Maslenitsa has long been considered the most cheerful and riotous Slavic holiday. Today we are not as tied to the agricultural cycle as our ancestors, so now Maslenitsa is a good reason for us to have fun. Before Christianity, Maslenitsa was celebrated on the days of the spring equinox. Now this holiday is celebrated in the week preceding Lent. In Rus' these days festivities, games, and competitions were organized. Pancakes were baked in every house. We went to visit each other, treated ourselves, and had fun.

Symbol of Maslenitsa - Pancakes

Pancakes are the main symbol of Maslenitsa.

The pancake is like the sun you are waiting for after a long winter. Therefore, they baked a lot of different pancakes. Thick, thin, with or without filling, with a lot of butter. Each housewife had her own recipes for making pancakes. All this was done to invite, to “cajole” the sun, hence the name “Maslenitsa”.
Symbol of Maslenitsa - Bear

The bear is also a symbol of Maslenitsa. At Maslenitsa, they always dressed a person in a bear fur coat or a sheepskin coat turned inside out. The mummer danced, imitating the movements of the awakening bear, and they danced around him, wanting to wake up the sleeping bear. Then it turned into a game, the Bear tried to catch someone from the round dance. This is especially fun - children like the game; they can squeal and run around for years.

Symbol of Maslenitsa - Circle-wheel

On Maslenitsa it was customary to perform various actions related to the circle. They decorated a cart wheel and carried it on a pole through the streets, and rode around the village on horseback several times with accordion and songs. Lighted wheels were rolled along the streets or down hills. It was believed that whoever rolled the wheel without a single fall would be lucky all year. The girls danced in circles. After all, a round dance is also a wheel.

Symbol of Maslenitsa - Straw Scarecrow

Another symbol of Maslenitsa is the Scarecrow - Madder. Rather, it is a symbol of winter. A character who embodies the passing winter and death. Marena was greeted with solemn songs at the very beginning of the holiday and seen off at the end. For the wires, they made a straw effigy, dressed in women's clothing, sometimes with a pancake or frying pan in its hands; The stuffed animal was carried along the street with songs and round dances. And at the end of the holiday, saying goodbye to the winter, they burned an effigy on a bonfire built on a hill.

In the Christian tradition, the meaning of Maslenitsa Week is reconciliation with neighbors, forgiveness of offenses, preparation for Lent - time that should be devoted to good communication with neighbors, family, and friends.

Maslenitsa is a family holiday!

Try to create a festive atmosphere in your family this week.

Bake pancakes so that your home smells like Maslenitsa. Do crafts with your children to bond with each other. Be sure to make a scarecrow. And spend Forgiveness Sunday with songs and games with your loved ones.

NOVOSIBIRSK, February 28 - RIA Novosti, Elena Zhukova. Many sayings related to the word "damn" are present in colloquial speech. Novosibirsk experts spoke about how “pancake” catchphrases, traditions and curses were born, and how exactly they are connected with Maslenitsa.

The proverb “It’s not all Maslenitsa for the cat”, known to contemporaries, actually sounds like “It’s not all Maslenitsa for the cat, there will be Lent.” It is connected with the fact that Maslenitsa week in the Christian tradition is called cheese week. During this time, you cannot eat meat, but you can eat dairy products and cheese.

“After Maslenitsa passed, fasting began. According to Christian tradition, seeing off Maslenitsa meant reconciliation between people, forgiveness and preparation for fasting. But at the same time, the people wanted to eat well, they needed to satiate themselves so that this food would last throughout Lent and until Easter ", says Baituganov.

According to Baituganov, it is impossible to say exactly why the cat is mentioned in the proverb, but it can be assumed that the cat received more food from the table than usual on Maslenitsa, including sour cream.

Other characters

The interlocutor notes that on the last day of Maslenitsa bonfires were traditionally lit. Coals were trampled into the ground, thereby warming the soil, which symbolized the future revitalization of the earth after winter, its fertility.

It was also traditional to capture snowy towns, which meant fighting winter. In addition, this was associated with the Siberian tradition of taking forts.

“There were also horse races. Again, the horse is a symbol of Maslenitsa, a symbol of fire in a broad folk tradition, it is also a symbol of the sun, its image was used in the carving of buildings, and people rode horses,” explained Baituganov.

Why are pancakes baked on Maslenitsa and where did this tradition come from?

