They burned the straw man, asked for forgiveness and ate enough pancakes to choke a horse! Maslenitsa is over for another year and everyone is hoping that Spring will soon come, as the fields will turn green with a bountiful harvest. It goes like this every year…
Monday is called “a meeting”. With the first pancake it is tradition to give to beggars for them to mention the poor dead.
Tuesday is called “zaigrysh” (games). On this day, the morning begins with a funny game.
Wednesday is called “gourmand” (A gourmand is a person who takes great pleasure in food.) On this day, the hostess act on saying: “What is in the oven, First of all delicacies, of course, pancakes.” On this day Mother in-laws invite Son in-laws to eat pancakes.
Thursday – “razguliay”. On this day begins Maslenitsa full strength. As well as helping to drive winter away and bring the sun into play again. Example to do this, like riding horses clockwise around the village.
Friday – “Teschin evening” (Inlaws). Son in-law invites Mother in-law and treat them pancakes.
Saturday, the “zolovkiny chat” Sister in-law invites female relatives of her husband. If the husband’s sisters were married, the daughter of guests invited and their unmarried friends. But if the sister was already married, she invited relatives married. Bride daughter had bestowed their gifts zolovok.
On Sunday the last day of Maslenitsa is called “Forgiveness Sunday”. On this day, you should apologize to all relatives and friends for all the resentment, thus relieved of their sins before Lent. Also on the last day of Pancake week, you burn a man of straw – the symbol of winter. The ashes of the man of straw fly all over the fields – for a rich summer harvest.”
This is an every year thing for Russians and it is deeply rooted in tradition and culture. It is very important that times like Maslenitsa are followed as you definitely do not want to upset the flow of life. So below in photos you will see what Sveta took pictures of as our little spot in the world celebrated Maslenitsa and the final day…
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- Listening to a song…
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- The straw man…
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- Lots of children…
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- Close Up!
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- Games and food…
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- It is cold as you can see…
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- Hot tea and pies…
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- Kids love trains at -20 C.
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- Pancake Time…
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- Wares…
This year Sveta and Boza had to go alone! I was getting ready for the dentist and found that I could not make the special events this year. Kind of upset me, but when Sveta brought home these wonderful photos, it was just like I was there…
As you can see it is bitter cold in our part of Russia. This is the way it is every year and the hope that spring will come soon is strong in everyone’s minds. For winter is long and we are tired after a hard winter, especially the one we have had this year. It is snowing heavily today and looks like it will snow for another week…
I just love Russia…
Post by Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…