Tip 1: In which countries are the Shrovetide celebrated

Tip 1: In which countries are the Shrovetide celebrated


Shrovetide is a national festival, games andfun, burning stuffed winters and, of course, lots and lots of pancakes. This holiday is loved by both children and adults, it is expected, they prepare it for the whole family and celebrate it, by the way, not only in Russia.



In which countries are the Shrovetide celebrated


Contrary to popular belief that Shrovetide -this is a purely Slavic holiday, it is celebrated in many other countries of the world. And let him call it a little differently, even in every religion, he has some specific rituals and customs, but his essence remains the same - this holiday is dedicated to the wires of winter and precedes the beginning of the great post. According to research data of historians, festivities like Slavic Maslenitsa, from ancient times were present among peoples who, one way or another, were related to the great druids and the Christian faith.

Where and how they celebrate Shrovetide

In the French-speaking countries of the world analogous to the RussianMaslenitsa serves the holiday of Mardi Gras or the so-called Fat Tuesday. On this day there are colorful street processions, people literally betray gluttony, drink a lot, and the refusal of the festival, according to popular beliefs, can bring troubles and life troubles to the whole family. The most famous and visited winter ritual is held in Venice. Annually, to see the most amazing spectacle, more than 3 million tourists come here. Here on the eve of the start of the great post is the most colorful costumed carnival. In Poland, the end of winter is celebrated in the so-called Fat Thursday. On the eve of the feast the Poles bake very fat donuts in huge quantities, and during the festival itself there is an incendiary carnival, in addition, on this day it is customary to gather guests for balls and parties. To receive friends and relatives in your house on this day is very honorable and prestigious. In Germany, the celebration, similar to the Russian Pancake week, lasts neither much nor little, and 4 months is called Fastnacht, which means "the night before the fast." In the last days of Fastnacht, Germans, like Russians, burn an effigy of winter and pass through the streets in carnival costumes with merry songs and crocheting. In Armenia, a lot of pilaf is prepared for Pancake week and gives it to those who are poor and can not afford tasty food. In Spain, these days, they arrange a funeral for sardines, while in the Czech Republic they walk through the streets of the most real mare, goat or bear.

The most unusual and strange Maslenitsa rituals and customs

Many people can boast of unusual, andsometimes even by strange and stupid rituals or customs that take place during the Maslenitsa. For example, in taverns in Poland these days you can easily buy a young unmarried girl. In the Czech Republic, guys in the shape of chimney sweeps can tie a girl to the neck or hand a wooden bar, and if she does not want to wear such a "decoration", then she must pay off. In the Balkan countries, the bachelor is dragged to the Pancake week along the street in pig troughs. And among the peoples professing Buddhism, these days it is customary to purify oneself from sins, illnesses and failures - they do it with a small piece of dough, from which they make a doll and burn it in ritual fire, accompanying all their actions with prayers.

Tip 2: How to celebrate Shrovetide


As a rule, they celebrate Shrovetide exactly onea week before the start of Lent. The celebration of Shrove Tuesday is accompanied by sleigh rides from the ice mountains, fires. Of course, what carnival happens without traditional baking pancakes, which are a symbol of the sun.



How to celebrate Shrovetide


Celebrate the carnival, starting from Monday - the daymeeting. On this day, all the people meet with carnival, dress an attire for a doll-scarecrow, erect snow slides and sing songs for a meeting. There are a lot of meeting songs, so you should choose the one that is closer to the soul. Earlier on the day, the father-in-law and her mother-in-law sent her daughter-in-law for the whole day to her home. The daughter-in-law was obliged to help her father and her mother in the household, because in the evening the mother-in-law came to visit the mother-in-law with her mother-in-law. For hot tea and delicious pancakes, in a calm and quiet atmosphere, they discussed what days to which relatives come to visit, how to spend a festive week. Tuesday is considered a day of "flirtation". Amusing games begin. Great snow fortresses are being built, the girls are having fun on the swings, singing amusing chastushki. The most important thing in flirting is the theme of love. Young couples are allowed to kiss publicly on this day; Single boys begin to choose their brides, and the girls closely look at the tusks. That's why there are ice slides, "pozyly" are sent to certain houses, parents prepare pancakes, so that young couples who celebrate Shrovetide can stay together, have fun with the soul under their parents' eye. On the third day the carnival "gourmet" son-in-law should come to pancakes to his mother-in-law. According to tradition, pancakes are considered a feast by pancakes, - what pancakes on it you just will not see: dairy, small, large, with caviar, with jam. The fourth day of the carnival - "binge", one of the merry days. The scarecrow is wheeled on the wheel, singing merry songs, caroling. Friday rightfully considers the day "mother-in-law's evening." On this day the son-in-law treats the mother-in-law to pancakes. It is believed that the more she calls the mother-in-law, the more she gives her honor. On Saturday, there are "zolovkin gatherings." The daughter-in-law presents gifts to her sister-in-law. On this day, the carnage of the carnival is solemnly burned, saying goodbye to the winter. And in order to have a good harvest in the summer, the scarecrow is scattered across the field. On Sunday, there are seeing off. The carnival celebration is over, there is no more hangover. To not take winter with them in the spring, the last stuffed animals are burnt.