Maslenitsa is a moving holiday. This means that there is no specific date for the celebration in the calendar, and each year the celebration falls on a different day. Maslenitsa is an Eastern Slavic traditional holiday celebrated for seven days before Lent. It is worth noting that Maslenitsa is celebrated not just for one day, but for a whole week and is called Pancake Week, Maslenitsa Week or Cheese Week. Maslenitsa week will last from February 12 to 18. The celebration itself will take place on Sunday - February 18th.

The entire Maslenitsa week is divided into two periods: Narrow Maslenitsa and Broad Maslenitsa.

The first three days of Narrow Maslenitsa fall: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Broad Maslenitsa is the last four days: Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

According to tradition, in the first three days the Slavs were engaged in household work, and from Thursday all chores stopped, and Broad Maslenitsa began. Among the people, every day of Maslenitsa has its own name and meaning.

Why are pancakes baked on Maslenitsa and where did this tradition come from?

Eating pancakes on Maslenitsa is an important ritual. Our ancestors believed that with every bite they received the energy of the sun.

Perhaps, among many peoples one can find the custom of saying goodbye to winter and welcoming spring. Our ancestors are no exception - Maslenitsa has always been one of the favorite Slavic holidays. After the baptism of Rus', the church included Maslenitsa in Cheese Week, or Cheese Week.

What is the symbol of the pancake?

The most important dish that is usually prepared for Maslenitsa is pancakes. Round, golden and very hot. In addition, holiday pancakes and flatbreads are the ancient embodiment of leavened bread. It was the round pancake that was once considered sacrificial bread. It was brought as a gift to the pagan gods. Pancake is a symbol of the sun, a symbol of warmth and life.

Maslenitsa is the oldest Slavic holiday that has survived to this day. Due to time and the adoption of Christianity, the holiday has changed, but remains one of the most beloved folk celebrations. Now Maslenitsa is considered a church holiday and is considered as a preparation for Lent, and already on Pancake Week it is advisable to give up meat.

Initially, Maslenitsa or “Farewell to Winter”, “Komoeditsa” glorified the Slavic god - Yarilo. He symbolized the sun, fire, spring and summer, and people prayed to him for a good harvest. It was no coincidence that they baked pancakes; if you look at the pancake, it has the shape of a circle and resembles the sun, and if you grease it with oil, it turns yellow. Why not the sun?

The Komoeditsa holiday was celebrated from March 21-23 (old style) until the 15-16th century, by this time many cows gave birth to calves and therefore there was plenty of milk, from which butter was made, hence the second name - Maslenitsa.

It is also known that until the 17th century the Church tried to ban “Farewell to Winter,” and everyone who revered it was subjected to punishment and persecution by Orthodoxy. But the people's love for Maslenitsa was so great that the Orthodox Church had to come to terms with and modify the holiday, making “Farewell to Winter” a harbinger of Lent and the upcoming Easter.

These days were the most magnificent folk festivities, all household chores faded into the background. People visited each other, danced and had fun. And the main dish of the table invariably remained pancakes; they tried to bake them for future use. Each housewife had her own pancake recipe, which was carefully passed down from generation to generation.

With the light hand of some ethnographers of the twentieth century. The idea that the main dish of Maslenitsa - pancakes - symbolized the awakening of the sun became widespread in scientific works. One can only partially agree with this opinion, because the cult of the Sun was not dominant in the complex complex of festive ritual and ritual actions. If we take into account that “funeral” games occupied a significant place in the structure of Maslenitsa, then the thought involuntarily arises that pancakes were, first and foremost, a ritual dish for funeral feasts.

The well-known phraseology “the first pancake is lumpy” originates from the Maslenitsa celebrations. Even in the morning, when the housewife baked the very first pancake, she put it on a separate saucer and placed it in the red corner under the icons. In the evening, as soon as it was time to start the meal on the occasion of honoring the memory of the ancestors, the owner took the prepared “tribute” to the attic in the morning and placed it by the window.

When the host returned to the table, everyone present turned to the icons, and the prayer part of the ritual began. Out loud, all household members read the “Our Father”, “Theotokos”, and the funeral prayer.

After this, the household members quietly and respectfully sat down at the table in accordance with the rules of etiquette developed over centuries. The male half of the family sat against the wall, the female half opposite. The mother served the father the kutya, then he scooped up three spoons and passed the pot on. Each of those present, including the children, slowly, unhurriedly, with an emphasized sense of dignity, repeated the ritual begun by their father.

