Folk festivals for the Pancake week. Shrovetide scenario

Maslenitsa is a traditional holiday for the Slavs, symbolizing the end of winter and the onset of spring. The Orthodox calendar calls it the Cheese Seven. This week, people should forgive their loved ones, apologize to them. In addition, there are organized folk festivals for Shrovetide. Let's consider all these moments in more detail.

What is Maslenitsa?

So, let's start from the very beginning. According to the Orthodox calendar, Shrove Tuesday is held the last week before the Great Lent. Before the emergence of Christianity in Russia, this holiday was pagan. We marked it for two weeks. With the advent of Christianity, the holiday and many favorite Russian traditions have survived. Among them - folk festivals for Shrovetide.

People are used to happily say goodbye to the winter and happy to meet the long-awaited spring. This period was always perceived as the awakening of Mother Nature and Yarila the Sun (most revered during the paganism of the deity, giving everyone vitality and warmth). By the way, earlier instead of pancakes baked round cakes. They were a symbol of the sun. Bake them in large quantities and treat all their relatives and friends. Absorbing such a cake, the person believed that he eats a small piece of solar power and heat, filling it with a special force.

In a word, the folk festivals for Pancake week have been preserved. Only cakes were replaced with pancakes. The very name of the holiday also became different. In paganism he was called Komoditsey. The holiday was called a pancake week, as this is the last week when it is possible to eat animal products - butter including.

Meetings and Conversations

Every day of this long-awaited holiday is different for its traditions. There is a kind of script Maslenitsa. The folk festivities begin on Monday - from the meeting of spring. On this day people make a straw dummy, put on a woman's dress and carry it on a sleigh. Children build snow slides, adults bake pancakes, the first of which is given to the poor or is hung on the tree branches in memory of the souls of deceased relatives.

Then continues the following scenario Maslenitsa: the folk festivities on Tuesday called Zaigrysh. A scarecrow is set in the center of the square, roundelays are conducted around it, all are treated with gingerbread and pancakes. Young people look at their potential second half. In the evening people go to gatherings.

Gourmand and Razguliay

On Wednesday, the next festivities for the Carnival begins. It's Gourmand, celebrated on Wednesday. The son-in is invited to visit his mother-in-law and is treated to her pancakes.

On Thursday, the height of the festivities begins. On this day it is forbidden even to work. It's called Razgulay. Catania with slides on sleigh, carols and spring calls, amicable tea-drinking - all this happens on Thursday!

Toshchiny vecherki, Zolovkin's gatherings

On Friday, beginners Toshchiny Vecherki. On this day, the son-in-law invites his mother-in-law to the pancakes.

Farewell Maslenitsa starts on Saturday with Zolovkin's gatherings. To the daughter-in-law the sisters of her husband hasten to pancakes. In the street on this day they play in the capture of snow towns, symbolizing the last haven of winter.

Forgiveness Sunday

What is the last stage? The final farewell to Maslenitsa is Farewell Sunday. On this day people go to visit each other. They ask for forgiveness for everything they have ever offended their loved ones. Well, in the evening a scarecrow is burned, the ashes of which are scattered by the wind, in the villages - in the field. This tradition symbolizes a good harvest.

People's festivities on Maslenitsa street are not limited to

That's not all. Scenery Maslenitsa on the street, usually passes through the above standard. Nevertheless, in the palaces of culture, in schools, in some enterprises, etc. Various events are also held.

Entertaining programs, competitions, performances and fairs - all this makes the holiday even more vivid, fun and interesting. Cultural events allow everyone to feel the joy and warmth of the approaching spring, despite the fact that they pass in the premises.

On city squares too, say goodbye to the winter

Scenery Maslenitsa on the street is thought through in all settlements. And even in many large cities fairs are organized on the central squares, pancakes and bagels are sold, a scarecrow is installed.

Hundreds of townspeople come to the square to bid farewell to the winter. Traditional games and competitions, folk games, a sea of fun - even the cloudy weather can not spoil the mood!

People with great pleasure participate in various competitions, compete in their skills, sing songs and playfully dance. The festive atmosphere charges everyone with special energy and positive emotions.

The jokers and jesters

Maslenitsa, mass festivities, games and tea parties with pancakes are cheerful and bright Russian traditions. On organized representations in many villages and towns jokers and jesters often act. They entertain people present, make them run, jump and have fun. As a result, people do not notice neither cold nor fatigue. They just participate in the traditional Maslenitsi competitions and fun, enjoy the performance of jesters, laugh heartily.

For example, jokers can organize fights with wet cushions on a log, tug of war, lifting weights, conquering ice pillars, and even throwing each other with brooms.

The most active participants they give small awards in the form of any souvenir, traditional pancakes, gingerbread, etc. By the way, on the ice pillar you can also hang gifts. Participants with pleasure and great zeal will rise after them. With prizes on the ground, of course, only the most deft and strong descend.

There is also another contest organized by jesters. Those present at the festivities can, for example, compete in eating pancakes with sour cream for speed. However, this fun entertainment concerns other dishes. This can be pies, and kalachi, and a variety of drinks.

Pageant

In a word, if you want to have a good time, pay attention to such a wonderful holiday as Shrovetide. Scenarios of street festivities often include a variety of carnival processions.

They usually begin right after the performances of jesters, folk artists, holding contests, many other surprises prepared for the residents of a certain locality and its guests.

A large number of people take part in the carnival procession. They wear a variety of costumes, sing songs, dance and have fun. For entourage with a carnival procession, stilts or sleds are often used. The procession stops near the next points of sale of pancakes, pies, other goodies and hot tea.

Here, everyone can buy various decorations, toys and souvenirs. In addition, at the end point of the carnival procession creative works of various artists, photographers, masters of applied art are represented.

At the end of the Maslenitsa festivities you will be able to see the fiery show, the performance of famous performers and, of course, the burning of a stuffed one named Shrovetide. Carry it in front of you until the very end of the carnival procession.

Burning stuffed - a mysterious and interesting process

Maslenitsa on the street in most of the settlements passes through all traditions. The scarecrow is burned to the last. At the same time, all present applauded, but for safety, naturally, the rescuers and firemen answer.

The scarecrow is burning very brightly and quickly. This is the symbol of the arrival of spring. Accordingly, the cold to freeze the inhabitants of villages and cities will no longer be. Neither the snow nor the ice will scare them.

Around the scarecrow before its ignition, too, there are many sites with various entertainments for the people present. Here you can perfectly relax, having a snack, drinking tea, just talking with those who came to the holiday. All present with great pleasure dance in front of a huge fire, holding hands, lead dances, sing songs intended to attract spring.

In a word, Maslenitsa is a sea of fun, joyful laughter, warm smiles! Folk festivals, lasting a whole week, allow to relax perfectly, to distract from the gray working days of the week. Well, the anticipation of the upcoming spring even more cheers the surrounding people!