REPORTAGE: With mother-in-law pancakes, songs, games and dances - how they celebrate Maslenitsa in the Mogilev region

Maslenitsa this year came on March 8 and will last until March 14. Each day provides for special rituals and treats, but pancakes were and remain the main attribute of the festive table. They symbolized the sun among our ancestors - the same round, hot and ruddy. And if there is plenty of sun in the spring, the harvest will be rich, the tables will be full, and families will be happy. In the agro-town of Polykovichi, Mogilev region, participants of amateur groups from all over the region gathered - every year they arrange Maslenitsa, observing all the orders of the older generation. BelTA correspondents were invited on the third day of folk festivals - to the mother-in-law for pancakes.

The folk holiday Maslenitsa passed into modern life from the ancient Slavs, and to them - from the pagans, and received a more modern sound, while retaining all the flavor and many customs of our ancestors. The dates of Shrovetide week are always movable, because the holiday must begin 56 days before Orthodox Easter.

"On the first day of Maslenitsa, they began to prepare for the holiday - this day is called" Meeting ". They built various stages, swings and snow slides. On the same day, they assembled a Scarecrow from improvised means - a symbol of the passing winter," said Tatyana Zhigalina, cultural organizer of the Polykovichi rural cultural center. "Pancakes began to be cooked from Monday. By tradition, the first pancake was always given to the ancestors - it was divided into several parts and laid out on the windows. So that the ancestors could visit, treat themselves to a treat and wish the family happiness and goodness. It was believed that the souls of the ancestors did not stay long in the house, and after treats they came at night in dreams to greet, give practical advice for the future or help solve some problem... Another pancake was given to cattle so that the cow would give more MILK, and the chickens would bring eggs.On Shrovetide week no one was forgotten, everyone was treated.

The second day of Maslenitsa week is called "Zagrysh". On this day, it is customary to hold courtship and bride. And if everything went well - after Easter, weddings were already walking. “There are two holidays in the folk calendar - this is Kupala and Maslenitsa, when young guys had to look after their bride. And the games were all mobile and more often paired, so that young people looked at each other and fell in love. Previously, everything was strict, in any other day boys and girls could not spend much time together,” said Tatyana Zhigalina.

On this day, an unmarried young man was hung on his feet with a block to get married faster. The guy could pay off - it was necessary to give treats. “It could be sweets, pancakes and pancakes. A girl who didn’t want to get married was also hung up on a block, but on a fence. She, too, could pay off with rich treats. And there were fortune telling. get married and get out,” said Tatyana Zhigalina.

"The third day of Maslenitsa differs from the previous two with a rich table. After all, the mother-in-law is waiting for her son-in-law to visit. And they prepared different pancakes: sweet, with honey and different fillings, and if you fry more bacon in the oven for the pancakes, you already get machanka. They also make potato pancakes on the table , homemade sausages and potatoes from the oven - the son-in-law is always happy to go for such delicious dishes, even if he already lives in the city, ”said Alla Kirey, a participant in the holiday.

The main treat of the whole week is pancakes and pancakes. And each woman had her own recipe for pancakes, which they passed down from generation to generation and cherished like a real shrine.

“Who cooks like pancakes - you can use kefir and milk. Thick and thin, large and small. Each housewife determines her favorite recipe for herself. natural gas is no longer a luxury in every home in agro-towns, but I make pancakes in the oven - they turn out ruddy and very fragrant."

And from Thursday the big festivities began: all the work was left - this day is called "Razguly". They rode sleds, down hills. They played snowballs and stormed snow castles. On this day, guests came to the house. And be sure the guests looked into the house of a young family, which walked the wedding in the fall. “We went to see which of the young hostesses - so that the house was clean, the table was set, the cattle and the garden were inspected,” said Tatyana Zhigalina.

Friday is called Mother-in-law evening. According to tradition, on this day, the mother-in-law came to the son-in-law with a return visit. “It is customary to spend the evening with family and loved ones. The mother-in-law went to her son-in-law that day, looked to see if everything was fine in the family,” said Tatyana Zhigalina. “The whole Shrovetide week as a whole is about prosperity and success for the whole year. They set their tables , with neighbors who had a poor family or the harvest failed last year - shared. "

On Saturday, young housewives invited their husband's relatives to their house. This day is called "Zolovkina gatherings." And on the seventh day of Maslenitsa, it is customary to ask everyone for forgiveness. “On this day, it was necessary to sit down at the table seven times. And they asked for forgiveness for everything - first the youngest, then the elders. The last to ask for forgiveness was the owner of the house from his mistress,” said Tatyana Zhigalina. They were met. The scarecrow was made, observing a number of traditions. Inside it had to have a cross, on which clothes were put on and stuffed with hay. With this scarecrow they passed the whole village and carried it to burn. Together with it, old clothes, things of a sick person were sent to the fire. Our ancestors believed in the power of fire, and throwing it all into the fire, people sent all illnesses, sorrows and sorrows there."

The Mogilev region has its own peculiarity of celebrating Maslenitsa. Here every year they make special Shrovetide charms, which during the year the hostess kept in a red corner or hung over the door. “Such a doll was made like a scarecrow: inside a wooden cross, which was wrapped in linen and stuffed with straw. A scarecrow in a big fire. And they made a new one instead and put or hung it in its original place. And the ashes that remained from the big fire were collected and scattered over the fields so that the land would give a good harvest," Tatyana Zhigalina shared.

“The history of our country is hidden in these folk holidays and ceremonies. And, of course, you want not only to know about them, but also to participate yourself. This allows you not to lose touch with generations, to pass on knowledge and traditions further,” shared one of the young participants Maslenitsa Nikita Volchkov.

"It seems to me that in all large and small settlements of the country, people are waiting for and love this holiday. Of course, in villages and towns it is especially bright - they try to observe all the rituals and traditions here. And it's nice that every year interest in Maslenitsa does not fade away ", but on the contrary, it becomes even more. Both the younger and the older generation take part in the festivities with joy. They sing songs, walk around the village and treat people. After all, Maslenitsa is not only seeing off winter and welcoming spring. It is a holiday when you can reconcile with loved ones , spend time with them, remember the dead and relax. After all, the sowing season will begin soon - a lot of work, there will be no time for festivities," the cultural organizer noted.

Anastasia GUZOVSKAYA,

photo by Oleg FOYNITSKY,

BELTA.