Tip 3: How to spend the Shrovetide


Shrovetide is not a one-day holiday, but a wholeholiday week. For Orthodox people, the Shrovetide week is the time for preparing for the post. This holiday heralds the beginning of spring, the birth of a new life. It is believed that the Shrovetide week should have fun, walk, eat pancakes, communicate with relatives.



How to spend the Pancake week


You will need



  • For pancakes:
  • - 500 ml of milk;
  • - 3 eggs;
  • - 1.5 cups of flour;
  • - 2 tbsp. spoons of vegetable oil;
  • - salt, sugar to taste.
  • For the Carnival doll:
  • - Flaps;
  • - branches;
  • - newspapers;
  • - a rope;
  • - Scotch tape;
  • - gouache;
  • - Brushes.


Instructions


1


The main symbol of Maslenitsa is pancakes. The oiled week is divided into two periods: the Shrove Carnival (Monday-Wednesday) and the Wide Carnival (Thursday-Sunday). Furnace pancakes need every day, and especially on the Shrove Tuesday. Experiment with making pancakes, use different fillings, fantasize!



How to spend the Pancake week

2


In addition to pancakes, the Carnival is associatedfolk festivals: horseback riding, burning dolls - Shrovetide. Such a doll can be made with your own hands from improvised materials. At the weekend, visit the city parks, where mass events will be held. Participate the whole family in various competitions dedicated to this holiday.



How to spend the Pancake week

3


The last day of Maslenitsa is a forgiven Sunday. On this day it is common to ask forgiveness from relatives for insults. This ritual usually takes place in the evening, after all the festive festivities. Try to spend this holiday with your family, then it will be remembered for you with comfort, sincerity, fun fun and tasty pancakes!



How to spend the Pancake week



Tip 4: In which country do they profess Shinto


Shinto is one of the religions of the world. He is professed in Japan. It is based on the belief of the ancient Japanese, who worshiped the spirits of the deceased and numerous deities. The development of religion was greatly influenced by Buddhism.



Shinto in Japan


Description of religion

Shinto is based on the deification of naturalphenomena, forces and worship to them. Believers believe that things have their own soul - "kami". It can be in wood, stone, rain, etc. Some "kami" are the spirits of natural objects - mountains, rivers, terrain. Also there are gods of natural phenomena - the sun, the earth, the moon, etc. Shintoism includes totemism, magic, faith in amulets and talismans. Believers with special rituals are protected from evil "kami" or, on the contrary, subordinate them to themselves. The main spiritual principle of religion is life in harmony and harmony of people with nature. According to the views of the adherents of Shinto, the whole world consists of people, the souls of the dead and the "kami".

History of Shintoism

There are two versions of the origin of the Shinto: in the first version, religion came to Japan from ancient China and Korea in the 1st century AD; in the second - the emergence of Shintoism directly on the islands of Japan since the Mesolithic and Neolithic times. It should be noted that such an animistic belief is typical of many known cultures at a certain stage of development. But only in Japan it has not been forgotten over time, but has, in part, been modified, the main state religion. Formation of Shinto as a national religion of Japan is attributed to the period of VII-VIII centuries of our era. Soon, on the orders of the Emperor, a compilation of the Enghisika was compiled, which contained a list of the rituals, a list of gods for temples and prayers. In the 10th century Buddhism penetrated Japan, especially it was popular with aristocrats. In order not to create interreligious conflicts, the Kami were declared patrons of Buddhism, then they became associated with Buddhist saints. Over time, Buddhist temples began to be built on the territory of Shinto temples. There were mixed Shinto-Buddhist teachings. Buddhism became the state religion until 1868. This year, the emperor comes to power in Japan, who officially proclaimed himself a living god and gave Shinto the status of state religion. In 1947, after World War II, under the control of the American authorities, Japan adopted a new constitution. Shinto lost its status, and the temples ceased to occupy a special position and lost the support of the emperor. At present, Shinto is the most widespread religion in Japan. Outside the country, religion is spread by ethnic Japanese. There are also several Shinto priests who are not Japanese. The most famous of them is Koichi Barrish, a native of the United States and a master of Aikido. He built a sanctuary in America and works there as a clergyman.


