history, holiday schedule and how to make a stuffed animal with your own hands – Russia today Posting in CHAT: Russia One of the most fun, bright and delicious holidays is approaching: starting from March 11, Russia will be baking and eating pancakes for a whole week, spending time with family and participating in folk festivals. How it all began and how to make a Maslenitsa scarecrow with your own hands - in the material “Evening Moscow”. History of the holiday In Russia, the change of seasons has always been celebrated. They especially loved winter: it is a difficult period, bringing with it cold, hunger and darkness. We welcomed spring in a big way and tried to help it overcome the snow and frost. It was believed that the old woman Winter did not simply give up. Therefore, the pagans held celebrations in honor of the god of the sun and fertility, Yarilo, and praised the young Spring. Initially, the holiday lasted two weeks: seven days before the spring equinox and the same number after. Then Rus' adopted Christianity. The church was going to cancel Maslenitsa - after all, it is a pagan holiday. But no one decided to do this: the people loved this tradition very much. Maslenitsa began to be celebrated a week before the start of Lent and its concept was slightly changed. Today, this holiday is necessary for people to prepare for fasting, eat enough, communicate with loved ones and spend time with loved ones, and participate in charity events. Why pancakes and why burn an effigy? Maslenitsa is an attempt to “oil” the sun, hence the name. To eat a piece of the sun, light and warmth, people baked cakes that looked like a celestial body. Then they were replaced with pancakes. It was believed that the more of these red sweets they ate, the sooner spring would come and the better the harvest. Everyone who ate pancakes was provided with energy and vigor for the entire coming year. The first set of red “suns” was distributed to the poor. Charity is an important part of the party; a pale scarecrow in bright clothes is as integral a symbol of the party as pancakes. It symbolizes winter, which must be driven away as quickly as possible. Fire gives warmth and hope that the year will be full of good events. According to tradition, a scarecrow should be made from old things, burned, and the ashes scattered across the fields. Psychologists talk about the healing effect of such a ritual: it helps people leave the past and forget about fears. In addition to the large adult animal, they also made small dolls - Maslena and Maslenka, a girl and a boy. They were not burned, but were left as amulets. They were given to loved ones and decorated the house. Holiday schedule Traditionally, Maslenitsa week is divided into the following parts: “Meeting” - they bake pancakes and decide where to put the scarecrow; “Wags” - folk festivities and sleigh rides take place. “Gourmet” - meetings with guests with tea, pancakes and pastries are organized. “Razgul” is the time of carousels, round dances and the construction of snow fortresses. “Mother-in-law's party” - sons-in-law feed pancakes to mother-in-laws. “Zerinsky guests” - young daughters-in-law treat their husband’s relatives, in the evening everyone tells fortunes. “Foresight of Maslenitsa” - people ask for forgiveness from family and friends, burn an effigy. How to make a Maslenitsa scarecrow: step-by-step instructions First, you will need to prepare the necessary materials and tools: straw or twigs from a broom. Rinse the brush. Combed bast - this will serve as the basis for a stuffed animal (it can be bought in markets at affordable prices). Thin satin ribbons. Glitter Fabric - You can use any scraps or buy a bunch of rag scraps from a craft store. A wooden stick or branch on which the doll will stand - you need to immediately select the desired length. The “Iris” thread is bright in color. It is better to buy a red one - such a thread is considered a talisman, and it is easy to make a doll out of it. The main thing is to follow the detailed instructions: Make a stuffed hand - take a small bunch of straw, tie it at both ends with a thread into three knots. This number is believed to bring good luck. And the design will hold up better. Next, cut the straws with scissors to make the handles look neater. Take a stick, divide it into two parts, place the handles. Shape the doll's chest by tying it five times with red thread. Then use the same thread to make a cross on the chest of the stuffed animal. The Maslenitsa body is ready, decorate the doll and create an outfit for her. Traditionally, lower aprons should be darker and upper aprons should be lighter. Take two strips of fabric, place one on top of the other, turn it inside out, aligning the flaps with the doll’s face. Tie the aprons under the Maslenitsa box and then lower them so that the right side of the fabric is on top. Make a scarf for the stuffed animal from a triangular piece of paper and tie it to the doll’s head in a convenient way. Decorate Maslenitsa's hands with multi-colored satin ribbons, then place it on a branch or stick. If you draw a scarecrow's face, make it as comical and even stupid as possible. But in general this is not welcome: in ancient times it was believed that as soon as a doll has eyes and lips, it acquires a soul, and “living” stuffed animals are capable of attracting evil spirits. Any work done with your own hands is a fascinating creative process. . So the instructions are intended only to outline the general rules, but any deviations from them are welcome. Maslenitsa can be dressed in shirts and skirts made of different materials. Making such a simple doll is a good reason to get together with friends and family. And if you also bake pancakes, a warm spring holiday awaits you. Source link Source link
