Maslenitsa: signs and customs. Signs for Maslenitsa week for girls and more! Sunday - Farewell to Maslenitsa, Forgiveness Sunday

Maslenitsa is widely celebrated throughout Russia. This holiday reflects age-old traditions, carefully preserved and passed on from generation to generation. Every day of Maslenitsa week is filled with a unique meaning.

Maslenitsa is not only the week before Lent and the upcoming Easter. Traditionally, it is the turning point of winter, when people, tired of the cold, finally welcome the imminent approach of spring and rejoice at the approaching warm and fine days. Maslenitsa in 2017 will begin on February 20 and end on the 26th with Forgiveness Sunday and subsequent strict fasting until the onset of Easter.

Orthodox people, despite the upcoming fast, try to observe centuries-old traditions, while not forgetting about restrictions on celebrations and daily prayers. Meat week, which prohibits the consumption of meat, provides an opportunity to eat plenty before being strict, so the favorite Russian pancakes are served with all sorts of fillings: fish, cabbage, honey.

Monday. Meeting.

Maslenitsa opens on the first day of the week. On Monday, housewives baked pancakes. The first pancake was traditionally given to the poor so that they could pray for the souls of deceased relatives, or left on the doorstep as a tribute to their ancestors. On this day, they always made a straw effigy of Maslenitsa and dressed it up in old clothes, thereby getting rid of unnecessary negativity in the house. Relatives visited each other and enjoyed pancakes, celebrating the opening of Maslenitsa week.

Tuesday. Flirting.

Tuesday has traditionally been a day of festivities, games and fun. On this day, young people visited each other, ate pancakes and sledded down the icy mountains. Buffoons walked the streets, entertaining people and enjoying the generous alms of housewives. Flirting was the day of matchmaking, when parents looked closely at future relatives and began to joke about the upcoming celebration. Guests were traditionally greeted with pancakes and wine, and then everyone went to mass celebrations. The young people secretly looked at each other, the grooms chose their brides, and the girls looked at their future husbands and secretly wondered which of them would be the first to send matchmakers.

Wednesday. Gourmand.

On Wednesday, according to tradition, sons-in-law went to visit their mothers-in-law for pancakes. In those days there could be several of them, so the houses were celebrated in a big way, the tables were laden with treats. In the evenings they praised all the mothers-in-law and sang songs of praise to them and acted out funny scenes with dressing up. Comical performances continued until late at night. At this time, women and girls got together, rode sleighs around the villages and also sang funny songs and ditties.

Thursday. Revelry.

Since Thursday, the festivities have become massive, and entire villages of people rode through the streets. At this time, fist fights and wall-to-wall games took place, where young people showed off their prowess and standing, showing off in front of girls and brides. Children went home and caroled to cheerful songs. Adults willingly treated them to delicacies and conveyed greetings and bows to their parents.

Friday. Mother-in-law Vespers.

On Friday, sons-in-law invited their wives' mothers to visit them and returned their hospitality and hospitality a hundredfold. The rich organized honorary evenings, when not only the mother-in-law, but also all her relatives. Family gatherings strengthened relationships between relatives, and general fun reminded of the imminent approach of the long-awaited spring and warmth.

Saturday. Sister-in-law's get-togethers.

The daughter-in-law honoredly invited her husband's relatives to the house. If sisters-in-law, sisters of husbands, were unmarried, the daughter-in-law invited her unmarried friends to common gatherings. Married relatives were invited to visit married sisters-in-law. In this case, the sleigh was coupled with a steam locomotive and the daughter-in-law transported her relatives to her sisters-in-law. The newlywed, according to custom, prepared gifts for her sisters-in-law and presented each one with gifts.

Sunday. Forgiveness day.

Forgiveness Sunday ends the Maslenitsa week. At this time, relatives went to visit each other and asked for forgiveness. Also on this day, people visited cemeteries and paid tribute to their deceased relatives. On Sunday, they burned an effigy of Maslenitsa, danced around the fire, and the bravest ones jumped over it and made a wish. The farewell to winter was ending. The people were in no hurry to go home and lit high, hot fires to melt the remaining snow and quickly invite the beautiful spring to visit. Unnecessary and broken things were put into the fire. On this day, all old grievances and conflicts were forgotten. The old people smiled and said: “Whoever remembers the old, look out.”

