Treason / 27.07.2020

History and significance of Maslenitsa. Oil Week Nutrition during Maslenitsa week according to the church calendar

Maslenitsa is a holiday also called Maslenitsa (cheese) week.

According to the Church Charter, the consumption of meat is not allowed (hence another name for Maslenitsa - meat week), but the consumption of dairy products (including butter), fish and eggs is allowed.

Probably one of the meanings of the holiday is that everything has an end: the end of winter, the end of the year, the end of life (winter has always been an allegory of old age) - and at the same time merges into infinity - everything is reborn to a new movement.

The image of Maslenitsa "Turning Point" contains the end and beginning of the year, the end of one and the beginning of another stage of people's lives, which is closely connected with nature and its laws.

The Russian people called the meeting of spring the meeting of Maslenitsa, the expulsion of winter the burning of Maslenitsa or its farewell.

In the old days, this week before Lent was literally overflowing with festive activities; Ritual and non-ritual activities, traditional games and activities filled all the days to capacity. There was enough strength, energy, and enthusiasm for everything, since the atmosphere of extreme general joy and fun reigned. In ancient times, Maslenitsa lasted two weeks and fell in March. In 1698, the patriarch reduced the duration of this holiday to one week. So after this, the holiday acquired its own new “schedule”. Each day of Maslenitsa had its own name, each day had certain actions and rules of conduct:

Monday - "meeting"

Monday - meeting, invocations of spring.

On this day, they made a stuffed animal out of straw and put an old one on it. women's clothing, they put this scarecrow on a pole and, singing, drove it on a sleigh around the village. Then Maslenitsa was held on snowy mountain, where sledding began. The songs sung on the day of the meeting are very cheerful. Yes, for example:

And we celebrated Maslenitsa,

We met, soul, we met,

We visited the hill,

They lined the mountain with pancakes,

They filled the mountain with cheese,

They poured oil on the mountain,

They watered, soul, watered.

Tuesday - "flirt"

Tuesday - flirting, buffoons and guslars appeared.

From this day on, various kinds of entertainment began: sleigh rides, folk festivals, performances. In large wooden booths (rooms for folk theatrical performances with clownery and comic scenes) performances were given led by Petrushka and Maslenitsa grandfather. On the streets there were large groups of masked mummers, driving around familiar houses, where cheerful home concerts were held impromptu. Large companies we rode around the city, on troikas and on simple sledges. Another simple entertainment was also held in high esteem - skiing from icy mountains.

Wednesday - “gourmet”, “revelry”, “turnaround”

Wednesday - active pancake eating, visiting.

She opened treats in all houses with pancakes and other dishes. In every family, tables were set with delicious food, pancakes were baked, and beer was brewed together in the villages. Theaters and stalls appeared everywhere. They sold hot sbitn (drinks made from water, honey and spices), roasted nuts, and honey gingerbread. Here, right in the open air, you could drink tea from a boiling samovar.

Thursday - “walk-four”, “wide”;

Thursday - "washing down" pancakes, fist fights.

This day was the middle of games and fun. Perhaps it was then that the hot Maslenitsa fist fights took place, fist fights that originated from Ancient Rus'. They also had their own strict rules. It was impossible, for example, to hit a person who is lying down (remember the proverb “they don’t hit someone who is lying down”), two people to attack one (two people are fighting - the third one should not interfere), to hit below the belt (there is a saying: a blow below the belt) or to hit the back of the head. Violation of these rules was punishable. You could fight “wall to wall” (again the saying) or “one on one” (like the French tete-a-tete - “eye to eye”). There were also “hunter” fights for experts and fans of such fights. Ivan the Terrible himself watched such battles with pleasure. For such an occasion, this entertainment was prepared especially magnificently and solemnly.

Friday - "mother-in-law's evening", "mother-in-law's party"

Friday - assault on the winter town (Marena fortress)

A whole series of Maslenitsa customs were aimed at speeding up weddings and helping young people find a partner. And how much attention and honors the newlyweds received at Maslenitsa!