However, it is clear that everyone was looking forward to the main sweets of the festive dinner, especially pancakes, which could be dipped in sour cream, butter, or in a frying pan with cracklings. Of course, it would not have happened without a ritual glass and long-lasting memories of those about whom living human memory already held half-true and half-legendary events.

On the third day, the “sacrifice” for the deceased relatives - that same pancake - was given to the birds so that they could help themselves and, flying to the vyrai, convey greetings to their ancestors from those who had not forgotten about their family.

It was believed that if you bake the most pancakes on Maslenitsa, then happiness will “settle” in the house. Pancakes baked at Christmas symbolized a rich harvest the following year. In order for the farm to have good horses, oxen, cows, sheep, etc., on the day of honoring St. Vlas, the housewife baked cakes. Pancakes, which were called “rags of the gods,” were baked for Ascension. On Spas they baked pancakes from new harvest flour and always with poppy seeds, nuts and apples. The pancakes that were baked on Pokrov were supposed to “bake” all corners from the winter cold and winds. We baked pancakes at the wedding. The mother-in-law treated her son-in-law to pancakes when he came to his wife’s relatives for “pyarezvi”.

The caring housewife knew: you can’t eat the first pancake - it was intended for the ancestors (this pancake will become a lump in the throat of a living person). It turns out that the last pancake she baked also required special attention. It was believed that “in order for the house to always be rich,” the last pancake should be left in the frying pan.

Oksana Kotovich, Yanka Kruk. Newspaper "Zvyazda", www.zvyazda.mіnsk.by, February 2011.

Probably each of us is eagerly awaiting the wonderful national holiday called Maslenitsa. Every self-respecting housewife strives to bake as many pancakes as possible, stuff them with cheese, honey, cottage cheese, sour cream, cabbage, mushrooms, etc. Here the flight of imagination is unlimited. In addition, women bustle around the stove to cook a lot of amazing dishes and decorate the table with stewed vegetables, fish, sweets, pies, kulebyaks, baked pike, caviar, pickles. Moreover, with the onset of the last days of winter, most people feel better, they want to have fun, get out of the “shackles” of the cold and go for walks, chat with friends face to face.

Modern people continue to observe the rituals and traditions of Maslenitsa with great pleasure, doing incredible things - climbing a wooden pole, jumping over a fire, having loud celebrations. Why does this happen, what are the joyful days and fussing about in the kitchen dedicated to? Let's find out everything in order, and in addition we'll have a couple of other excellent pancake recipes preserved from our ancestors.

History of Maslenitsa

Great artists and writers dedicated their creations to this holiday, and the best directors made films about it. Let us at least remember Kustodiev’s stunning painting “Maslenitsa”. How beautiful she is. I just want to find myself in the world that the artist reflected and enjoy the true Russian winter, incredible dishes made precisely according to Russian traditions. But before delving into our fantasies, let’s study the history of the many-sided and our only Russian holiday of Maslenitsa.

It should be noted right away that the celebrations we describe have nothing to do with the Orthodox religion. This holiday was given to us by our ancestors who worshiped pagan gods. Perhaps this is one of the few manifestations of paganism that was preserved with the transition to Orthodoxy. To avoid any disagreements, our Church included the holiday in its list, but called the period of celebration Cheese Week (Meat Week). This period of time passes just before the start of the next Lent.

When did Maslenitsa originate?

There are several versions of the origins of special celebrations. Judging by one of the interpretations, during this week it was no longer possible to eat meat dishes, but dairy products were still allowed. Among the people, the celebrations, which lasted for seven days, were called differently: Kasatochka, Kissing Girl, Obedukha, Cheerful, Perebukha, Honest Maslenitsa, Sugar Lips, etc.

During the celebrations, incredible traditions were performed - they rode horses, which they tried to decorate with the most expensive and beautiful harness. A sleigh was rushing through the streets, and in front of it was the same “Bird Three”, which great artists immediately began to personify on their canvases. Young people reveled, sang songs, and carousels were launched. The squares hosted fairs with a stunning range of assortments, where goods could be purchased at bargain prices. On the slides that still retained the snow and ice cover, people descended on large sleighs decorated with beautiful ornaments. “Snow” massacres were organized, fortresses and cities were built from snow and ice.

How Maslenitsa was held

In the 17th-19th centuries, a crowd of not only adults, but also children gathered in the center of the square. These seven days were supposed to be the most generous of the year. The children were given sweets, pies, and toys. And in the center of the squares there were stages where performances took place. The main characters were the mummers - Maslenitsa and her companion Voivode. Of course, the plot for the comedy was the days of Maslenitsa and its treats. She said goodbye and promised to return next year. Also, other performances could take place on stage, reflecting the works of great creators and stories based on real events.