Maslenitsa has always been celebrated on a grand scale. And don't skimp on the joy this fun week in 2017. Leave all the hardships of winter and enter a new period of life refreshed. We wish you happiness, and do not forget to press the buttons and

The ancient Slavic holiday Maslenitsa harmoniously combines church and pagan rituals. It lasts seven days before Lent and is marked by cheerful festivities and feasts. Some traditions and signs for Maslenitsa week are still relevant today.

Folk signs for Maslenitsa week

Maslenitsa - farewell to winter - was celebrated among the Slavs on a grand scale. All week (it was called pancake week, cheese week, etc.) the songs did not subside, folk festivals were held with games and competitions. The main sign of Maslenitsa concerned pancakes (hence the other name - Pancake House). Baking and eating them symbolized the beginning of spring. In Rus', pancakes were used to attract the sun and treat all friends, acquaintances and strangers. People believed that by their actions they would increase fertility in the coming year. Many customs and signs of Oil Week relate to the harvest and weather changes.

Folk signs for Maslenitsa week - weather

For centuries, our ancestors took note, predicting weather events for the coming year, and this was important, since life and well-being depended on a rich harvest. Signs about the weather for Maslenitsa week have been formed:

1. How many pancakes the housewife baked for the holiday, so many sunny and happy days awaits the family in the coming year, but here it is important to know when to stop. Few pancakes mean a lean summer, but too many lead to drought.
2. It was frosty on the holiday - the weather in the summer months will be warm.
3. On Thursday of Holy Week it started snowing - warming was expected, on Friday - colder temperatures.

Wedding during Maslenitsa week - signs

The generous holiday ordered people to have fun all seven days before Lent. It was especially welcomed if the newlyweds decided to get married during this period. According to popular belief, a wedding during Maslenitsa week promised good luck in the lives of lovers, calm and regularity in relationships. The snow that fell on the day of the festival was a sign of blessing. The newlyweds were always honored, and they did not skimp on treats, but weddings, however, were not held.

Giving birth during Maslenitsa week - signs

The most popular signs for Maslenitsa week for girls have always concerned vital events: weddings and the birth of children. Maslenitsa, associated with fertility and earth, could tell pregnant women a lot about the future baby, even indicate the gender of the baby:

• if the baby moves for the first time on “women’s” days (Wednesday, Friday, Saturday) - a girl will be born, on days other than Sunday - a boy;
• the birth of a boy was foreshadowed by snow on Tuesday of Maslenitsa week, and a girl - on Wednesday.

During the holidays, pregnant women asked nature and the Lord for an easy birth: they put water on the windowsill and poured water on their bellies all week. If the water did not freeze, it meant that the Almighty heard it. And those who were lucky enough to give birth during Pancake Week believed that their child would become famous for his exploits. Those born on Forgiveness Sunday were successful in business and smart.

Traditions of Maslenitsa week

Traditions and customs for Maslenitsa week are rooted in the past. Many ceremonies and rituals are preserved by people's memory. Many of them are outdated, but some can still be followed today. Each day of the holidays has its own traditions:

1. Monday – meeting. Housewives begin to bake pancakes, and the first one is given to the poor. Young people make a straw and rag doll and carry it all over the street.
2. Tuesday - flirting. Traditionally, on this day brides were matched and bridesmaids were held.
3. Wednesday is delicious. All the most delicious things are put on the table, and the sons-in-law go to visit their mother-in-law.
4. Thursday is a riot. The most magnificent festivities began in the streets, ritual bonfires were lit everywhere, songs were sung and their favorite pastime was organized - the capture of the ice fortress.
5. Friday – “mother-in-law’s evening” or guest. A return visit from the mother-in-law and all her relatives to her daughter’s family, where a luxurious table was set. On this day it was not customary to stay at home.
6. Saturday – “sister-in-law’s get-togethers.” According to customs, wives invited their sisters-in-law and girlfriends (either all married or not) to the table.
7. Sunday is the farewell to winter, when the brightest, largest celebrations took place. It was customary to burn a straw effigy of Maslenitsa, and let its ashes go to the wind or bury it in the ground. On this day, the tradition of asking forgiveness from all loved ones has been preserved.

What should you do during Maslenitsa week?

