THE WICKER MAN CARNIVAL / MASLENITSA OR RUSSIAN WICKER WOMAN

Druids weren’t the only ones who praised God in ancient rites. People today also believe that offerings and rituals in honor of the gods will send a good harvest and victory on the world stage. So, in Yekaterinburg, in the Central Park of Culture and Leisure named after Vladimir Vladimirovich Mayakovsky (TsPKiO), the Maslenitsa holiday is held every year, where the townspeople ask the higher powers to drive away the cold and annoying winter and bring them, the city and the whole country prosperity and prosperity. Who doesn’t like to celebrate Maslenitsa ?! Shrovetide is delicious fragrant pancakes, wooden bowls with sour cream, red caviar sparkling in the sun, and golden viscous honey. As well as festivities, roller coasters, concerts and competitions. Let’s say right away that in Russia, when a stuffed animal is burned, a person is not locked in a doll. Therefore there is no sacrifice as such. But the tradition has remained from the days of dinosaurs and aliens. However, other joyful moments that Russians love (celebrate, drink and walk), as if they have not gone anywhere! In Russia, the “Wicker Man“ and the holiday itself is called “Maslenitsa“. As a rule, Shrovetide was made of straw or bark, wood was necessarily used, more often birch - wood and straw personified the power of the plant world. The scarecrow resembled a woman in clothes adorned with artificial flowers and ribbons. By tying ribbons, people made secret desires. For them to come true, the tapes later had to burn down with Shrovetide. Then the scarecrow was put on a pole and carried around, accompanying the action with cheerful singing and dancing. In many houses, the so-called family Maslenitsa were also made. They were made very simply: the branches were tied in such a way as to form a torso with arms and legs. Then, with the help of strings, twisting them, they made a head and put on this doll in clothes. Family Shrovetide is ready! The more ribbons on the doll, the more magical power it has. The children enjoyed playing with her throughout the whole Shrovetide week, and then, on Forgiveness Sunday, when the main scarecrow was engaged in fire, she was also thrown into the fire. But not all dolls were burned that day. Some stayed in homes for as long as a year. Such a doll was called “the daughter of Maslenitsa“ or “younger sister“ and was displayed in the window on “Mother-in-law“. It was customary to give the doll to the newlyweds who decided to have a wedding at this time, so that the children were born healthy, so that the young family would have prosperity and harmony. This is where, by the way, the tradition of placing the doll on the car of the wedding cortege came from. “Daughter of Maslenitsa“ has been considered a powerful talisman since ancient times and has always been kept in the red corner. If misfortune came to the house, the doll was removed and, turning it three times clockwise, they turned to it with the words: “Turn away evil. Turn around good. “ A year later, the doll was burned in a Shrovetide fire or thrown in water. The culmination of the holiday is the traditional burning of Shrovetide on Sunday, Forgiveness. The scarecrow was taken to the edge of the village or to the square, usually a whole procession accompanied Maslenitsa. A fire was lit on the spot, and then a scarecrow was burned to the accompaniment of songs and dances. Shrovetide is akin to the Phoenix bird: rebirth through death, the new can appear only on the wreckage of the old. Old things, rubbish, and worn-out clothes were thrown into the blazing fire. People hoped for a revival, got rid of the dark past, sincerely believing in a bright future, thus trying to protect themselves from misfortunes, troubles, diseases, crop failure. Россия / УрФО / Свердловская Область / Екатеринбург Russia / Ural Federal District / Sverdlovsk Oblast / Yekaterinburg Russland / Ural, Swerdlowsk / Jekaterinburg Я В ВКОНТАКТЕ: Я В ФЕЙСБУК: