RioRita
03-01-2009, 04:44 PM
It is an archaic Slavic feast, which have inherited from the pagan culture and is a funny winter send–off, illuminated with happy anticipation of the coming warmth and spring renewal of nature. Pancakes, the obligatory attribute of the Shrovetide, had a ritual meaning: round, ruddy and hot – they were symbols of the sun, which was kindling everyday brighter and brighter, making days longer.
Centuries passed by, life changed and after Russia has been converted to Christianity, appeared new, church holy days, but the Shrovetide kept on living. It was met and sent off with the same irrepressible daring as in pagan time.
The most important day of the Shrovetide week is Sunday – the last day before the Lent. In Russia this day was called the Shrove Sunday, and all people asked their relatives and friends for forgiveness for all dealt insults and troubles.
The main event of the last day is “The Shrovetide’s Send-off”, often accompanied with fires. To this day in Russia people make a dummy of Winter from straw and dusters and wear it in the ladies’ wear, carry it through the whole village or the park in the cities and towns and sometimes set it on the wheel, stuck in atop the pole. People burn the dummy , or just dismembered it and remain straw threw on the snow.
Centuries passed by, life changed and after Russia has been converted to Christianity, appeared new, church holy days, but the Shrovetide kept on living. It was met and sent off with the same irrepressible daring as in pagan time.
The most important day of the Shrovetide week is Sunday – the last day before the Lent. In Russia this day was called the Shrove Sunday, and all people asked their relatives and friends for forgiveness for all dealt insults and troubles.
The main event of the last day is “The Shrovetide’s Send-off”, often accompanied with fires. To this day in Russia people make a dummy of Winter from straw and dusters and wear it in the ladies’ wear, carry it through the whole village or the park in the cities and towns and sometimes set it on the wheel, stuck in atop the pole. People burn the dummy , or just dismembered it and remain straw threw on the snow.