Maslenitsa: History, Traditions, and Meaning of the Ancient Festival

Maslenitsa is one of the most ancient and beloved holidays of the Russian people. This bright celebration symbolizes the farewell to the cold winter and the joyful welcome of the long-awaited spring. Unlike many other holidays, Maslenitsa does not have a fixed date on the calendar, since its celebration is closely tied to the church calendar and depends on the date of Easter.

When Maslenitsa Is Celebrated in 2026

In 2026, Maslenitsa falls on February 22, and Maslenitsa Week will last from February 16 to February 22. To calculate the date of this folk festival independently, one needs to count back 48 days from the date of Easter, which make up the period of Great Lent. Maslenitsa Week is the final stage before the beginning of the strict fast, a time of joy and abundance.

The History of the Origin of the Maslenitsa Holiday

The roots of Maslenitsa go back to deep antiquity, to the pagan times of Rus’. Initially, this holiday was dedicated to the worship of Slavic deities. According to one version, our ancestors glorified the sun god Yarilo; according to another, they honored Veles, the patron of cattle and wealth.

Pagan Traditions

In ancient times, Maslenitsa helped people comprehend the cyclical nature of time and the change of seasons. The celebration was accompanied by numerous omens and rituals associated with the cult of the sun. Fire played a central role in Maslenitsa rites: blazing bonfires, fiery wheels, and the burning effigy of Maslenitsa were mandatory attributes of the celebration, reflecting reverence for the celestial luminary.

Christian Tradition

After the adoption of Christianity in Rus’, the church did not prohibit the folk holiday but adapted it, filling it with new spiritual meaning. Maslenitsa Week came to be known as Cheese Week and became a time of preparation for Great Lent. During this period, believers were allowed to consume dairy products and fish, but meat was strictly forbidden. Christian tradition introduced ideas of repentance, forgiveness of offenses, and reconciliation with one’s neighbors into the holiday. However, the people preserved the main essence of Maslenitsa — it remained the most cheerful, noisy, and hearty holiday of the year. Among the people, it was affectionately called “kasatochka,” “sugar lips,” “honest,” “merry,” and “gluttonous.”

The Seven Days of Maslenitsa Week: Traditions of Each Day

Each day of Maslenitsa Week had its own special name and was filled with specific rituals and customs. The festive week was divided into Narrow Maslenitsa (the first three days) and Broad Maslenitsa (from Thursday to Sunday).

Monday — The Meeting

The first day of the week was dedicated to preparations for the celebration. On this day, people finished building snow slides and booths for entertainment and made swings. Housewives baked the first pancake, which by tradition was given to the poor in remembrance of the deceased. Families visited one another, inviting relatives and neighbors to celebrate together.

Tuesday — Flirting

The second day became a time for matchmaking and youth знакомства. Bride viewings were held, since weddings were not celebrated during Great Lent, and after Easter, on Krasnaya Gorka, one could celebrate a wedding. Young people met with serious intentions, looking closely at potential brides and grooms. Folk festivities began with sleigh rides and various amusements.

Wednesday — The Gourmand

The middle of the week was devoted to treats and feasting. On this day, the mother-in-law invited her son-in-law for pancakes, demonstrating her favor toward her daughter’s husband. The richer the table, the more the mother-in-law showed her goodwill. This is where the famous expression “to the mother-in-law for pancakes” originated. In every home, tables were laid with various dishes, pancakes were baked, and beer was brewed.

Thursday — Revelry

From Thursday, Broad Maslenitsa began, and the celebration unfolded in full force. On this day, mass folk festivities took place: people formed round dances, sang songs, arranged fistfights and competitions. The main entertainment was the capture of the snow fortress — participants were divided into two teams, one defending the snow fort and the other trying to seize it. People jumped over bonfires and rode sleds down icy hills.

