Maslenitsa is a farewell to winter and a meeting of spring bearing revival in the nature and solar heat. People always perceived spring as the beginning of new life and have read the Sun giving life and strength to all live. In honor of the Sun at first baked unleavened cakes and when have learned to cook zakvasny dough, began to bake pancakes.

Every day of Maslenitsa has its own name and meaning:

Monday - Meeting

This day an effigy of straw was made, put on it an old women's clothing, got this effigy on a pole and with singing carried on sledge around the village. Then Maslenitsa was put on the snow mountain where driving on sledge began.

Tuesday - Zaigrysh

From this day different entertainments began: driving on sledge, festivities, representations. In big wooden buffooneries representations were given by Parsley and "Pancake grandfather". On streets big groups masked, in the masks which were driving about on familiar houses where the impromptu arranged cheerful house concerts came across. The big companies drove through the city, on the three and on simple the rozvalnyakh. People rode the sledge from ice-covered mountains.

Wednesday - Gourmand

On the Gourmand the mother-in-law accepted sons-in-law to pancakes, and for an entertainment of sons-in-law convoked all family. And before sons-in-law was not one-two, as in modern families, and on five-ten! Before the mother-in-law had to welcome and to treat and so that any offended didn't remain.

In the evenings sang songs about the careful mother-in-law treating the son-in-law with pancakes played farces with the dressed-up bear how the mother-in-law for the son-in-law scorching heat pancakes as the head hurts the mother-in-law as son-in-law told the mother-in-law thanks.

It was considered that on Maslenitsa, and especially on the Gourmand, it is necessary to eat so much, to the top of the bent, or as spoke by the people, "how many times a dog will wave a tail".

Thursday - Revelry (change, wide Thursday)

This day is the middle of games and fun. Perhaps, then passed also the fierce Pancake week fisticuffs, came originating from Ancient Russia. There were strict rules in them.

Friday - Mother-in-law's evenings

Mothers-in-law haven't managed to feed sons-in-law with pancakes on Wednesday as now sons-in-law invite them to themselves on a visit! Sons-in-law treated mothers of their wives with pancakes and sweets on mother-in-law parties.

The son-in-law had to invite personally the mother-in-law, and send to her special, ceremonial "pozyvatok" in the morning. The more it appeared "invited", the more it appeared to the mother-in-law of honors.

In some places "mother-in-law's pancakes" occurred on the gourmand, i.e. on Wednesday on Pancake Week, but could be dated for Friday.

Saturday — Daughter-in-law parties

On Saturday (the sister-in-law - the husband's sister) the young daughter-in-law invited the husband's family to daughter-in-law parties.

If sisters-in-law were not married yet, then she convoked to her place her unmarried girlfriends. If the husband's sisters were married, then the daughter-in-law invited relatives and with all train carried guests on sisters-in-law.

Sunday - A forgiven day

"Farewell of Maslenitsa" was the main episode of the last day. By this day effigy of Maslenitsa was done from straw or rags, usually it was dressed up in a women's clothing, bore through all village, sometimes put an effigy on the wheel thrust from above on a pole; having gone beyond the village, an effigy or heated in an ice-hole, or burned or just broke off on a part, and scattered the remained straw across the field: for a rich harvest.

On February 17 in Gagarin's park of the city of Pavlodar the holiday of a farewell to winter — Maslenitsa has taken place. On a holiday table of college for citizens the notable entertainment has been prepared: rolls, cheesecakes, pies, buckwheat, potato, salty cucumbers, sauerkraut, vinaigrette, ancient Russian drink stewed fruit and, of course pancakes - with honey, sour cream, jam, mushrooms and by ancient tradition - with red caviar. There were many persons interested to be treated, and nobody has left without gift.

For the strongest, courageous and frost-resistant athletes sports competitions have been organized. Persons interested could left weights or check themselves in fight. And in breaks between competitions performance groups of the city entertained all citizens.