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Maslenitsa ((ロシア語:Ма́сленица), (ウクライナ語:Масниця), (ベラルーシ語:Масьленіца), also known as Butter Week, Crepe week, or Cheesefare Week), is an Eastern Slavic religious and folk holiday, celebrated during the last week before Great Lent, that is, the eighth week before Eastern Orthodox Pascha (Easter). Maslenitsa corresponds to the Western Christian Carnival, except that Orthodox Lent begins on a Monday instead of a Wednesday, and the Orthodox date of Easter can differ greatly from the Western Christian date. ==Traditions== According to archeological evidence from 2nd century A.D. Maslenitsa may be the oldest surviving Russian holiday.〔(Maslenitsa, Blin! The Food and Celebration of the Russians ) By Josh Wilson, Newsletter, The School of Russian and Asian Studies, 9 March 2005.〕 Maslenitsa has its origins in the pagan tradition. In Slavic mythology, Maslenitsa is a sun-festival, personified by the ancient god Volos,〔 and a celebration of the imminent end of the winter. In the Christian tradition, Maslenitsa is the last week before the onset of Great Lent.〔(''Maslenitsa'' ) by Margaret McKibben, Russian Folk Group of Seattle, WA, Seattle Community Network. undated.〕 During the week of Maslenitsa, meat is already forbidden to Orthodox Christians, and it is the last week during which eggs, milk, cheese and other dairy products are permitted, leading to its name of "Cheese-fare week" ((ロシア語:сыропустная неделя)) or "Crepe week". The most characteristic food of Maslenitsa is ''bliny'' thin pancakes or crepes, made from the rich foods still allowed by the Orthodox tradition that week: butter, eggs and milk. During pagan times, the round shape and golden color signified praise to the Sun because of pancakes' resemblance to it. Since Lent excludes parties, secular music, dancing and other distractions from spiritual life, Maslenitsa represents the last chance to take part in social activities that are not appropriate during the more prayerful, sober and introspective Lenten season. It is a time when societal rules could be broken including wearing masks and clothing of the opposite gender, role-playing, gorging, and consuming large amounts of alcohol.〔 In some regions, each day of Maslenitsa had its traditional activity. Monday may be the welcoming of “Lady Maslenitsa”(чучело Масленицы). The community builds the Maslenitsa effigy out of straw (из соломыout), decorated with pieces of rags, and fixed to a pole formerly known as Kostroma. It is paraded around and the first pancakes may be made and offered to the poor. On Tuesday, young men might search for a fiancée to marry after lent. On Wednesday sons-in-law may visit their mother-in-law who has prepared pancakes and invited other guests for a party. Thursday may be devoted to outdoor activities. People may take off work and spend the day sledding, ice skating, snowball fights and with sleigh rides. On Friday sons-in-law may may invite their mothers-in-law for dinner. Saturday may be a gathering of a young wife with her sisters-in-law to work on a good relationship; The Russian word for ''sister-in-law'' (золовка) stems from the word ''evil'' (зло), and невестка the brother’s wife means outsider and illustrates the traditional relationship. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Maslenitsa」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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