As cows began to calve, milk appeared in every house. Butter is a symbol of prosperity in the family, and a round hot crepe, the personification of the sun, are attributes of the holiday.

Shrove Tuesday comes from earlier traditions first held by the Slavs, who believed that spring came about when the god Jarilo defeated evil spirits of cold and darkness.

God Yarilo, one of the supreme deities, in the spring appears as a strong young man, just resurrected after death – winter. Initially, the significance of the Maslenitsa holiday was tied to the date of the spring solstice.

Spring appears in the form of a young mischievous girl, and Winter – a decrepit, evil old woman. It is believed that Spring needed to defeat Winter in order to fully enter into her rights, and people’s duty is to let go Winter with dignity, so that she would not return ahead of schedule. Winter had to be persuaded, “caused” so that she would make room for a new life.

The week before great fasting is a spiritual preparation, and we need to ask for forgiveness from loved ones, and we need to forgive our offenders and enemies, in order to begin fasting abstinence with pure thoughts and without a burden of resentment on the soul.

The main symbols of Maslenitsa, of course, are round, hot, freshly baked golden crepes, abundantly poured with butter. Since crepes symbolize the sun, they are baked to appease the god Yarila and attract the Sun, which brings fertility and prosperity, to our homes. Therefore, to eat a crepe on Maslenitsa is to let a piece of the sun into ourselves and get a piece of the power of a Slavic deity.

In general, many symbols of the Sun and fire are associated with the meaning of the Maslenitsa holiday – a circle decorated with ribbons, round dances, and, of course, the burning of an effigy of Winter.

In eating crepes we are consuming the heat and power of the sun, and helping Jarilo defeat winter.

The people have always waited for Maslenitsa, affectionately and called it “sugar lips”, “kisser”, “merry”, “honest Shrovetide”, “quail”.

Farewell to Maslenitsa ends on the first day of Lent – the Clean Monday. On this day, people always wash themselves in a bathhouse, or go to a spa, and women wash dishes and “steam” milk utensils, cleaning it of fat and remnants of squid.

Many Maslenitsa traditions are connected with the themes of family and marriage: these days, young married couples are honored, and young men and women who have not yet married undergo comic “punishments” in the form of various rites-tests.

Maslenitsa folklore

Many jokes, songs and proverbs are associated with the days of Maslenitsa: “It’s not butter without a crepe”, “Ride on the mountains, wallow in crepes”, “Not life, but Maslenitsa”, “Shrove Tuesday, save money”, “Not all the cat Shrove Tuesday, but there will be Great Lent.”

Each day of Maslenitsa has its own name, it gives a hint about what needs to be done:

Monday – Meeting.

In the morning, the father-in-law and mother-in-law sent the daughter-in-law for a day to her father and mother, in the evening the time and place and who is invited is determined. The hostesses prepare crepes and invite to eat families together.

Tuesday – “Games”.

The fires and games began, and the day is devoted to young boys and girls who are going to get married. On this day, it is customary to get acquainted with the future groom or choose a bride.

Wednesday – “Gourmet” (Lakomka). The Ash Wednesday.

There is a belief that one should eat as much delicious food as possible at Lakomka, and your luck depends on it. And on this day, the mother-in-law invites her son-in-law to eat crepes.

Thursday – “Revelry”.

The most satisfying and fun day of Pancake week, on which the most games, festivities, round dances are happening. On the same day, readers took out a stuffed Shrovetide, caroling mummers. Anyone could drop in on neighbors, acquaintances and strangers, singing sentences.

Friday – Mother-in-law evening.

Sons-in-law treats their mothers with crepes and sweets.

Saturday – “Sister-in-law gatherings”. Young daughters-in-law invited their sisters-in-law and other relatives of their husbands to visit them. If the sister-in-law is not married, then the daughter-in-law invite her unmarried friends; if the husband’s sisters are already married, then the daughter-in-law calls her married relatives. The newlywed gives the sisters-in-law presents.

Sunday – “Forgiveness Sunday”

People finish eating crepes and burn the effigy of Shrovetide, symbolizing the onset of winter. Then everyone goes to visit their relatives and friends, give presents and ask for forgiveness from each other.