For those who do not have the desire or opportunity to adhere to every day of the week plan, there are basic recommendations for the spring holidays. What do you do first?

• bake pancakes;
• go to visit;
• are having fun;
• asking for forgiveness from others on the last day of the holidays.

What not to do during Maslenitsa week?

When planning how to spend Maslenitsa week, people sometimes think about how the pagan holiday and Christian foundations coexist. In the Orthodox calendar, the seven days before Lent are called Cheese Week, and dictate certain rules for believers. This time is dedicated to a single goal: reconciliation with neighbors and preparation for repentance. It is not advisable to do the following during this period:

• be sad and angry;
• offend others;
• do menial and household work (it is recommended to finish it the day before);
• refuse treats and eat little.

But the rules associated with leave their mark on the traditions of the holiday. Some people wonder: what can you eat during Maslenitsa week? In addition to pancakes and pancakes, the table should contain products such as cottage cheese, milk and cheeses. It is forbidden to eat all meat. The body must be prepared for great abstinence, which will last until Easter.

Some customs and signs for Maslenitsa week are forgotten over the years, but the main rule of this holiday with pagan roots remains unchanged: have fun and eat a lot. Regardless of what dates Maslenitsa falls on, it always marks the border between winter and spring, and this is a reason for noisy fun. The attributes of the holiday remain pancakes, a straw effigy, sleigh rides and other fun.

Maslenitsa is one of the most beloved national holidays, during which Russians can have fun, enjoy pancakes and once again visit family and friends.

According to the ancients, Maslenitsa is celebrated for a whole week. The start dates for Maslenitsa week change from year to year. For example, in 2017 it will begin on February 20 and end on the 26th of the month.

Other names of the holiday: Maslena, Maslenaya, Maslenaya Week, Pancake Week, Pancake Week, Pancake Week, Pancake Eater, Gluttonous Week, Obedukha, Wide Maslenitsa, Tselovalnitsa, Krivosheyka, Crooked Week, Boyarynya Maslenitsa, Milk Week, Maslenka, Butter Eater, in Belarus Masny is a thousand years old, Kolyada butter. In Orthodoxy this is cheese week.

history of the holiday

The history of Maslenitsa celebration goes back to ancient times.

This holiday was celebrated in ancient Rus' in honor of the Sun God Yarila.

Over time, the meaning of this holiday and its symbolic meaning have changed.

However, it still remains the most favorite spring holiday in our lives.

In Rus', the Maslenitsa holiday was held in March, on the day of the spring equinox. He was dedicated to the revival of nature and all living things. In those distant times, when the Slavs revered the gods of Fire, Fertility, Water, etc. – this day was celebrated with special reverence.

In honor of Yarila, large bonfires were created, round dances were held and pancakes were baked, personifying the sun. The pagans believed that the revival of nature was not only a transition from winter to summer time, but also a renewal of family relationships.

Maslenitsa under Christianity

With the advent of Christianity, Maslenitsa began to be celebrated before Lent. The holiday was no longer held at the same time, since a satisfying week always fell on different dates and months of spring.

Here the church gave permission to have fun and walk for a whole week. Starting from the Monday of Shrovetide week, people began to build slides near their houses and invite guests.

Rich people baked pancakes on Thursday, and poor people made dough for pancakes on Friday. Every day of the week had, and even now still has, its name.

Traditions of Maslenitsa

In the modern world, everything is mixed up, but people continue to love the cheerful folk holiday - Maslenitsa and celebrate it cheerfully, drawing customs from ancient pre-Christian culture.

First day The holiday week is called “Meeting”, before on Monday they walked around with a stuffed animal and built slides for skating. Now they limit themselves to baking pancakes and serving them to the poor.

On the second day, called “Zaigrysh”, people go to visit, and those who come are treated to pancakes. Also on Tuesday it is customary to have fun, ride slides and play outdoor games on the street.

Wednesday called "Gourmand". The main tradition of the third day is treating the sons-in-law with pancakes. Mothers-in-law must feed their daughters' husbands well, and to cheer them up during the meal, other relatives are invited to the house.

Thursday widely known for fist fights and horse racing. In the old days, these fights were far from harmless, but now they are more of a playful and humorous nature.

IN Friday Mothers-in-law gather for a return visit to their sons-in-law for “Mother-in-law’s Evening.” On this day, mothers feast on pancakes in their daughters' houses and praise their sons-in-law.

