The second day of Shrovetide: traditions of celebration
25 February 2025 00:14
Maslenitsa 2025 in Ukraine began on Monday, February 24, and will last until March 2. This week symbolizes the meeting of winter and spring, and each day of Maslenitsa has its own traditions and prohibitions. Everything you need to know about this cheerful and bright holiday is in the article by "Komersant Ukrainian"
Shrovetide is one of the oldest and most cheerful holidays, symbolizing the farewell to winter and the welcome of spring. The celebration lasts for a whole week, and each day has its own traditions and rituals.
Traditions of celebrating Shrovetide in Ukraine:
- Monday (Meeting): the beginning of the celebrations, baking the first pancakes, inviting guests.
- Tuesday (Flirting ): games and entertainment, young people take part in the fun.
- Wednesday (Sweet tooth): mothers-in-law treat their sons-in-law to delicious dishes.
- Thursday: mass festivities, sleigh rides, and folk games.
- Friday ( Mother-in-law‘s Evenings ): sons-in-law invite their mothers-in-law to a party.
- Saturday (Daughter-in-law’ s gatherings): young daughters-in-law receive relatives at their homes.
- Sunday (Forgiveness Sunday): forgiveness of offenses, burning of the effigy of winter, end of the celebrations.
The second day of Shrovetide: traditions of celebration
The main dishes on Shrovetide are pancakes and dumplings with cottage cheese, which symbolize the sun and prosperity.
Throughout the week, it is forbidden to drink alcohol, meat, or experience negative emotions.
In the first three days, you can and should clean the house. Guests must be welcomed in a clean house, otherwise there will be a mess all year long.
The second day of Shrovetide, called “Courtship” or “Flirting,” is dedicated to youth and fun.
The second day of Maslenitsa was notable for its pageants. Girls would dress up in their best clothes and go to the festivities to look for their soul mates. During the festivities, young hostesses treated each other to pancakes.
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It is believed that the brighter and more cheerful the Shrovetide celebration, the happier the year will be. However, it is important to keep in mind the current realities: it is important to honor the memory of the dead and treat those who are bereaved with respect.
What is forbidden to do on Shrovetide
On Shrovetide, you shouldn’t spin yarn to prevent it from spoiling, and you shouldn’t prepare meat and cheese because the food can spoil. The main thing is to avoid quarrels and conflicts, because this is a time of unity and reconciliation.
Folk signs and beliefs
If pancakes are fluffy and baked beautifully on Shrovetide, the year will be prosperous. Thick or too thin pancakes promise failures and problems. The more pancakes you bake for Shrovetide, the richer the year will be.
If you throw away old things on Shrovetide, new ones will appear.
If it is cold on Shrovetide, the summer will be warm, if it rains, there will be a lot of mushrooms in the fall.
Those who skimp on treats on Shrovetide will go broke in a year.
On Shrovetide, forgive the old and let the new into your life.
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