Tradition requires that they go out dressed up “in public” in painted sleighs, pay visits to everyone who walked at their wedding, and solemnly slide down the icy mountain accompanied by songs (and this also had a secret meaning). However, (as you probably already understood from the name of this day of Maslenitsa week) the most important event associated with the newlyweds and celebrated throughout Rus' was the visit of the mother-in-law by her sons-in-law, for whom she baked pancakes and arranged a real feast (if, of course, the son-in-law was to her liking).

In some places, “mother-in-law’s pancakes” took place on gourmet days, i.e. on Wednesday during Shrovetide week, but could be timed to coincide with Friday. If on Wednesday the sons-in-law visited their mothers-in-law, then on Friday the sons-in-law held a “mother-in-law party” - they invited them to pancakes. The former friend usually showed up, playing the same role as at the wedding, and received a gift for his troubles. The mother-in-law was obliged to send in the evening everything necessary for baking pancakes: a frying pan, a ladle, etc., and the father-in-law sent a bag of buckwheat and cow butter. The son-in-law's disrespect for this event was considered dishonor and insult and was the reason for eternal enmity between him and his mother-in-law.

Saturday - “sister-in-law’s get-togethers”, “farewell”

Saturday - gatherings

Let's start with the fact that a "sister-in-law" is her husband's sister. Where did this name come from? Maybe from the word evil? After all, she always noticed too many negative traits in her brother’s wife, and sometimes did not hide her dislike for her? Well, this has happened... (but not always).

So, on this Saturday, young daughters-in-law received their relatives (the wives of sons were daughters-in-law for the mother of their husbands, that is, they came not from here, from their village, for example, but from God knows where - this was customary in some places before: " Do not marry your own, locals").

Sunday - "forgiveness day"

Resurrection - farewell, burning of Maslenitsa - Madder, forgiveness of insults inflicted on each other during the holiday.

M. Zabylin’s book “The Russian People” tells how, at the beginning of the 17th century, the foreigner Margeret observed the following picture: if during the year the Russians offended each other in some way, then, having met on “Forgiveness Sunday,” they would certainly greet each other with a kiss , and one of them said: “Forgive me, perhaps.” The second one answered: “God will forgive you.” The offense was forgotten.

For the same purpose, on Forgiveness Sunday they went to the cemetery, left pancakes on the graves, prayed and worshiped the ashes of their relatives.

Maslenitsa was also called Cheese Week and was the last week before Lent.

The whole week was called “honest, broad, cheerful: Lady Maslenitsa, Madam Maslenitsa.”

However, the most important event of Maslenitsa week was the visit of the mother-in-law by her sons-in-law, for whom she baked pancakes and threw a feast.

After this came Lent, although in many parts of Russia, the celebration continued on Monday and Tuesday, but no longer on the street and in public, but in the home circle.

Fun for Maslenitsa

FIGHT WITH SACKS

To fight with bags, you need to fence off the area. This type of wrestling, where one hand must be kept tightly pressed to the lower back, can only be performed with one hand. Here the ability to move, feel the enemy’s movement, and use his inertia becomes more important.

CAPTURE OF THE FORTRESS

Only men take part in this fun. Because This fun is dangerous. From the very first snow, volunteers go to a new clearing, chosen in the summer, and begin building a snow fortress no lower than three human heights, along with this they install a pillar with prizes, all kinds of swings and carousels for children, a huge snow boat, a Russian stove made of snow, in some years they made labyrinths for children in the snowdrifts, ice slides and much more that I don’t have enough memory to list. Maslenitsa hides in this fortress on its last day. (As an entourage they also use Bright sun and some kind of flag.) The entire male population is divided approximately equally. Some become defenders of the fortress. Others are called invaders (the word is inappropriate). The goal of the latter is to capture the fortress and Maslenitsa. As weapons - snowballs, small snow blocks, snow by the collar and the strength of your hands. After the storming of the fortress, if you look at the participants (victors and besieged) - torn clothes and stretched sweaters, bruises and cut eyebrows. But everyone, as one, is happy, out of breath, rosy-cheeked. The winners bring Maslenitsa to the “common place”. A trial is held on it (for snow, for winter, for cold)... And they burn it in a big fire.

CHERRY

Fun for young boys and girls of marriageable age. The main thing is to take a longer run, fly higher and farther, and then the hands of your comrades will bring you to the girl, whom you will kiss. After flying through the waves from clasped hands for a couple of tens of meters, the kiss turns out to be especially sensual. The main thing is to brake in time, otherwise you will fly by.

