Many customs of the celebration of Maslenitsa have already been lost in the centuries. Most families symbolically bake pancakes for this holiday in any one day. But in fact, the customs of the Russian people on Shrovetide took a whole week, and each day had its own special schedule.
Russian traditions and customs of Carnival: Monday
The Shrovetide week begins on Monday, and by this day people have been making slides, swings, preparing pancakes and pastries, and the kids have created a doll of Maslenitsa from straw, dressed and decorated it. Then they gathered and walked with songs and dances from house to house - they were treated to something with something - a pancake, then another goodness. The very first pancake on this day in any case was "commemorative", regardless of whether they gave it to children or ate themselves.
This was the way to the good times, and then the kids went on a rollercoaster ride and sang songs. With this, signs were connected too: the one who will roll the farthest will receive the best harvest of flax this year.
Maslenitsa - customs and rituals of Tuesday
This day was called "Flirt", and his main faces were no longer children, but newlyweds. For a week or two before Shrovetide, weddings were played, and on Shrovetide Tuesday, all young couples went to roll on the slides, and then went to treat themselves to pancakes in all houses. Those young guys and girls, who had not been tied up by marriage, looked at themselves for the bride and groom that day.
On this day, single girls often wondered at the betrothed. It was supposed to take a pancake, go out and give them the first man to meet, asking his name. It is believed that this is exactly the way they will be called a suitor.
Customs: what did they do on Maslenitsa on Wednesday?
Wednesday, or gourmet, as it was called this week, suggested family communication - son-in-law went to mother-in-law to pancakes, dressed up as on the day of the wedding. It was a compulsory action, allowing to bring together the whole family.
Unmarried youth rolled around the slides, got acquainted and communicated. The guys who did not marry this year, the residents joked, and to be left alone, they had to buy sweets and pancakes.
Carnival customs for Thursday
Thursday, or roam, was the first day, when not one category of people was supposed to have fun, but all at once. People gathered whole families, arranged fisticuffs, fought for snowy towns, had fun and talked. On the same day, it was supposed to solemnly deliver the stuffed Shrovetide to a high mountain.
Shrovetide: signs and customs of Friday
This day was called "the mother-in-law of the evening." This time the mother-in-law was on a friendly visit to the family with young people, and she was treated to pancakes, but in advance the mother-in-law had to send her son-in-law all the necessary ingredients - oil, flour and even a frying pan. Such a meeting was an honor for the wife's family, and all present were having a good time.
Celebrating Maslenitsa on Saturday
This day the people called the "zolovkin gathering", and it was marked by the fact,
Shrovetide: customs of Sunday
This Sunday has long been called "forgiven". On Monday, the most severe post in the year lasts for 40 days. It was supposed before this time to cleanse your soul of hardships and approach to everyone with whom there were queries or problems to ask for forgiveness. In response, it was supposed to say: "God will forgive."
On this day, the last time to fasting was allowed to drink alcohol, because during the entire post you need to refuse not only from meat and sweets, but also from alcohol, tobacco, intimate life and all kinds of joys.