When does Masnitsa 2023 begin

This holiday does not have a clear date, because it always depends on the beginning of Great Lent.

But most often it falls on the end of February-beginning of March.

Everyone can independently calculate when the Fat Week begins.

To do this, you need to add 56 days from the day of the Easter celebration (that is, 46 days of Great Lent and one week, when Shrovetide is celebrated directly).

In 2023, Easter falls on April 16.

So,

Shrovetide will last from February 20 to 26

.

It is interesting that according to some historians, until the 17th century, Lent was prepared longer.

Then the Fat Week lasted not one, but three whole weeks.

The first was omnivorous, that is, it was allowed to consume meat and other dishes.

The second one is spotted or trespassing.

In those days, meat was allowed on all days except Lent (Wednesday and Friday).

And the last one — the Fat Week — differed in that people could consume only dairy products, cheeses, and butter.

What kind of holiday is it and what traditions exist

In Ukraine, dumplings with cheese and sour cream were traditionally prepared on Shrovetide / Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

Shrovetide is an ancient holiday of the Slavs.

And that is why it is distinguished by a large number of traditions, rituals and beliefs.

The appearance of Shrovetide is connected with the pagan god Yaril.

In ancient times, people living on the territory of modern Ukraine sacrificed various stuffed animals made of straw to the higher forces.

After Christianity was adopted here, the Church decided not to destroy folk rituals, but to give them a new meaning.

Today Masnitsa can be called a cheerful folk holiday.

The main idea of ​​Shrovetide is to spend winter and welcome spring.

It is interesting that during pagan times this holiday was celebrated not at the end of winter, but on the day of the vernal equinox.

In church tradition, Masnitsa is called Cheese Week.

This is due to the fact that during this week it is allowed to consume fish and dairy products in order to prepare oneself for the beginning of Lent.

Believers believe that this is how you can cleanse your soul and body of negative energy.

The Holy Week ends with a special holiday called "Forgiven Sunday".

That is, the modern Shrovetide has absorbed the traditions of many centuries, becoming exactly the holiday we know today.

Is Masnytsia a Ukrainian holiday

On the Internet, you can find a lot of questions, can Masnitsa be classified as a Ukrainian holiday, or is it still Russian and was instilled in Ukrainians by the occupiers?

It first appeared during pagan times on the territory of Kyivan Rus.

That is, Masnytsia is undoubtedly Ukrainian cultural heritage.

Although some traditions, according to historians, were still borrowed.

For example, our ancestors did not cook pancakes.

Instead, there were always dumplings with cheese and sour cream on the tables.

Another important question: how to say Masnytsia or Maslyana correctly?

After all, the last option can often be found among Ukrainians.

In Ukrainian, the holiday is called Masnytsia.

According

to

scientist Maryna Askurava, this is due to the fact that during Fat Week, a lot of fatty food (butter, cheese, sour cream) was consumed.

There are also many regional names.

The most popular is Kolodiy.

Also called Cheese Week, Cheese Week, Syropust.

The name Maslan appeared in the 1960s of the last century, when the holiday was allowed to be celebrated for a long time by the Soviet authorities, but gave it Russian roots.

Rituals and customs on Shrovetide

Masnytsia in Kharkiv / Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

According to tradition, Shrovetide begins on Monday and ends on Sunday.

Each day of the week is dedicated to a certain ritual, and therefore carries a deep meaning.

Everyone was preparing for the holiday, from adults to children.

On Sunday, before the beginning of Cheese Week, everyone went to visit.

In ancient times, it was important to prepare a large number of different dishes.

In particular, dumplings, casseroles, pies and pies.

The holiday was always accompanied by fun entertainment, songs and dances.

In the center of a city or village, a place was necessarily created where residents could come and have fun.

The straw effigy, which symbolized winter, was considered the main attribute of the holiday.

At the end of Shrovetide, he was burned.

This is how they said goodbye to winter and welcomed spring.

Traditions for the days of Holy Week

Each day of the week had its own name, and rituals also differed.

Monday — Meeting

.

On this day, people invited guests (relatives, relatives, friends, neighbors) to their homes.

There were many goodies on the table, including cheese casseroles and cheese dumplings.

Also, it was on Monday that a straw effigy was made, which was placed in the central square of a town or village.

It stayed there until the end of the holiday.

Tuesday — Flirting

.

In ancient times, so-called reviews were held on this day.

Boys and girls who did not yet have a couple gathered together to ride the sleigh.

During the fun, you could find a soul mate.

Later, almost all such couples became families.

Wednesday — Lasunka

.

Housewives invited guests, especially sons-in-law, to their homes to prepare a dish called "mother-in-law's pancake".

In addition, there was booze and sweets on the table.

In order for the family to live in peace and harmony, the son-in-law had to pay the mother-in-law a compliment.

Thursday — Go for a walk

.

On this day, Shrovetide passed from a family to a general celebration.

People went out into the streets, sang, danced and had fun.

But it was strictly forbidden to work.

Friday — Mother-in-law's party

.

Now the son-in-law called the mother-in-law to visit, to treat her to various goodies.

This ritual helped establish close family relationships.

Saturday — Gatherings of the village

.

The young wife had to invite her brother and sister to visit her, to treat her to dumplings, pies, and pancakes.

Sunday — Forgiven Sunday

.

The name of the holiday speaks for itself.

On the eve of Great Lent, they tried to apologize to everyone they offended.

They also had to go to church to ask for a blessing from the higher powers.

Then a straw effigy was burned on the square.

Folk signs

  • In the first three days of Shrovetide, you need to clean the house, as well as get rid of all unnecessary and old things.

  • Uninvited guests on Shrovetide mean that happiness awaits you.

  • If you eat peas on Wednesday, and dumplings on Thursday, then the whole year will pass in abundance.

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