MASLENITSA

Maslenitsa is one of the most ancient Slavic holidays. It began to be celebrated eight weeks before Easter. Butter and cheese are the obligatory attributes of this holiday. Besides, what is Maslenitsa without pancakes? During Maslenitsa Week, pancakes acquired a truly royal significance — people tried to eat them every day. Cooking butter, sour cream, honey, jam, fish, caviar, cabbage — everyone wrapped everything in pancakes that his or her heart desires. Each day of the festive week was special, requiring certain actions. In addition, Forgiveness Sunday was the very culmination of the whole Maslenitsa Week. On this day, family members asked each other for forgiveness for all the troubles and wrong commited during the year. The most long-awaited moment of the holiday was the burning of the effigy of Maslenitsa, which personified all the dark and negative that was in people’s lives. The holiday ended with jumping over the fire. Today, Maslenitsa traditions are not so strong, but this holiday is still bright, noisy and cheerful. The celebration of Maslenitsa calls to wake up after hibernation and prepare for a new spring, and therefore a new life.

ИСТОЧНИК: https://www.sb.by/en/where-to-celebrate-maslenitsa-in-belarus.html