Saturday- a special day called “Sister-in-Law’s Gatherings”, young wives invited their spouses’ older sisters to visit them, gave them gifts and treated them to pancakes.

Sunday- the most important day of Maslenitsa, known as “Forgiveness Sunday”. On this day, all believers and those who simply worship ask each other for forgiveness, receiving in response the traditional phrase: “God will forgive.”

Signs for Maslenitsa

• Housewives on Maslenitsa especially tried to ensure that the pancakes did not turn out “lumpy”, because if this dish turns out badly, then the coming year will pass with troubles and misfortunes, but if it is good, then the year will be joyful and happy.
• We also tried to bake as many pancakes as possible for Maslenitsa. After all, the more pancakes you make this holiday, the richer you will spend the coming year.
• Beautiful and tasty pancakes also said that the birth would be abundant and rich, and the weather in summer would be sunny and warm.
• If you fly higher than everyone else during the festivities, while riding on the swings, then the harvest will be richer. It was believed that the higher you fly, the more abundant the harvest will be.
• But if you roll down the hill the farthest, then next year there will be the best flax harvest.
• And the rain that fell on the eve of Maslenitsa week spoke of a good mushroom harvest. If it is frosty and cold on Maslenitsa, then the summer will definitely be warm, but not dry.
• According to the sign, as you spend Maslenitsa, so will the year pass. Therefore, people tried not to skimp on treats and not sit at home, bored. Otherwise, the year will be dreary and poor.
• And in order not to suddenly attract misfortune and misfortune into their home, on Sunday housewives tried to burn everything broken and unnecessary in the fire. otherwise the whole year will pass in misfortune and quarrels.
• Unmarried girls also tried to bake pancakes, after which they went out and treated them to the first person they met, after which they asked any man’s name. Whatever they call, that will be the betrothed's name. Moreover, they were very happy when the first person they met was drunk, because this promised happiness in family life.

Maslenitsa customs

In the first three days of the holiday, active preparations for the celebration took place:

• they brought wood for the fire;
• decorated the huts;
• built mountains.

The main celebration took place from Thursday to Sunday. People came into the house to enjoy pancakes and drink hot tea.

In some villages, young people went from house to house with tambourines, horns, and balalaikas, singing carols.

City residents took part in festive festivities: they dressed in their best outfits; went to theater performances; visited booths to watch fun with the bear and buffoons.

The main entertainment was children and youth sliding down ice slides, which they tried to decorate with lanterns and flags. For skating the following were used: matting; sled; skates; skins; ice cubes; wooden troughs.

Another fun event was the capture of the ice fortress. The guys built a snowy town with gates, put guards there, and then went on the attack: they broke into the gates and climbed the walls. The besieged defended themselves. as best they could: snowballs, brooms and whips were used.

On Maslenitsa, boys and young men showed their agility in fist fights. Residents of two villages, landowners and monastery peasants, residents of a large village living at opposite ends could take part in the battles.

They seriously prepared for the battle: they steamed in the baths; ate heartily; turned to the sorcerers with a request to give a special spell for victory.

Burning a straw man

Why they burn Maslenitsa now is a completely different question, since the modern ritual has absolutely no religious overtones. For a whole week, people consume pancakes in abundance, and burning a straw effigy becomes more of an entertainment than a ritual with a special meaning.

The effigy itself is not made on the first day of the festivities in each home, but is made to order by Sunday.

Ritual burning occurs only in the main squares and in places where special events were organized.

The ashes left behind by the straw man do not flutter across the fields and are not buried in the ground.

The tradition of burning old clothes or leftover holiday food has also disappeared.

The traditions of celebrating Maslenitsa were constantly changing and transformed due to the fact that church ministers advocated the abolition of the celebration. Both Catherine II and Peter I advocated for the abolition of the holiday, but for the common people Maslenitsa has long become not a symbol of pagan traditions, but an important part of future religious celebrations.

roots go back to pagan times. Initially, the holiday was associated with the vernal equinox, but with the adoption of Christianity it began to precede Lent and depend on its timing. The Christian Church actually added Maslenitsa to its calendar, calling it Cheese Week, so church and folk traditions are closely intertwined in the holiday.