ICE CARUSEL

This attraction is a big hit with children. A pole, into the upper end of which a metal rod (for example, a crowbar) is driven, is dug into the ground or frozen into ice. Its height is 70-80 cm. Then an old (or specially made) wheel is placed on the metal one. Long poles are fastened to the wheel with wire or nails, and sleds are tied to them. The path along which the sled will roll is cleared of snow and filled with water. For greater stability, the sled can be made wide (60-90 cm) or two sleds can be fastened together. Around the pillar, the snow is sprinkled with ash or sand so that it is not slippery for the children who will spin the carousel.

ICE PILLAR

On Maslenitsa they would put up a tall pole, then they would pour cold water over it and gifts would be hung on the frozen pole at different distances from each other. Players must try to climb this pillar, but they slide off it, and the winner is the one who tries harder and harder to overcome the obstacles in order to reach the end and get the most expensive prize.

POLE RIDING

This folk pastime was once widespread in the wooded provinces of Russia. Some other nations also organized it. On the slope of a mountain or hillock, sometimes specially made from snow and compacted tightly, two even, smoothly planed poles (poles) 15-20 m long are placed parallel to each other at a distance of about 1 meter. It also happens that skilled craftsmen “increase " to each pole there is one or more more, bringing the length to 50 meters or more. But the connections must be very strong and smooth, so that when moving your hand you will not feel a noticeable ledge or gap. It looks like two smooth rails along which you can slide down the mountain. The poles are repeatedly watered so that they freeze solidly and become slippery. They also fill in and thoroughly roll out the platform on which those who slide down the poles will roll. Anyone who wants to ride the poles selects a partner of approximately the same height and weight. It is advisable that both of them have shoes with heels, which help to stay more stable on the pole and not slip off it. Partners stand on poles facing each other, supporting each other with their hands on the shoulders or waist. However, there can be a variety of methods, just to resist a rapid slide down. Coherence of actions, the ability to maintain balance, ingenuity, and courage allow some to ride in the most daring and comical poses. This is a wonderful folk spectacle for winter holiday. Young people and teenagers are especially interested in pole riding.

HORSE AND Rider

There are two on each side - “Horse and Rider”. The goal is to knock opponents to the ground - at least the top one. A lot depends on the “horse”. Using the same principle, the Roosters try to knock down the opponent on one leg.

Tug of war

Let it not be entirely traditional on Maslenitsa. Preparation is like a regular tug-of-war, but the teams take on it with their backs to each other.

SNOW SILL

The height of the slide can be different; having a large space is important here. The length of the slide should be three to four times its height. The width of the area where the guys are preparing for the descent and the rolling paths is at least 1 m, and the width of the sled track is 1.5 m. To make a slide, you need to roll up snowballs during the thaw and pile them up. Then compact the snow with your feet or a shovel, cut off the excess snow and make a barrier or ladder out of it. Water the slide with cold water, otherwise thawed patches may form. You can build a more complex slide with turns, intermediate ascents and descents, and decorative arches. The difference between the start and finish levels should be 3-5 m.

SNOW MAZE

On an ice or snow area, a labyrinth diagram is first drawn in the shape of a square or circle with two exits on opposite sides. First, the internal sectors of the labyrinth are laid out with snow, then, moving from the center to the edges, the walls are laid out. They should not be high (up to 1 m) so that it is easy to find someone who gets lost in the passages of the labyrinth. The width of the passages is 80-100 cm. If there is a lot of snow, you can make a labyrinth by removing the snow with a shovel and laying it on the sides of the passages. Instead of building a labyrinth, you can instead trample intricate passages on the site.

SNOW SHOOTING SHOOT

In the winter town you can install permanent targets for throwing snowballs. It is best if these are wooden boards measuring 1x1 m with concentric circles with a diameter of 30.60 and 90 cm drawn on them. The boards can be installed on poles dug into the ground, hung on a blank wall or on a fence. It’s probably worth making a special wall for the shooting range, on which you can put targets, and the guys will knock them down with snowballs.

