Kolyady and Maslenitsa: winter holidays in Belarus

Someone loves winter for its beauty, and someone hates it for the cold. And yet, the snowy season has its own charm, which is given by the magical winter holidays. Do you know how our ancestors celebrated them? Today VETLIVA will tell you about the main winter holidays and what traditions were associated with them.

Kolyady in Belarus

Kolyady in Belarus has long been considered the main winter holiday. It was celebrated on a grand scale: in pagan times from December 25 to the onset of Christmas — January 6, and after the Christianity — from January 6 to 19. In ancient times, the holiday was associated primarily with the winter solstice. Our ancestors welcomed the start of a new calendar and agricultural year.

Kolyady holiday took place according to a scenario strictly verified over the years:

1. The day before it began, a pig was slaughtered, and in poor families, Kolyady was sometimes the only opportunity to gorge themselves on meat.
2. The house was carefully tidied up, the locals sewed new clothes and took a steam bath.
3. On the first day of the holiday, January 6, they fasted all day and waited for the first star to appear: only after that, they could join the table. The holiday table was covered with hay, a tablecloth, and kutya, the ceremonial porridge, was put in the center. The feast was as rich and satisfying as possible: dishes of Belarusian cuisine like pork, pancakes, and a traditional compote made from dried pears and apples were always presented on the table.
4. On Christmas Day, the locals always went to visit the godchildren and gave them gifts. And in the evening, young people went to caroling: they wore costumes, dressed up one person as a goat, and took them from house to house with songs, ditties, and dances. Refusing to open the door to them was considered a bad sign.

1. January 8 was Stepan’s day, and an interesting tradition is associated with it. On this day, the owners paid their employees, and after the final payment, they had the right to express their dissatisfaction with them. And then either a new contract was concluded, or the employee and the employer went their separate ways.
2. Shchedrets (January 14) was celebrated cheerfully, during which people chose the most beautiful girl (schodra), put ribbons and a wreath on her, and again went home with songs and dances. Schodra sang special generous songs, and the hosts she visited, in turn, tried not to skimp on treats.

Maslenitsa holiday

If the Kolyady saw off the old year and welcomed the onset of the new, then Maslenitsa was a large-scale farewell to winter. This holiday has many names, and all of them are somehow connected with milk, butter, cheese, and other dairy products. This is because by the time it began, the cows had time to calve, and the peasants had milk on the table. But the meat was just forbidden to eat, so during the Maslenitsa week, it was customary to cook dishes from milk, cheese, butter, etc.

The date of the holiday is floating. It is counted from Easter: subtract 56 days, and you will get the desired result. In 2022, Maslenitsa will be celebrated on March 6, and the festive week itself starts on the last day of winter — February 28.

Advice from VETLIVA: haven’t you been to Minsk yet? Be sure to come to the capital of Belarus for Maslenitsa! And if you have a few days in stock, use our advice on how to spend them in Minsk with maximum benefit.

Each day of the festive week had its own name and traditions:

1. Monday was called “Meeting”. On this day, pancakes were baked for Shrovetide and the same stuffed animal was made, which would later be burned.
2. Tuesday was for “Playing”. It was possible to start hiking around the guests.
3. Wednesday was the “Gourmet”. The celebration was gaining momentum: already with might and main, it was possible to invite guests and especially the mother-in-law.
4. “Fat” or “Wide” Thursday was pet day.
5. Friday was called “Mother-in-law’s evening” so families went to visit the wife’s parents
6. Saturday was “Sister-in-law evenings” when people walked with might and main, sleigh rides, and get-togethers at a party.
7. “Forgiveness” Sunday became a point in the celebration of Maslenitsa. On this day, a scarecrow of winter was burned to invoke spring, and people asked each other for forgiveness.

What traditions of Kolyady and Maslenitsa do you know? Share with us in the comments!