Shrovetide traditions

 The day before Ash Wednesday ( the first day of Lent), Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake day, is celebrated in many Christian nations by partaking in confession and absolution, performing the ritual burning of palms from Holy Week the year before, completing one's Lenten sacrifice, and enjoying sweets like pancakes.

Many Christians observe Shrove Tuesday, a celebration connected to related popular customs, such as indulging in foods that one might forego as their Lenten sacrifice for the upcoming forty days. This is because it marks the conclusion of Shrovetide, the final day of the Christian liturgical season before Lent.

Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday", referring to the practice of eating richer, fatty foods on the night before the Lenten season, which begins on ash Wednesday. So, eating pancakes or, more precisely, hosting pancake breakfasts is how many Christian communities mark the day. In some Christian countries, it is a carnival day. 

Shrove Tuesday, the first Pancake Day started in 600 AD as a last hurrah and a method to use up the supplies left in the house after Pope St Gregory forbade Christians from consuming meat and animal products (such as eggs, butter, and milk). This meant making pancakes for Christians in England. It's the final large celebration before Christians begin Lent, a time of fasting, prayer, and penance in anticipation of Easter.

Maslenitsa (Shrovetide) is an ancient Russian folk event, a solemn farewell to winter and a solemn welcome to the lovely spring. And initially, its celebration in Russia was associated, according to some versions, with the glorification of the Sun godYarila, and according to others - Veles, the "cattle god". This day in the calendar doesn't have a set date. Just 56 days must be subtracted from Easter's date: 48 days for Lent and directly following Maslenitsa Week.

This holiday was important in the past since it allowed people to understand how quickly time passed because the seasons have become richer with symbols and rituals. One of them was Shrovetide when people hoped for soon-coming mild weather and celebrated the end of the winter. Burning fires, wheels, and scarecrows were the main features of Pancake Week and echo the sun religion that predominated in Russia. The fire was always a part of the celebrations.

The church sanctified and added new conceptions to this pagan celebration after Christianity was adopted. The final phase of Lent preparation was Shrovetide week. During Pancake Week, Christians were encouraged to practice forgiveness for all offenses, repentance, and reconciliation with their neighbors. Today it is the most cheerful and nourishing folk Festival.

According to Maslenitsa tradition, the Shrovetide week begins on Monday and ends on Sunday with a spectacular scarecrow burning. Each day of this holiday is unique and full of deep meaning. Each of them has its own name and rituals, which must be performed.

Monday was the meeting day. People finished setting up the entertainment on this day, went to greet visitors, and prepared the first-holiday pancake. It was traditionally given to the less fortunate ones to help the dead's souls rest.

Tuesday was the day of the courting or wedding ceremony, and open houses were held in the community. Marriage was impossible during Lent, but after Easter, on the "Red Mountain", it was permissible to celebrate the birth of the new family. As a result, during Pancake Week, the young people became familiar with far-reaching objectives.

Wednesday was a treat day. The wife's mother makes pancakes and serves them to her son-in-law. It is said that her mother-in-law favors her daughter's husbands more the wealthier her table.

Thursday was a party day. The general Pancake week started on this day with a bang. Of course, no holiday week was complete without games: round dances, yard songs, driving down hills and jumping over fires, all while singing and dancing. Yet the main custom is pelting the town with snowballs. Children and adults construct a snow fort, split into infantry and cavalry teams, and then start the game. Typically, the cavalry tries to slay the stronghold while the infantry defends it. Vasily Surikov the Russian Realist history painter even included this incident in one of his paintings.

Friday was mother-in-law's vespers day. On this day, however, the mother of the bride visits her son-in-law, who also has to provide her with a pancake as a reminder of Maslenitsa. The mother-in-law arrives not alone, but with her "fellows" - friends, to brag to them about the regard her son-in-law has for her.

Saturday - sister-in-law's party. The young bride invited her husband's family members on the last day of Maslenitsa, starting with her sister-in-law. If the sister-in-law was single, she also invited her single friends. Also, the bride's friends were invited if they were previously married.

On Sunday, there was a farewell party. Everyone started getting ready for Lent. They asked for forgiveness from family members and recalled the deceased. After carefully washing the dishes, everyone had a bath. The Pancake Scarecrow was ceremoniously burned to mark the end of the festivity, and its ashes were dispersed over the fields in hopes that the coming year would bring a good harvest.