In Russia begins Shrove-tide carnival
The cheese week - last week before the Lent, known also as Shrove-tide carnival begins on Monday on the orthodox calendar.
The custom to celebrate Shrove-tide carnival takes its beginning from the earliest times - from the Greek and Roman bacchanalias and saturnalias. Slav- heathens also celebrated during this period of year spring holiday - the encounter of spring and the send-offs of winter. In the people the carnival was always merry by time. It was considered that the one who will refuse to celebrate it will live "in the bitter misfortune and will end badly". It was accepted to celebrate the carnival by rolling on the sleighs from ice slopes, by lighting bonfires and by pancakes.
The first pancake usually was given to the poor to the mention of deceased or placed to the dormer-window to the souls of dead relatives. The mother-in-law come to the family of newly-weds to the carnival, in order to learn her daughter to prepare pancakes, and disrespect of sons-in-law to this custom was considered large offence and occasion for the eternal hostility between him and mother-in-law.
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