Despite the passing centuries, celebrations on Maslenitsa week did not stop. And the main message remains - the desire to drive away Winter. In order for warm days to come faster, they sang Great songs, turned to the god Yarila and asked him to manifest himself with the solar disk and its rays. The symbol of the festive celebrations was a large straw effigy, on which a woman's sundress was put. On the last day of the festivities, he was either burned or “buried” by placing a large pancake in his hand.

Why damn?

Many people are interested in the question of why the pancake is a symbol of Maslenitsa. After all, all housewives bake them throughout this week, and in incredible quantities. We have already mentioned the fillings, there are also a huge number of them. Fortunately, the Russian land is rich in gifts, and people have always been distinguished by their high level of hard work and had in their farmstead everything necessary for excellent nutrition. But let's return to pancakes and the history of their rise.

The tradition of baking them dates back to ancient times, precisely from the era of paganism. Worshiping those gods, people turned to the main one from the pantheon - Yarila. And he was nothing more than the Sun, which heats the earth with its rays and thereby gives life to all living things. With its bright arrival, winter gave way to the throne of spring and arable land began, grain was sown, people took off their heavy sheepskin coats and rejoiced in the warm air. And what is so similar in shape to our warm sun? And what can you taste while enjoying its taste? Damn sure. A thin loaf of bread, which contains nothing but flour, eggs and milk, was prepared both in rich houses and in poor huts. Thus, the housewives tried to embody the image of Yaril with their own hands and treated their children, friends, and relatives to their creations. In addition to wheat, buckwheat, corn, and oatmeal were used for production.

Representatives of the poor class, not having supplies of meat and milk, and derivative products, put semolina, pumpkin, pea porridge, etc. as filling.

Customs for Maslenitsa

There have long been customs that were performed without fail in every home. For example, the first loaf of bread made had to be given to a poor person so that he would remember the deceased from this house. If there was no beggar nearby asking for alms, they threw the product through the window. And while Maslenitsa week lasted, soft bread was eaten throughout the day and week, changing fillings and dressings. Each new day of the solemn week had a certain meaning, and rituals were performed specifically for this day.

Before the onset of Maslenitsa, on Sunday it was necessary to go on a visit to relatives, dear friends and close neighbors. It was also necessary to invite guests to your place and set a rich table. This was the last “free” day before the strictest fast when natural meat was consumed. It was called “Meat Sunday”. There was even a funny belief - the father-in-law goes to his son-in-law to finish the meat.

Monday – Meeting

The day of the holiday is called “Meeting”. During the daytime, all the people gathered for festivities. Large snow slides, fortresses, and cities made of ice and snow were built. People rode on carousels, huge tables were laid in market squares, samovars were boiled, herbal teas were poured, honey, cream were poured, etc. The children together made a straw doll and put on a sundress and kokoshnik. From the very morning, the children walked around the courtyards and sang songs, and they, in turn, were treated to pancakes and sweets. This lasted until the middle of the day, then everyone ran to the snowy hills and rode on a homemade sleigh. The exception was adults; they had the right to such pleasures only from the middle of Maslenitsa week.

Tuesday – Flirting

This day was intended for those getting married. It was on Tuesday that weddings were held in the villages, and after a rich feast, all the newlyweds and those who had just joined went on a roller coaster ride. Naturally, they continued to bake bread and feast with the people. Also, on the day of the flirtation, young people looked closely at the opposite half and selected a mate for themselves.

Wednesday – Lakomka

This day can truly be considered the moment of the “Great” truce; the mother-in-law specially “invited” her son-in-law to a pancake meal. It’s not for nothing that there is a saying “To your mother-in-law for pancakes.” Young people should put on the outfits they wore on their own wedding day, and unmarried girls would go down the slides. And everyone made fun of the single guys who were unable to find a couple last year. They came up with all sorts of punishments, and the guys had to pay off.

Thursday – Razgulyay

It was also called Perelom, Razgul, Chetvertok, Wide. This is the central event. All honest people gathered in the squares, staged performances, fist fights, all the swings and carousels were spinning, snow fortresses and cities were laid siege. Remember the masterpiece of art “The Taking of the Snowy Mountain” by Surikov. From clothes they put on whatever came to mind. And a scarecrow made of straw - Maslenitsa was raised to the highest hill.

