Slavic
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Group for all of you, who love your country and countries of your slavic brothers.
Maslenitsa
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Description
Today is the first day of Maslenitsa in Russia - old holiday with deep pagan roots. Tonnes of cupcakes, burning scarecrows symbolizing Morana/Morena/Marena (goddess of winter coldness and death), scary masks, ancient songs, jumping over the fires, roundelays, and hot mead!
As far as i know, there are quite similar good old holidays in all slavic countries ;)
Yes, in Slovakia, they had the same celebrations. They marched with the straw Morena towards a river, then they set her on fire and threw her into a river. Cruel, yes, I know, poor Morena :-).
That was the way they were welcoming the Spring. I dindn't hear about them still doing it, if they do, it would be in eastern part of Slovakia.
We also have this holiday in Bulgaria, but it is more commonly known as Sirni Zagovezni or Proshka(proshtavam- to forgive; the young usually seek forgiveness from the elders). People with scary monster costumes dance and parade the streets to scare evil spirits away. There isn't a Morena doll now, but in Sunday bonfires are lit and when they burn and calm down people jump over them for good health.