Maslenitsa: history and traditions of the holiday

When the holiday is celebrated this year, its history and traditions in ancient times and today are in the Kommersant reference.

What kind of holiday is Maslenitsa?

Maslenitsa is a celebration of farewell to winter and welcome of spring. It is celebrated for a week. Its start depends on the date of Easter. This year Maslenitsa will be celebrated from March 11 to 17.

Maslenitsa was originally a pagan holiday that signified the end of winter and the beginning of spring. According to one version, it was dedicated to the patron of cattle Veles, according to another – to the sun god Yarilo. After the baptism of Rus’, the holiday was filled with new meaning. Maslenitsa began to fall on the last week before Lent. The holiday was called “Cheese Week”. It was allowed to eat fish and dairy products, but meat was already prohibited.

Analogue of a holiday in the Catholic Church

The Catholic Church has a similar holiday. It is called Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday). It is celebrated before Ash Wednesday, which begins Lent in the Catholic Church. In honor of Mardi Gras, it is customary to organize carnivals.

How Maslenitsa was celebrated before

It was customary to organize big celebrations on Maslenitsa. The main treat during this week was pancakes. The festivities ended with the burning of the Maslenitsa effigy or its funeral. The holiday week was divided into two periods – Wide and Narrow Maslenitsa. Each day had its own name and traditions.

Monday (Meeting) – on this day they started baking pancakes. The first of them was given to the poor to remember the dead. The matchmakers went to visit each other. Also on this day, snow towns, slides, swings and other places for future festivities were built. In addition, on Monday they collected straw for the Maslenitsa effigy. On this day Narrow Maslenitsa began.

Tuesday (Flirting) – first of all, this day was dedicated to brides’ viewings. Guys and girls rode down the slides. During Lent, weddings were prohibited, but they could be held on Krasnaya Gorka. This was the name of the first Sunday after Easter. Therefore, many Maslenitsa traditions were aimed at matchmaking. Also on this day, a scarecrow of Maslenitsa was installed.

Wednesday (Gourmet) – on this day the son-in-law went to visit his mother-in-law. Besides him, other guests were also invited. Narrow Maslenitsa ends on Wednesday.

Thursday (Range) – on this day all work ended and wide celebrations began. There were horse rides, fist fights, and various competitions. In addition, the snow castle was stormed on Thursday. On this day, Broad Maslenitsa began.

Friday (Mother-in-law’s evening) – on this day the son-in-law invited his mother-in-law to visit. As a rule, she came with her relatives and friends.

Saturday (Sister-in-law’s gatherings) – daughters-in-law invited their husband’s relatives to visit. The sisters-in-law – the husband’s sisters – were required to be called. The rest of the guests depended on them. If the sister-in-law was unmarried, then the daughter-in-law called her unmarried friends. If the groom’s sisters were already married, then the daughter-in-law had to invite family friends. In addition, the sister-in-law was supposed to give a small gift.

Sunday (Seeing off) – on this day the largest celebrations took place. They ended with the burning of an effigy of Maslenitsa. On Sunday we went to the bathhouse, and in the evening we commemorated the dead. In Orthodoxy, this day is called “Forgiveness Sunday.” It was customary to ask each other for forgiveness.

Celebrating Maslenitsa now

Nowadays, it is customary to bake pancakes for the holiday. In many cities, festivals and concerts are organized in honor of this. As part of such events, mass celebrations, competitions, performances by various artists and more are held. As part of the holiday, an effigy of Maslenitsa is often burned, as before. The country’s main celebrations take place on Red Square.

According to survey VTsIOM from 2023, Maslenitsa is celebrated by 66% of Russians. Among Orthodox Christians it is 77%, and among Muslims – 20%. The main reason why Russians celebrate Maslenitsa, respondents say, is a tribute to the tradition left over from their ancestors (62%). Another 17% of respondents said they celebrate to see off the winter and welcome spring. 76% of Russians planned to bake pancakes. 36% of respondents wanted to go on a visit or invite someone to their home. 32% of respondents expressed a desire to take part in public festivities. 12% of Russians planned to observe Lent, 72% said they would not do this, and another 14% did not have time to decide at the time of the survey.