Презентация на английском языке "Масленица (Shrovetide)"

Shrovetide

Russian National Holiday

Lutsenko Dmitriy

Russia is celebrating Shrovetide, or Pancake week, one of the cheerful and brightest feasts here.

The tradition of celebrating Shrovetide came to us from pre-Christian Russia. It is a holiday of farewell to winter, awakening of nature and renewal of life.

Our ancestors celebrated Maslenitsa for a whole week, and every day of the week's fun served its purpose and had pre-planned activities.

On Monday they dressed up the straw figure of Shrovetide, which they look out into the streets . Children built snow hills and shouted: “Shrovetide is here!”

On Tuesday the fellows invited the girls to go on downhill rides in sleighs and to eat pancakes.

On Wednesday pancakes were served in all the houses, as well as all other sorts of dainties. Traveling shows and vendor’s stalls appeared everywhere, selling pancakes, roasted nuts, honey cakes.

Thursday marked the start of “Broad Maslenitsa” - the culmination of Shrovetide festivities. The fun spills out into the streets of towns and villages.

On Friday – sons-in-law invited their mothers-in-law and all their relatives to eat pancakes.

On Saturday the young daughter-in-law invited her husband’s relatives and the guests were to appraise her culinary abilities.

Sunday – the last day of Shrovetide – is dubbed “Forgiveness Sunday”. On that day the straw effigy of Shrovetide was cast into a bonfire, with the ashes scattered over the fields to ensure a good harvest.