Tip 5: In which countries are few Russian tourists


If you want to relax in a resort where there is littleRussian tourists, then you should not choose popular tourist destinations. It is better to choose a resort where Russian tour operators do not sell package tours with charter flights.



How to choose a resort where there are few Russian tourists


In countries such as Turkey, Thailand and Egypt,resorts rest a large number of Russian tourists. Moreover, a significant percentage of vacationers - it's noisy companies, the neighborhood with which not everyone is fond of, even their compatriots. Therefore, lovers of peace and quiet neighbors in the hotel is recommended to rest in resorts, where there are few Russian tourists.

Which resorts are few Russian tourists

As a significant part of ourcompatriots prefer to rest at popular and inexpensive resorts, the least Russians can be found in Central and South Africa, America, Australia, the Indian Ocean islands (Seychelles, Mauritius, Madagascar), as well as in Portugal, Britain, India and Morocco. In those countries where Russian tour operators organize cheap charter flights, Russian tourists are resting a lot. Therefore, the popularity of the resort can be assessed by the availability of charter flights during the holiday season and the range of tours offered by travel agencies.

European cities

Even in Europe now popular it is quite possible to findcountries and cities, where Russians rarely come. The Portuguese city of Porto, located on the Atlantic coast, is still not very popular. The list of towns that are less popular among Russians in Portugal also includes Madeira, Faro and Lisbon. This includes the Spanish resort of Seville, as well as the Polish town of Gdansk. On the eastern coast of Italy is the city of Ancona. In addition to the sandy beaches in the vicinity of this city, many architectural attractions, including the ruins of ancient buildings. Russians in this city rest extremely rarely because of the lack of cheap vouchers and charter flights. However, you can go to Ancona without using the services of tour operators. In Spain, too, there are cities that are rarely visited by Russian tourists. For example, in the central part of Andalusia you can relax, enjoying the absence of noisy compatriots. However, there are quite a lot of European tourists in Andalusia. The Canary Island of Fuerteventura, unlike Tenerife, is still deprived of the attention of Russians. Although there are many hotels in Tenerife, in which our compatriots practically do not meet. Basically, these are two-star and three-star hotels located far from the beaches.


Tip 6: What for the Shrovetide is burned a scarecrow


The traditions of celebrating Maslenitsa are rooted inancient antiquity. Originally Pancake week was considered one of the main calendar pagan holidays. Its popularity among the people was so great that the Christian church kept the holiday practically unchanged.



Why the Shrovetide is burned a scarecrow


The celebration of Maslenitsa traditionally takes place infor a week. The culmination of the holiday - the burning of a straw effigy - falls on its last day, the so-called "Forgiven Sunday". In addition to straw, old clothes were used to make stuffed animals. At the same time he tried to make it funny and terrible at the same time.

Traditions of burning stuffed pancake week

On Sunday Maslenitsa week stuffedsolemnly carried through the whole village, and then burned, drowned in an ice-hole or torn to pieces and scattered straw in the fields. Sometimes, instead of a scarecrow, a live Maslenitsa was driven around the village. In her role could act elegantly dressed girl, an old woman or an old drunkard. Of course, in such cases no one burned the Carnival. She was taken out for the outskirts and dumped in the snow. There was also such a rite. A large straw doll was called "Madara-Shrovetide", then installed on a sled, in which three young men were harnessed. They took the scarecrow out of the outskirts, gave it a pancake, and then burned it on the fire. It was believed that along with the burned-up stuffed people get rid of all the misfortunes and misfortunes that accompanied them in the past. Ashes scattered in the fields to give birth to a new crop, which was to bring a revival of vitality.

Ritual fires

The burning of the scarecrow was perceived as solemn,festive action and was accompanied by songs and round dances. In a ritual fire, they tried to burn all the old and unnecessary things, so that later they would come back renewed and bring prosperity and prosperity to the house. Since people sincerely believed that the best, happy and happy days await them, at least some of their hopes were sure to come true. Thus, the stuffed pancake was burned to get rid of misfortunes and troubles, for a good harvest and prosperous life. In some places, the tradition of making straw stuffed did not spread. There, on the hills, a fire was lit, where unnecessary things were collected, collected by the children throughout the village. Sometimes it burned a wheel, considered a symbol of the sun. As a rule, he was put on a pole and installed in the heart of the fire. In central Russia, Maslenitsa's seeing off was accompanied by the burning of skorom food, which was also one of the symbols of the holiday. In the bonfires, the remains of pancakes and butter burned, and milk was poured into it. Sometimes parents simply told the children that there was no fast food left in the house, since all of it was burnt in the fire.