Friday – Mother-in-Law Evenings

On this day the opposite story happens. It’s the son-in-law’s turn to treat his beloved mother-in-law to pancakes. He invites a relative into the house and sets a rich table. But the mother-in-law provided the food and equipment for making pancakes: a frying pan, a tub, a whole bag of flour, butter. Thus, due respect was given to relatives on the part of the wife. And the festivities continue, people celebrate in the markets, drink tea and ride on carousels.

Saturday – Farewell (Sister-in-law’s gatherings)

This is one of the most beautiful traditions - a young daughter-in-law invited relatives to her new home and treated them not only to pancakes, but also to other dishes. And people picked up the Scarecrow made of straw - Maslenitsa and carried it through the streets of the village and “buried it: they collected a lot of logs, placed the Scarecrow on top and set it on fire. Round dances were held around a large fire and songs were sung. Despite the comic nature of the performance, many people cried - after all, another year was passing, the holidays were ending, and it was necessary to begin worries.

Sunday - Forgiveness

On the eve of Lent, everyone wanted to be cleansed of sins. People asked each other for forgiveness and said the following words: “Please forgive me if I am guilty of something to you.” The answer was the familiar “God will forgive” for all of us. The ritual did not have a formal meaning; people actually forgave each other for insults and grievances, forgot about troubles and shook hands. Also on this day it was necessary to visit the cemetery and “treat” the deceased with pancakes, leaving them on the graves.

Fortune telling was very popular these days. And, as a rule, the fair half is more interested in this activity. So, the girls performed the following rituals:

1. Taking the first pancake in her hands, the girl went to the street and treated the first guy who met on her way. His name meant that this would be the name of her betrothed.
2. Before going to bed, the girl had to hang a towel out the window and whisper the words: “Betrothed, appear, wipe yourself with the towel!” The next morning she checked - if the towel was wet, then marriage was coming that year. Dry - on the contrary, you should not expect a betrothed.
3. For the third rite, you need to collect branches of coniferous trees (pine, cedar, spruce, fir). It is better to collect it in the forest and lay it out on the floor at home. Invite a friend, tie scarves over each other’s eyes and choose branches at random:

• if a girl picks up a thick branch with dense foliage (needles), she is waiting for marriage with a strong and respectable man.
• a flat and smooth surface portends an attractive spouse.
• if the branch has thick and durable bark, the husband will be a wealthy man.
• if all the bark peels off, then the husband will be a simple guy, perhaps a small employee, a mechanic, a carpenter.

Whether you should believe fortune telling – decide for yourself. But it’s unlikely that a towel or a spruce branch can predict your future. In any case, the rituals were invented by people and they are needed only as entertainment. And you need to believe only in the positive; no prediction should leave a residue of uncertainty in your soul.

On Forgiveness Sunday it was possible to drink alcohol for the last time before Lent.

The best pancake recipes

So, before we start baking pancakes, let's find out one more story about Maslenitsa. The legend originates from the northern regions of Rus', where winters have always been rich in snow and blizzards. So, according to this story, Her Majesty Maslenitsa appeared in the North, where Santa Claus ruled. One peasant was looking for pine needles and saw a little girl behind the trees, Maslenitsa and asked to return warm days and joy to people. And she agreed and appeared before people not as a little girl, but as a strong, beautiful and rosy-cheeked beauty. With her infectious laughter, she attracted people to the festivities, organized round dances and sang songs.

To make it enjoyable for you to spend these days before Lent, we offer several of the best pancake recipes. Believe me, if you follow the recipe, not a single pancake will turn out to be lumpy.

With milk

This is the most popular type of pancakes, which will not take much of the housewife’s time. To prepare we need:

• half a liter of milk;
• 2 testicles;
• 200 grams of flour;
• 2 table. spoons of vegetable oil;
• 1 table. spoon of granulated sugar;
• a pinch of salt.

The ingredients must be removed from the refrigerator in advance so that they reach room temperature. Beat eggs in a bowl, add sugar, salt, pour in milk and mix thoroughly.

Mix flour with a small portion of milk to form sour cream, mix until lumps disappear.

Pour into the main composition and beat briefly. Pour in the vegetable oil, mix and set aside for half an hour at room temperature.

On kefir

The option is economical for thrifty housewives. You can also use sour milk. For cooking we need:

• half a liter of sour milk or kefir;
• 2 testicles;
• 200 grams of flour (wheat);
• baking soda (half a teaspoon), the same amount of salt and sugar;
• 4 tablespoons (tablespoons) of vegetable oil.