Friday — Mother-in-Law’s Evenings

Friday reversed the roles: now the son-in-law invited his mother-in-law to his home and treated her to pancakes. The mother-in-law came not alone but with her friends, to boast to them about the respect shown to her by her son-in-law. Tradition required the father-in-law to send the son-in-law everything necessary for making pancakes in advance: flour, butter, and a frying pan.

Saturday — Sisters-in-Law Gatherings

On the penultimate day of Maslenitsa Week, young daughters-in-law hosted their sisters-in-law — the husband’s sisters. If the sister-in-law was unmarried, the daughter-in-law invited her unmarried friends; if she was married, then married friends were invited as well. The husband’s relatives were presented with gifts and treated to pancakes and other dishes.

Sunday — Forgiveness Sunday

The last day of Maslenitsa was the most important from a spiritual point of view. People asked each other for forgiveness for all the offenses committed during the year. They visited the graves of deceased relatives, leaving pancakes there. All remaining food was either eaten or burned, dishes were thoroughly washed, and people went to the bathhouse, cleansing themselves before the fast. The main event of Sunday was the ceremonial burning of the Maslenitsa effigy in the central square. This act symbolized the final expulsion of winter and the arrival of spring. The ashes from the effigy were scattered over the fields, believing that this would bring a good harvest in the coming year.

The Symbol of Maslenitsa — Pancakes

Pancakes became the main culinary symbol of the holiday for a reason. Round, golden, and hot, they resemble the sun, which is so lacking in the winter months. According to ancient beliefs, by eating pancakes, people received a particle of the strength and warmth of the celestial luminary. There are several versions of the origin of the holiday’s name. According to one of them, the word “Maslenitsa” is associated with the fact that during the pre-fasting week it was forbidden to eat meat, but dairy products, including butter, were allowed in abundance. According to another legend, the name goes back to the image of the pagan goddess Lelya, who appeared to people during the spring equinox in the form of a rosy-cheeked woman with cheeks shining with butter.

The Maslenitsa Effigy: How to Make One Yourself

Burning the Maslenitsa effigy carries deep symbolic meaning. Along with the straw doll, everything old, worn-out, and unnecessary burns away, making room for renewal and change. To make the effigy, you will need two wooden sticks of different lengths, straw, rope, old clothes, and a headscarf. The sticks are joined crosswise — the short one becomes the arms, the long one the body. They are wrapped with straw and secured with rope. The head is made from rolled newspapers or fabric stuffed with straw and tied with a headscarf. Buttons serve as eyes, and facial features are drawn with charcoal or lipstick. The finished effigy is dressed in old clothes and placed in the central square for subsequent burning.

Interesting Facts About the Holiday

Maslenitsa has analogues in other countries and cultures. In Western Europe, similar spring festivals were celebrated by the Druids; in Germany, carnival celebrations are held; and in Slavic countries — the Czech Republic and Poland — there are their own versions of bidding farewell to winter. The famous saying “The first pancake is a flop” has reached our days in a distorted form. Originally, it sounded like “the first pancake to the komas” — bears, whom the Slavs called “komas.” The spring equinox festival was called Komoeditsa, and the first baked pancake was offered as a gift to bears awakening from winter hibernation. Before Maslenitsa Week, Rus’ celebrated Motley Week, or Meatfare Week, when fasting days alternated with days when meat was allowed. Getting married during Motley Week was considered a bad omen, so weddings were postponed until Easter.

Modern Celebration of Maslenitsa

Today, Maslenitsa remains one of the most beloved folk holidays. In cities and villages, mass festivities are organized with traditional amusements: riding in troikas, capturing snow fortresses, fairs with pancakes and hot tea. The tradition of burning the effigy, symbolizing the farewell to winter, is preserved. Maslenitsa unites generations, allowing modern people to touch the traditions of their ancestors, feel the connection of times, and enjoy the joyful anticipation of spring. This bright, noisy, and delicious holiday reminds us of the cyclical nature of life — that after every winter, spring inevitably comes, bringing renewal and hope.