Do you like pancakes? And how about eating pancakes for a whole week?
With Maslenitsa (Russian Shrovetide) you may have not only tasty pancakes, but seven days fun and a chance to meet your Russian bride.
Maslenitsa comes from the ancient pagan holiday of seeing off winter and meeting spring which has remained in Slavic world even after the adoption of Christianity in the 10th century. In According to the Orthodox Church, the period of carnival week is called The Cheese Week and is dedicated to the reconciliation with others, forgiveness and preparing for Lent.
In Slavic world a pancake has the important meaning of the sun, the symbol of life and the good harvest. Pancakes are easy to make but nutritious, tasty and are easy to share.
Maslenitsa in 2013 begins on the 11th of March and lasts 7 days. According to the ancient Slavs, each days of Maslenitsa had its special significance.
Monday was the beginning of Carnival, a day when Russian ladies made a lot of pancakes with honey and butter. The first pancake was “shared” with those who passed away. This day family gathered together and made a plan of celebration. People made slides and swings to have fun for a week.
Tuesday was the day of games and fun, unmarried Russian women met the men who wanted to marry them and invited his family and friends.
Thursday was a day with a lot of activities: people jumped over the fire, skating, even had fights with each other. That was the day when people used all the accumulated energy.
On Friday mother-in-law were called to eat pancakes with their daughters. People celebrated this day as the union of mothers-in-law and sons-in-law.Saturday was a day when a Russian wife invited all her husband’s relatives to dinner with pancakes and other threats.
The last day of Maslenitsa was the Forgiveness Sunday. This day people asked each other for forgiveness even if they were not to blame. Ancient Slavs went to a church to ask God to forgive them everything. People also went to the Russian Bath– to “wash away” their sins and to prepare for revival. Russian brides didn’t make pancakes this day and went to the cemetery to ask forgiveness of those who have died. That was a day with no celebration when people prepared for Lent.
The Clean Monday was the first day after Maslenitsa, this day Russian wives cleaned everything and went to the Russian Bath.
So, as you see, Maskenitsa was one of the funniest weeks which allowed Slavic people not only to have fun, but think about family and God.
Nowadays Maslenitsa is associated with pancakes and festivals. Slavic women gather together and make pancakes with different stuffing. People still believe that those who don’t have at least one pancake during the Maslenitsa week will be unlucky.In Maslenitsa ancient Slavs met each other and fell in love, so this is one of the best times in the year to meet your Russian bride. A pancake made with love and care is almost the love potion which will lead you to the right choice of a Russian wife. Because every Russian woman makes pancakes for her own recipe, that’s why to get to know a girl you need to try her pancakes!
We wish you to have a lot of fun on Maslenitsa and to meet the Russian lady who makes the tastiest pancakes!