Beat the eggs, pour in the kefir and mix thoroughly. The mixture must be heated to 60 degrees so that after adding the salt and sugar, the salt and sugar are completely dissolved. Gently pour the sifted flour into the mixture and mix so that there are no lumps. Dissolve the soda in a tablespoon of boiling water and pour it into the bowl with the dough, then pour in the oil, mix and set aside for one hour.

On the water

This is perhaps the most popular pancake recipe. It does not contain milk, which is not suitable for everyone in terms of physical characteristics, or kefir, which can cause bloating. This dough contains fewer calories, which means there is a chance of maintaining your figure during Maslenitsa. So, we need:

• half a liter of water;
• 320 grams of flour (wheat);
• 2 testicles;
• 2 table. spoons of vegetable oil;
• a tablespoon of granulated sugar;
• a pinch of salt.

Beat eggs, salt and sugar in a bowl, pour in warm water and gradually add sifted flour. Beat until smooth.

We recognize the character by the fillings

Of course, simply enjoying pancakes is also a pleasure. But how much more nutritious and satisfying are pancakes with mushroom, cottage cheese, cabbage, and sour cream filling? There is a popular belief that the filling must correspond to a man’s character. Let's find out how true this is.

1. Just pancakes greased with butter. This product is preferred by reserved and calm individuals. They strive to be and communicate only with decent people. Men with such taste, as a rule, are good fathers and loving husbands, guarding the reputation and well-being of the family.
2. Creative, intelligent people prefer caviar. They are pragmatic, caring, the affairs of the family and its well-being come first. They are not capable of romantic actions; if they decide to do something pleasant, they will rather take practical steps.
3. Gentle and sensitive types enjoy sour cream. Such men are very vulnerable and touchy. Even a carelessly thrown word can lead to hysteria and spoilage of mood. So be careful and decide whether you should throw in your lot with him.
4. Emotional and romantic men love honey. This type will be able to create a holiday even from a banal meeting and will delight his significant other with pleasant surprises with or without any reason. These men are monogamous and can give their last penny for a bouquet, just to make their beloved happy.
5. Persons with an extreme focus prefer pancakes with salmon. These are travelers, lovers of parachute jumping, etc. So life with such a friend is hectic; every now and then he will present another surprise in the form of hiking to the highest mountain, or flying on a hang glider.
6. Cottage cheese filling is loved by men who will remain children until the end of their days. They love everything sweet, and the wife will be a mommy. Get ready - making decisions, paying bills, sorting out relationships will fall on your fragile shoulders.

How to bake pancakes correctly

Now let's move on to the process, which causes concern among some housewives. It is precisely because of the baking moment that women are ready to refuse to cook such a tasty and light dish as pancakes. And it all boils down to just one thing - they stick to the pan and become a lump. To get around all this, we suggest following a proven plan.

1. The frying pan needs to be put on fire and heated thoroughly.
2. Lubricate with vegetable oil (a thin layer, 1-2 drops and a brush are enough).
3. Reduce fire intensity by half.
4. Mix the settled dough, as sediment always forms at the bottom.
5. Take a small portion with a ladle (it is better to use a special one for pancakes).
6. Pour the dough into the pan, which must be kept in an inclined position, and twist until it completely covers the surface.
7. Bake for a maximum of 2-3 minutes, turn over with a special spatula. After a couple of minutes, transfer to the prepared bowl.
8. Grease the pancake with butter or cover with a large lid so that the edges become soft and do not break.

Maslenitsa, a wonderful holiday, is not only about festivities and celebrations. People thus wanted to get closer to the secrets of the universe, to lift the curtains of death. According to another version, the shape of the pancake reflects not the Sun, but life, that is, existence without beginning and end. In these days, people understood that the earth should increase its wealth and in their songs they sang the melting of snow, which nourishes the soil with fertility.

Another sacred basis of the holiday is the remembrance of the departed. The funeral feast included three components - lamentation for those who had passed away, a sacrifice and a rich feast. It was believed that the dead came to each of the people's celebrations and invisibly took part in them.

Be that as it may, Maslenitsa is a favorite holiday of the Slavs that is unlike anything else in the world. Let it be relics of pagan times or Cheese Week according to the Orthodox religion. The main thing is that it’s tasty, fun and very healthy, of course, if you know when to stop it!