Proto-Slavic Maslenitsa is associated with the cult of fertility. The rituals were designed to sanctify the land and fill it with strength so that it would produce a good harvest. In the popular consciousness, the fertility of the land was inextricably linked with the fertility of people and livestock. These days, boys and girls were looking for a mate for the purpose of procreation. The funeral essence of Maslenitsa was also closely connected with fertility. The departed ancestors, according to the peasants, were simultaneously in another world and in the earth, which means they could influence its fertility. Therefore, on Maslenitsa, departed ancestors were cajoled in every possible way, including pancakes. They were considered funeral food.

Today, the sacred meaning of Maslenitsa has been practically lost, and we perceive it primarily as a holiday of pancakes. However, until now, each of the seven days of the holiday has its own name, which tells us what needs to be done. But this applies only to the folk tradition of the holiday.

Maslenitsa folk schedule

Monday - Maslenitsa meeting

On this day, they made a scarecrow from straw, put old women's clothes on it, put this scarecrow on a pole and, singing, carried it on a sleigh around the village. Then Maslenitsa was staged on a snowy mountain, where sleigh rides began.

Tuesday - flirt

On this day, brides' viewings took place. The girls invited young people to ride from the mountains and invited them over to eat pancakes.

Wednesday - gourmet, mother-in-law pancakes

On this day, mothers-in-law invited their beloved sons-in-law for pancakes.

Thursday - revelry, wide Thursday

Day of fist fights. The blood shed during such battles was perceived as a sacrifice to the spirits of the dead or to the gods themselves.

Friday - mother-in-law evenings

If on Wednesday sons-in-law visited their mothers-in-law, then on Friday it was the other way around. At the same time, in the evening, the mother-in-law had to give her son-in-law all the necessary ingredients for making pancakes.

Saturday - sister-in-law's get-togethers

On this day, the young daughter-in-law invited her relatives to her place and treated them to guess what? That's right - pancakes.

Forgiveness Sunday

On the last day of Maslenitsa, it is customary to ask for forgiveness from all relatives and friends, to which they usually answered “God will forgive!”

Sayings for every day of Maslenitsa:

Monday: Maslenitsa is coming, damn it, it’s bringing honey!

Tuesday: Damn is not a sheaf - you can’t prick it with a pitchfork

Wednesday: They don't like pancakes and kisses!

Thursday: Have fun at Maslenaya and treat yourself to a pancake!

Friday: Shrovetide doesn’t last forever!

Saturday: Pancakes are like the sun!

Sunday: Not everything is Maslenitsa, there will be Lent too!

Maslenitsa is one of the oldest holidays preserved in the modern calendar since the times of pagan Rus'. Folk memory cherishes many Maslenitsa rites, rituals and fortune telling. In 2017, Maslenitsa will begin on February 20 and end on the 26th.

Signs for Maslenitsa

First of all, Maslenitsa is a time of remembrance of the dead. And the first pancakes baked on Pancake Monday are dedicated to the ancestors. You should knead the dough and bake pancakes in silence, turning over the faces of your relatives in your memory, remembering their words and actions. The first pancake cannot be eaten: it should be crumbled outside for the birds. According to ancient belief, the birds, having pecked the treat, will fly to heaven and ask the Lord for you and your loved ones. And in the evening, gather the whole family for a meal. This will strengthen family ties and give you reliable protection from your ancestors.

Fortune telling for Maslenitsa

Pancake fortune telling can be done by inviting friends. Make different fillings: sweet, salty, spicy, fresh, put a dry bean in several pancakes. Roll up the pancakes and place on a plate. Each person sitting at the table chooses one - the filling will tell you what awaits him. Sweet - for joy, spicy - for a hectic life, salty - for serious work, fresh - for life without change. And a bean means good luck in money.

Another fortune telling on Maslenitsa was carried out not on pancakes, but on a pie: in this way you can find out whether your cherished wish will come true before next spring. Bake the cake, cover with a napkin, and let cool. Take a knife, dip it in holy water, wipe it with the napkin that was used to cover the cake, with the words:

“Like water from a knife, so is thinness from a house. We eat royal and boyar pies. My little pie, reveal your vow to me.”

