SHROVE TUESDAY/MARDI GRAS
Shrove Tuesday (Uzgavenes - in the Lithuanian language)
The photos were taken by Monika and Eimante;
Sarunas and Simonas were searching for the information
The information was taken from http://www.tonas.lt/node/886, http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/22409/
Photo: Mardi Gras, by Monika and Eimante, GVC1114
SHROVE TUESDAY or MARDI GRAS (Uzgavenes)– an old traditional not just for Lithuanians, but also for a lot of other European countries celebration. Its purpose is to chase off a winter and to lead spring to come faster. It‘s being celebrated when there are 46 days left, it means 7weeks, until Easter. This period is from the 3rd of February till the 9th of March.In 2012 Shrove Tuesday was celebrated on 21st February. In Lithuania Mardi Gras is mostly celebrated in various city squares, folk museum in Rumšiškės (during a weekend before Mardi Gras)
The festival has deep pagan roots that heavily influence the Uzgavenes celebrations.
The festival has deep pagan roots that heavily influence the Uzgavenes celebrations.
MASKS AND MARDI GRAS‘S MUMMERS
Photo: Masks and Mardi Gras‘s mummer, by Monika and Eimante, GVC1114
Making the mask and the costume is an essential element of Mardi Gras(Uzgavenes).
Preparation for Mardi Gras reminds of some gaudy. The main point is getting dressed in odd clothes and hiding your face behind a mask.
Depending on the characters, masks are divided into two groups: some of them portray a human and others portray animal features. Particularly frequent were „jews“, „gypsies“, „hungarians“, „horses“, „goats“, „cranes“, „devils“, „witches“, „reapers“, „hobos“. The most important procession‘s participants – Effigy of winter, Porker and Hempen.
MAKE A MASK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlKRr6g4AEQ
EFFIGY OF WINTER
Photo: Effigy of winter, by Monika and Eimante, GVC1114
The carriage of effigy of winter is in the centre of attention.
THE CHARACTERS OF MARDI GRAS
Photo: Porker and Hempen, by Monika and Eimante, GVC1114
PORKER AND HEMPEN
Porker symbolizes satiety, bellyful. He should be fat, with a lump of flitch in his mout, sometimes with a mask of pig‘s head. Hempen is thin, ragged, his hat is fastened with a tuft of hempen, he has a hempen string in his hand or a sheaf made of hempen on his head, twirling a hempen whip around his head, he has frayed moustache and in the other hand he holds a long club to chase the Porker off of the village. Hempen and Porker usually push each other, menace until Hempen finally wins.
After the battle Porker normally runs away.
Winner Hempen rejoiced over the fast and that people will always remember and love him, because they‘ll be able to flavour their dry food with hempen milk. He used to draw out of his pocket a bottle of bitter and salt drink and feast the people.
Porker symbolizes satiety, bellyful. He should be fat, with a lump of flitch in his mout, sometimes with a mask of pig‘s head. Hempen is thin, ragged, his hat is fastened with a tuft of hempen, he has a hempen string in his hand or a sheaf made of hempen on his head, twirling a hempen whip around his head, he has frayed moustache and in the other hand he holds a long club to chase the Porker off of the village. Hempen and Porker usually push each other, menace until Hempen finally wins.
After the battle Porker normally runs away.
Winner Hempen rejoiced over the fast and that people will always remember and love him, because they‘ll be able to flavour their dry food with hempen milk. He used to draw out of his pocket a bottle of bitter and salt drink and feast the people.
A RIDE AND WATERING
http://www.flickr.com/photos/iksiukasan/3300287287/
In Lithuania its a living custom that during Mardi Gras you have to ride a lot. It is said, that the more way you ride, the better and taller your flax will grow. A custom to circuit wealds and roll a bit in snow is not just for fun, it is believed, that only then your yield will be better and flax will be thicker
While riding people shout, racket around, sing. Anybody who wants can water people that are riding. Watering means waking up of new life, its stimulation for a better yield, the beginning of something new.
Everyone in the forecourt has prepared some water to squirt the riding person or throw snowballs at him, and the rider needs to know how to dodge the water and squirt the others or whack them with a long whip.
Joking around and visiting neighbours during Mardi Gras is very important.
During Mardi Gras people make swings and go sway.
While riding people shout, racket around, sing. Anybody who wants can water people that are riding. Watering means waking up of new life, its stimulation for a better yield, the beginning of something new.
Everyone in the forecourt has prepared some water to squirt the riding person or throw snowballs at him, and the rider needs to know how to dodge the water and squirt the others or whack them with a long whip.
Joking around and visiting neighbours during Mardi Gras is very important.
During Mardi Gras people make swings and go sway.
PREDICTIONS OF THE FUTURE
Most of the predictions are connected to wedding and upcoming yield. They are very similar to Christmas Eve divinations.
In the morning before sunrise, you need to sift out the ashes then hide them and when the cabbages start to grow, scatter them with the ashes – then bugs won‘t erode the cabbages.
If a day on Mardi Gras is sunny, you‘ll have to sow on early spring.
If the weather is wet it means that grain will grow well.
If there‘s any snow on the roof in the morning during Mardi Gras it means that Easter will be snowy.
Photo: http://blog.liutkus.eu/uzgavenes-rumsiskese-2010/
In the morning before sunrise, you need to sift out the ashes then hide them and when the cabbages start to grow, scatter them with the ashes – then bugs won‘t erode the cabbages.
If a day on Mardi Gras is sunny, you‘ll have to sow on early spring.
If the weather is wet it means that grain will grow well.
If there‘s any snow on the roof in the morning during Mardi Gras it means that Easter will be snowy.
Photo: http://blog.liutkus.eu/uzgavenes-rumsiskese-2010/
DISHES
Photo: Dishes, by Monika and Eimante, GVC1114
The most popular Mardi Gras dish is pancakes.
EFFIGY OF WINTER (More)
Photo: Mardi Gras, by Monika and Eimante, GVC1114
Lithuanians build the largest effigy of winter, named More, another significant Uzgavenes tradition. It is made of various materials and has the vague shape of a woman. It represents winter and is burned at the climax of the celebration.
Photo: Mardi Gras, by Monika and Eimante, GVC1114
There are also lots of competitions. Every masquerade gathering includes songs and the traditional Uzgavenes slogan: "ziema, ziema bek is kiemo!" literally meaning "winter, winter get out of my yard!"
This ritual has a long history, dating back to pagan society, which tried to eliminate a representation of winter by holding a loud and ebullient festival.
This ritual has a long history, dating back to pagan society, which tried to eliminate a representation of winter by holding a loud and ebullient festival.
Video
Žiema,žiema,bėk iš kiemo(Užgavėnės 2012-Vilnius)
Winter, winter,go away ( Mardi Gras 2012-Vilnius,Lithuania)
Winter, winter,go away ( Mardi Gras 2012-Vilnius,Lithuania)
Mardi gras 2012 Slide show
http://www.flickr.com//photos/evaldas_liutkus/sets/72157629388564347/show/
http://www.flickr.com//photos/evaldas_liutkus/sets/72157629388564347/show/