On the eve of Shrovetide, many want to not only prepare pancakes with various fillings, but also to learn the history of this wonderful holiday. Of course, many habits and folk customs are embodied in folklore, you can recognize them by reading a variety of proverbs about Shrovetide.
Delicious holiday
Many holidays, which are now considered to be purely Christian, still have pagan roots, and were celebrated even before the Baptism of Russia. In addition to the beginning of Lent, before Easter, which begins immediately after the Cheese week (also known as Shrovetide), this holiday marks the arrival of spring. This is evidenced by customs, such as burning a scarecrow symbolizing winter, decorating with bright attributes of clothes, horses, sleds, on which young people rode. But proverbs about Shrovetide also tell a lot about the involvement of the holiday in the ancient Slavic traditions:
• Pancakes, crepes, pancakes, like wheels in spring!
• We accompany Shrovetide, we expect the light of the sun!
Holiday symbol
It would seem that much is special in such a dish as pancakes? And to cook them is not difficult at any other time of the year. Nevertheless, few people at least once a Pancake week do not bake this delicious treat. Hot, yellow, round pancakes are a symbol of the sun. Tired of bursting frost, snow and winter, people thus tried to bring warmth and rejoiced at the first manifestations of spring.
• Have fun on Maslianaya, but treat yourself to pancake!
• No pancake Maslyana.
There is another reason for the popularity of pancakes during the wonderful spring festival. After the Christmas holidays, the strictest fasting began, and by the time of Shrovetide, meat was already forbidden. But baking, cottage cheese, sour cream, eggs - this is a list of allowed products. It was believed that during the Cheese week it was necessary to eat pancakes to the dump. And proverbs about Shrovetide very clearly express the features of this event:
• Damn not a wedge - the belly will not split.
• Pancakes and kisses do not like accounts.
Day of strife
Proverbs and sayings about Shrovetide can also tell a lot about the course of the holiday itself. It was conditionally divided into two periods - in the first three days it was customary to go to visit relatives, at that time they collected a scarecrow, baked the first pancakes, it was possible to do household chores.
Already on Thursday there was a lot of fun, in which children and youth took part. The site for the celebration was the village where young people from all over the neighborhood gathered. Here it was already customary to joke, ride downhill, ride sledges, drive round dances and sing songs. In some villages they jumped over a huge bonfire.
All this riot of fun and feast of the belly perfectly described proverbs about Shrovetide:
• Ride on the mountains, lie in pancakes!
• As in the oil week, pancakes flew to the ceiling.
We really loved this holiday among children. In addition to eating a variety of treats, the kids participated in many events. They rolled down the hill and jumped over the fire (in some places adults were generally forbidden and remained only children's entertainment). In addition, special poems, sayings and proverbs about Shrovetide for children have been compiled.
The special end of the holiday
Pancake week ended with Forgiveness Sunday. The celebrations ended very sharply. With the ringing of the church bell, everyone went home. On this day, it was necessary to ask for forgiveness from all friends, relatives and relatives. Importantly, forgiveness had to be given.
• Pay homage to the Cheese on Sunday.