Maslenitsa

Every nation has a great number of customs, but the most attractive of them are holidays. They were created by people even in ancient times; they wanted to throw down a burden of daily cares and to forget about grief-adversity. Among the variety of Russian popular holidays there is a favourite winter one – Maslenitsa (a ‘buttered’ (pancake) week) that comes before Lent. You are forbidden to eat meat but you are allowed to have milk dishes during this week, especially buttered ones. Every year this holiday lasts for a week: from Monday to Sunday. Every day has its own meaning and its own name. Monday is ‘a Meeting’, Tuesday is called ‘Zaigrysh’ (play day), Wednesday is ‘A Gourmand’, Thursday is considered to be ‘A Wide Thursday’, Friday is called ‘Mother-in-law’s Evenings’, Saturday is known as ‘Sister-in-law’s young people’s gathering” and Sunday is the day of asking somebody’s pardon. People used to toboggan and cook tasty pancakes every day that week. Pancakes are especially tasty with sour cream, eggs, fish, caviar, butter, sugar and honey.

One of the tokens of Maslenitsa is going horse riding. The smartest harness is set in, the bells are suspended under a shaft-bow, and a gear is decorated with bright silks, shawls, waist belts and ribbons. In the village of Bykovo, Zyryanovsk district, they erect a hurdle (about two metres high) across the street and the riders should get over it. The inhabitants of Cheremshanka, Glubokoye district, place a thick wooden pole about six metres high and on the top of this pole they put a present. That person who reaches the top can take this present and become a winner.

The main character of the festive week is Maslenitsa itself – a straw scarecrow with peasant clothes on. Maslenitsa is escorted by mummers (ryazheny). The real performances take place in a “Maslenitsa train-sledge”. The inhabitants of Shemonaikha remember an old man, Shashmaika, who sat in his sledge and placed a thick pole with a wheel at the top. He sat on the wheel and steamed a dog with a switch of green birch twigs.

The last day of Maslenitsa week is ‘Farewell to Maslenitsa’. The main event is burning Maslenitsa (a straw scarecrow of winter) on the bonfire. For many years this holiday has been called “Seeing-off Winter”. But recently the citizens of Ust-Kamenogorsk again can watch this holiday and participate in it. The nice old tradition has been revived!

Vocabulary:

burden – груз

grief-adversity – горе-невзгоды

Lent – Великий Пост

gourmand – лакомка

toboggan – кататься с горы

sour cream – сметана

caviar – икра

token – примета, признак

harness – сбруя

suspend – подвешивать

shaft-bow – дуга

gear – упряжь

shawl – шаль

waist belt – пояс, кушак

ribbon – лента

erect – сооружать

hurdle – барьер

pole – бревно

festive – праздничный

peasant – крестьянский

mummer – ряженый

switch of green birch twigs – березовый веник

steam – парить

seeing-off – проводы

bonfire – большой костер

• Correct the spelling mistakes:

Example: 0. Every nation has a great number of customs, but the most attractiev of them are holidays.

0. attractiev – attractive

1. They were created by people even in ancient times, they wanted to throw down a burden of daily cares and to forget about grief-adversity.

2. Among the variety of Russian popular holidays there is a favourite winter won – Maslenitsa.

3. A ‘buttered’ (pancake) weak comes before Lent.

4. You are forbidden to eat meet but you are alloued to have milk dishes during this week, especially buttered wons.

5. Every ear this holiday lasts for a weak: from Monday to Sonday.

Clues:

1. anshient – ancient;

2. won – one;

3. weak – week;

4. meet – meat; alloued – allowed; wons – ones;

5. ear – year; weak – week; Sonday – Sunday.

• Choose the right answer:

1. Every day has its own ­­­­______ and its own name.

a) goal b) meaning c) length d) burden

2. People used to _____ and cook tasty pancakes every day that week.

a) play snowballs b) skate c) toboggan d) ski

3. Pancakes are especially tasty with sour cream, ______, fish, caviar, butter, sugar and honey.

a) sausage b) salad c) eggs d) meat

4. One of the tokens of Maslenitsa is ______.

a) going horse riding b) going shopping c) going to the theatre d) going to the cinema.

5. The smartest harness is set in, the bells are suspended under a shaft-bow, ______ is decorated with bright silks, shawls, waist belts and ribbons.

a) a horse; b) a house; с) a fence; d) a gear;

Сlues:

1. b 2. c 3. c 4. a 5. d

• Write the sentences in Passive Voice:

1. They erect a hurdle across the street in the Village of Bykovo, Zyryanovsk district.

2. The riders should get over the hurdle.

3. People from Cheremshanka placed a thick wooden pole with a present at the top.

4. The winner could take the present if he reached it.

5. Mummers escort Maslenitsa everywhere.

Clues:

1. A hurdle is erected by them across the street in the Village of Bykovo, Zyryanovsk district.

2. The hurdle should be got (gotten - Am) over by the riders.

3. A thick wooden pole with a present at the top was placed by people from Cheremshanka.

4. The present could be taken by the winner if he reached it.

5. Maslenitsa is escorted by Mummers everywhere.