Games for Maslenitsa

ZARYA

Children stand in a circle, hold their hands behind their backs, and one of the players, “Dawn,” walks behind him with a ribbon and says:

Dawn - lightning,

Red maiden,

I walked across the field,

Dropped the keys

Golden keys

Blue ribbons,

Rings entwined -

Let's go get some water!

With the last words, the driver carefully places the ribbon on the shoulder of one of the players, who, noticing this, quickly takes the ribbon, and they both run in different directions in a circle. The one who is left without a place becomes a "dawn". The game repeats itself. Runners must not cross the circle. The players do not turn around while the driver chooses whose shoulder to put the ribbon on.

MAIL

The game begins with a roll call between the driver and the players:

- Ding, ding, ding!

-Who's there?

- Mail!

- Where?

- From the city...

- What are they doing in the city?

The driver can say that people dance, sing, and jump in the city. All players must do what the driver says. And the one who performs the task poorly gives away a forfeit. The game ends as soon as the driver collects 5 forfeits. Players whose forfeits are from the driver must redeem them. The driver comes up with interesting tasks for them. Children count poems, tell funny stories, remember riddles, and imitate the movements of animals. Then a new driver is chosen and the game is repeated.

GIVE A KERCHIEF TO SYMPATHY

A goal with an inclined crossbar is installed on the site, on which colored handkerchiefs are suspended on thin threads at different heights. Competitors need to run up, jump up and tear off one of the handkerchiefs, and then call the girl’s name and give her your torn one.

Calls about spring

Call of spring.

***

Come to us, spring,

With joy!

With a great one to us

With mercy!

With grainy rye,

With golden wheat,

With curly oats,

With mustachioed barley,

With millet, with buckwheat,

With viburnum-raspberry,

With pears, with apples,

With every garden,

With azure flowers,

With grass-ant.

***

Lark on the waist

Singing, singing,

He calls himself, he calls himself

Spring is red, spring is red.

Don't let snowballs lie in an open field

Melt, melt,

In the blue sea, in the blue sea

Roll away, roll away.

***

Spring is red!

What did you come with?

On the bipod

On the harrow.

***

Spring is red.

What did you come with?

- On the perch,

On the groove

On an oatmeal,

On a wheat pie.

-And we were waiting for spring

The scraps were spun.

A sandpiper flew from across the sea,

The sandpiper brought nine locks.

- Sandpiper, sandpiper,

Close the winter

Unlock spring

Warm summer.

***

Larks, larks!

Quail-quails!

Come and visit us

bring it to us

warm spring

summer is fertile

Spring with rain,

summer with herbs.

Spring with sunshine

summer with grain.

***

Spring! Spring is red!

Warm sunshine!

Come quickly

Keep the children warm!

Come and join us with joy!

With great mercy!

With tall flax!

With deep roots!

With rich bread!

Sayings about Maslenitsa

Pancakes, pancakes, pancakes, like the wheels of Spring

How pancakes flew to the ceiling during the oil week

Maslena does not last forever

Maslenitsa without pancakes, there is no name day without pies

Maslenitsa is coming, damn it, it’s bringing honey

Maslenitsa lasts for seven days

We thought Maslenitsa was seven weeks, but it’s only seven days

Have fun at Maslenaya and treat yourself to a blink

Ride in the mountains, lie in pancakes.

Not everything is Maslenitsa, there is also Lent

Not life - existence, but Maslenitsa

Let's pay our respects at the cheese shop on Sunday

Riddles about Maslenitsa

The current is iron, spring planting. (Pancake in a frying pan.)

* * *

You drop a drop on your bald spot, put it in, steam it, take it out, straighten it. (Pancakes are being baked.)

* * *

The shores are iron, the fish is boneless, the water is expensive. (Frying pan, pancake and butter.)

* * *

The king bird sits on golden eggs. (Frying pan on coals.)

* * *

Maslenitsa is a delicious meal!

Let's bake pancakes in the morning.

They include sour cream and jam

And, of course, ... (caviar)!

* * *

And with caviar and sour cream -

They are all delicious!

Nostrils and blush -

Our suns are... (pancakes)!

Songs for Maslenitsa

Oh, pancakes - pancakes...

We haven't eaten pancakes for a long time,

We wanted pancakes