carnival

falls on the days of Lent. And in this time

of holidays and celebrations are prohibited. Therefore, in the 16th century carnival was adopted to replace the banned pagan church komoeditsy. But today's carnival and pagan komoeditsa are not one and the same. Celebrating komeditsy was always in the same day - the day of the vernal equinox and symbolize the end of winter and beginning of spring.

Shrove Tuesday, so widely celebrated - in people and to

this day remain sayings. This - the most fun, and satisfying people's holiday, which lasts for a week. If the first three days of the peasants still doing chores, it was forbidden to work on Thursday, and began "Maslenitsa".

-Come to my house,

Mardi Gras,

At a court:

A roller coaster ride,

Pancakes overeat,

Heart to amuse!

heathen faith. Pancake Week held earlier this: did the doll

of Shrovetide straw, dressed up in her women's clothes and drove across the county with the songs. After a week of dancing, singing doll Pancake carried into the field and patted and straw flew in the wind. It was believed that with her fly difficulties, hardships and troubles. On the last day of Maslenitsa Carnival came the ritual of wires, which in different provinces of Russia lay in the burning of Shrovetide, and in its symbolic funeral. The burning of effigies was traditional for the northern, central and Volga provinces. Shrovetide Shrovetide participants drove the train. In a fire with a burning effigy throwing a traditional funeral food (pancakes, eggs).