Monday

“Vstrecha” / Meeting

The first day of the Maslenitsa week is called the Meeting.

On this day people begin baking blini. By tradition the very first blini is given to the poor and needy so that they may pray for the souls of deceased relatives, or the blini is left on a doorstep as a sign of respect to one’s ancestors.

The first blini is dedicated to the ancestors: it is placed on a windowsill, taken to a cemetery, or handed to the poor in memory of the departed (this custom also stems from pre‑Christian times, when people asked their forebears for help and intercession before Mother Earth).

On this day they also make swings, carousels, booths, snow slides, and market stalls. Additionally, a Maslenitsa effigy is crafted from straw and other materials, dressed in old clothes and rags, thereby discarding unwanted items. The effigy is then mounted on a pole, pulled on sleds through the streets, and finally displayed for public viewing on the main street or village square until Sunday.

In the morning the father‑in‑law and mother‑in‑law send the bride‑to‑be to visit her own parents for the day; in the evening they themselves go to the in‑laws’ house, are treated to blini, and rejoice at the start of the Maslenitsa week.

Tuesday

“Zaigrysh” / Courtship

Zaigrysh was the day of matchmaking in villages, as well as a day of revelry, games, and amusements. From the morning, the fun began: people rode sleds, slid down icy slopes, and went on carousels. Skomorokhs (jesters) roamed the streets, entertaining the crowd and receiving generous gifts from the hostesses.

Because the rituals centered on courtship, large public celebrations were organized. Marriage was permitted only after the fast, on the “Red Hill” (the first Sunday after Easter), so young men and women furtively watched each other—young men surveyed prospective brides, young women eyed the boys and secretly guessed who would first send a matchmaker. Parents inspected future in‑laws and, in a joking manner, began to discuss the upcoming wedding.

If someone rejected a prospective groom or bride, a rotten stick or a wooden sandal was hung on their back as a mock punishment. Those leading a bachelor lifestyle could be teased in this way.

Wednesday

"Lakomka" / Treat

On Wednesday guests—friends, relatives, and neighbors—were invited into the home. They were served honey‑spiced gingerbread, pies, and blini.

By tradition, a son‑in‑law would come to his mother‑in‑law for blini that she prepared especially for him. It was believed that the more generous the table, the greater the prosperity the hostess wished for her son‑in‑law. Feeding all the guests, especially when there were several daughters, was no easy task, so the mother‑in‑law’s efforts were highly valued.

Each family had its own blini recipe, using a variety of flours—wheat, oat, or even corn. Son‑in‑laws praised their mothers‑in‑law, sang them complimentary songs, and performed humorous skits with costume changes.

Women and girls gathered together, rode sleds around the village, and sang lively songs and short verses (chastushki).

Thursday

"Razgul" / Revelry

Thursday was called Razgul (revelry). On this day the loudest celebrations began—sledding, fist fights, and mass merrymaking. This marked the start of the Broad Maslenitsa. All household work stopped, giving way to genuine festivities in honor of Maslenitsa.

In towns, residents dressed in their finest clothes, took part in festive processions, attended theatrical performances and booths, and watched entertainments featuring bears and jesters. People also slid down hills, swung on swings and carousels, enjoyed horse‑riding rides, sledding, snowball fights, noisy feasting, and all of this was accompanied by lively circle dances and singing.

Sledding (on sleds, “chunki”) was a favorite activity for children and adults alike during Maslenitsa. Thick, wide boards were fashioned into special sleds (korégi). Because the sleds were stable, the risk of falling and overturning was minimal. The smallest children were tied to the sleds with ropes. A sled equipped with a little gazebo was called a “goat.” If the bottom of the sled was wetted and then iced over, it would glide down the hill especially quickly.

Another popular pastime for both single and married youth were the “slegi” (sleds on which riders sat standing, side‑by‑side, holding onto each other). Long, well‑carved slegi—somewhere between a log and a pole—were placed on a hill, covered with snow, and doused with water. Throughout the Maslenitsa week people raced on the slegi, shrieking, falling, shouting, and singing as they sped down. A pair that managed to stay upright could glide far beyond the river or the village.

This day usually featured fist fights and the “wall‑against‑wall” games, where young men showed their bravery and strength, flaunting themselves before the girls and brides. Participants could come from two neighboring villages, from estate or monastic peasants, or from opposite ends of a large settlement. Fighters prepared seriously: they steamed in a sauna, ate heartily to gain strength, and even consulted sorcerers for a special spell to ensure victory.

The climax of the day was the “snow town” game. Boys built a fort of ice and snow with gates, stationed guards inside, and then launched attacks—climbing walls and storming gates. The crowd split into two teams: cavalry and infantry. The cavalry tried to capture the town, while the infantry defended it. Defenders used snowballs, brooms, and makeshift clubs. Some sources say this game appeared only in the 18th century, but it quickly became beloved, so a Maslenitsa without it was considered incomplete.

Friday

Mother‑in‑Law’s Evening

This day is better known as “the mother‑in‑law pays a return visit.” While people were resting from the busy Thursday, the son‑in‑law invited his mother‑in‑law over for blinis. She arrived with a return visit, bringing along her relatives and friends. Usually she came with companions, and with a very specific purpose: to brag about how much the son‑in‑law loves her and treats her deliciously.

The blinis on this day were baked by the daughter—the son‑in‑law’s wife. The son‑in‑law was expected to demonstrate his affection toward his mother‑in‑law and her close ones. The family gathering strengthened ties among relatives, and the shared merriment reminded everyone of the approaching, long‑awaited spring and warmth.

Saturday

Sisters‑in‑Law’s Gathering

Now it was the wife’s turn to treat her husband’s family. The daughters‑in‑law invited the husband’s sisters to their home, served pancakes, and gave them gifts. If the sisters‑in‑law were still unmarried, the daughter‑in‑law would gather her own female friends; if they were already married, she would invite married female relatives.

This is linked to an unusual tradition: if a sister‑in‑law is already married, only married friends are invited. If she is a single woman, the invited friends should also be unmarried.

Sunday

Forgiveness Sunday

On Forgiveness Sunday it was customary to ask one another for forgiveness. People sought pardon from each other for all offenses so they could begin the fast with a clean heart.

After the adoption of Christianity, this Sunday is known as Forgiveness Vespers, and on that day it became obligatory to go to church on this day: the pastor asked the congregation for forgiveness, and the congregants asked each other, bowing and requesting pardon. In response, the traditional phrase “God will forgive” was spoken. It was also customary on Forgiveness Sunday to visit cemeteries and commemorate deceased relatives.

The climax of the whole Maslenitsa celebration was the burning of the effigy accompanied by cheerful songs and folk verses. The ashes were scattered over the fields to ensure a fertile year. This symbolized the farewell to winter and the arrival of spring. On this day people organized fairs, tea gatherings with bagels, loaves, and pancakes, played games, led round dances around the Maslenitsa effigy, sang, and danced.