Despite the fact that Ukraine is well-developed and modern country which is ready to enter the EU, it still secures its traditions and holidays. They unite people and allow to have fun together, and also to honor the way the ancestors used to live. So, soon Ukraine will celebrate Maslenitsa which is also often called Butter Week. It is celebrated before the beginning of the Great Lent.
Like many other Christian holidays, Maslenitsa is closely connected with old Slavic celebrations. Thus, it also means the beginning of new cycle of year, and people celebrate it to increase fertility of soil and in future have better harvest. Of course, nowadays, this meaning is less popular, but still in country people burn the dummy of Maslenitsa to destroy previous fertility of soil and create the new, reborn one.
People in the city celebrate this holiday without burnings. Usually, everyone bakes pancakes. This is the main food of this holiday, and all good housewives and young ladies know how to do them! They can be with sweet or meat filling – everything depends on the inventiveness of the cooker. If you are lucky to be in Ukraine these days (as Maslenitsa continues for a week), you will sure be always well fed-up with this tasty food.
Another noticeable peculiarity of Maslenitsa in the matchmaking. During this holidays, the matchmakers from men can come to homes of ladies and make offers for them to meet some certain person. Of course, they usually refer to her parents. Yes, this tradition is less popular nowadays, because ladies are more independent and they can decide themselves who their husband will be.
One of important days of this week is considered to be the Sunday of Forgiveness. As its name says, people ask for forgiveness of each other, for everything. It is believed that this day God will forgive you, and you also must release all hurts you feel towards a person who asked you to forgive him, or you will not feel good for the rest of the year. So, if you feel that you might have done or said something bad to a person you love, this is a wonderful opportunity to fix situation. And, of course, people eat food which will be forbidden during the whole long Great Lent which will last till the Easter.
And, finally, the whole spirit of Maslenitsa is in meeting with each other. People visit their relatives and friends, meet in streets and have walks and celebrations together. And, of course, they treat each other with tasty pancakes. These days single Ukrainian women hope that finally they will meet their destiny, and that very most important and desirable man will finally come to their life.