The names of some days of the feast indicate the family-tribal nature of Pancake week - "Teschiny vecherki (mother-in-law's evening)" (Friday), "zolovkiny posidelki (sister-in-law chat-in)" (Saturday), and the pancakes, required for Maslenitsa (a pagan sun symbol) have been the traditional memorial meal of Eastern Slavs.
The last week before the Lent should be cheerful, because 7 weeks of puritanic behaviour and all kinds of restrictions are following Maslenitsa. Every day of this week has some peculiar and interesting customs. Consider each of them.On Monday women go into the inn and begin the celebration of Maslenitsa.
If men want to join their company, then they must hang a block on neck, which could be taken off only putting kickback. On Tuesday women are again in the inn.
After the festivities at the inn all went out on, where cheerful amusements, which lasted almost all day were held.
Wednesday is not connected with some actions and has the name "Znoba-baby". Perhaps, Maslenitsa - is a paradise for women, because on Thursday they again sit at the table and raise glasses.
And besides it is prohibited to sew and spin this day.
On Friday son-in-law should treat his wife's mother.
After that son-in-law should ride his wife's mother on the streets of the village or town. Moreover, service in this case depends on the nature of the mother in law, that is, evil and selfish mother-in-law is taken on the rough road, and vice versa, if mother-in-law is gentle, then the road is flat, like a string.
Saturday is not marked by any interesting ceremonies. Sunday is celebrated the most lavishly. Especially for this day dumplings with cottage cheese were cooked, unlike Russian pancakes.
Large-scale carnivals, games, fun were held.
This day, you should visit all the relatives and neighbors and to apologize for all offenses committed in order to purify themselves of filth before the Great Lent.
Vodka can not be used. Before going to bed to thoroughly rinse the teeth so that the devils will not pull the curd, which remained after Maslenitsa, along with the teeth. |