Now sprinkle holy water on the cake and stick a knife into it. If the knife remains standing straight, it’s too early to expect changes. If it leans in your direction, your wish will come true if you don’t interfere with yourself. If the knife deviates straight away from you or to the right, it will not come true. If the knife deviates to the left of you - everything is fine, wait for your dream to come true. If the knife falls, it means failure.

How to protect yourself from the evil eye and damage on Maslenitsa

During Shrovetide Week, you can perform a ritual of cleansing from negativity and the evil eye. To do this, you need to make a snowball, undress, stand in a basin and roll yourself with snow from head to toe (from head to toe), reading the plot:

“Passion, passion, come out, pour out of the servant of God (name). From a violent head, from a zealous heart, from a white body, from red blood, from a clean belly, from arms, from legs, from veins, from elderly. It is not I who drive out the evil eye, but Mother the Most Holy Theotokos with her angels, archangels, guardians and patrons every day, every hour, from now on and forever and ever! Amen!"

Pour out the water that the snow turns into at the intersection.

Conspiracy from envious people on Maslenitsa

To protect yourself from envious people for a whole year, on the eve of Maslenitsa, on Sunday, read the plot three times:

“In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Theotokos Lady and you, the four evangelists: Luke, Mark, Matthew and John the Theologian. Save and preserve me (name), protect me from dashing thoughts, from devilish thoughts, from secret destruction, from the evil eye and the blind eye, from the envious eye, who hears and who does not hear, who curses out loud and who writes denunciations. The Alatyr-stone lies in one place, does not hear, does not see, is not afraid of knocking or sound, and is not hiding from anyone. So no sound, knock or word would touch me, I wouldn’t stumble over any damage. My words cannot be denied, they cannot be reprimanded. Neither the first in the family, nor the last. Key. Lock. Language. Amen".

Wealth plot

go to where the festivities took place and try to find at least a penny. Raising it with your left hand, say:

“I walked and walked, and found how I (your name) walked towards this money, so that the money would come to me. Just as many people were here today in honor of Maslenitsa, so I would always have a lot of money. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen".

Keep the charmed coin until the next Maslenitsa. After a year, leave it where you picked it up.

Among the people, each day of Maslenitsa has its own name and the whole week is divided into two periods: Narrow Maslenitsa and Broad Maslenitsa.

Narrow Maslenitsa is the first three days: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and Wide Maslenitsa is the last four days: Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. In the old days, the first three days the peasants were still engaged in household work, and from Thursday it was forbidden to work, because... Wide Maslenitsa began.

Monday - Meeting

On this day, pancakes began to be baked, and the housewife always gave the very first baked pancake to a beggar, a needy person, so that he would remember the souls of deceased relatives and dear people. People invited relatives and friends to visit for pancakes, and the father-in-law and mother-in-law in the morning sent their daughter-in-law to her father and mother for the day, so that in the evening they themselves could come to visit the matchmakers.

On the first day of Maslenitsa, a stuffed figure of a large fat woman was built from straw, old clothes and other improvised materials, which was impaled and placed on the main square of the city or village.

Tuesday - Flirting

On the second day of Maslenitsa, people began actively visiting each other, visiting fairs, and sledding down hills. Bridal viewings also took place on this day, since all Maslenitsa rituals essentially boiled down to matchmaking in order to have a wedding after Lent on Krasnaya Gorka.

On this day, mothers-in-law invited their sons-in-law for pancakes, and to avoid boredom, they invited other relatives. A huge number of proverbs, sayings, songs and anecdotes are devoted to this custom.

Thursday - Razgulyay

On Thursday, Broad Maslenitsa began, housework stopped, and celebrations began in full swing. The people indulged in all kinds of fun, horse riding, fist fights, and various competitions were held, which were accompanied by eating pancakes and all kinds of dishes. The meaning of Wide Thursday, as well as all of Maslenitsa, is the release of negative energy accumulated over the winter and the resolution of various conflicts between people.

Friday - Mother-in-Law Evenings

On the fifth day, the mother-in-law with her friends and relatives came on a return visit to visit her son-in-law for pancakes, and her daughter baked pancakes that day.

Saturday - Sister-in-law's gatherings

On this day, daughters-in-law invited their sisters-in-law (husband's sisters) to visit them and gave them gifts.

On Sunday - the last day of Maslenitsa - they burned the effigy of Maslenitsa and along with it the remains of the festive food, and the ashes were scattered across the field or river water.