Yay, yay, yay! Shrovetide has come to us!

Shrovetide is a wonderful holiday that has its origins in pagan times, when people worshiped the forces of nature. At the end of winter, when the soul and body were tired of cold and hunger, the Slavs began to invoke the spring.

Monday - meeting

On this day the in-laws met and discussed plans for the coming week: who would visit whom and when, where the main celebration on Goodbye Sunday would be held. On Monday we finished preparing entertainment: ice slides, swings, and a straw scarecrow. The scarecrow was put on the sleigh and driven around the village.

Tuesday is a flirtation

Everyone went outside, theatricals were staged, and the boys flirted with the girls, inviting them to go down the slides together. Older people remembered their youth, too, and crawled up the slides and rolled down them with laughter. On Tuesday, the fancy dressers went door to door, fooling around and asking for treats.

Wednesday is a treat

On Wednesday, mothers-in-law treated their sons-in-law by offering them tea and pancakes for every taste and other delicacies. They were invited to visit with the whole family, thus showing respect.

Thursday is a binge

On Thursday, mass festivities continued with songs and round dances (dancing in circles had a sacred meaning), sledding, fist fights, and snowball games. On Thursday evening, sons-in-law would go to their mothers-in-law and invite them over for pancakes.

Friday - Mother-in-law's Evening

Mother-in-laws and their husbands wore festive clothes and went to their sons-in-laws for a feast, but they also carried pancakes with them. If a son-in-law disrespected his mother-in-law on such a day, he made an enemy for life. And young girls at midnight read fortune-telling about suitors.

Saturday - sister-in-law's party

Daughters-in-law would invite their sisters and brothers-in-law and their families to their homes and lay a table of pancakes for them. They also showered sisters-in-law with gifts and treats, specially visiting their husbands' sisters, in case they were already married. Also on Saturday they remembered their departed relatives, visited their graves and left pancakes there.

Sunday is the day of forgiveness, the kissing day

On Sunday, there were festivities in the street. Everywhere there were stalls with pancakes and hot tea for people to eat. It was believed that one should not be sad and sorrowful on this holiday, otherwise one would spend the whole year like that. On this day people asked forgiveness to each other, hugged and kissed each other three times. And also they thanked the sun for warmth and light. Various competitions for dexterity, courage and strength were held. The Pancake Day scarecrows were burnt, as well as old things that reminded of illnesses and sorrows.