Delicious farewell to winter traditionally lasts a whole week. In 2023, the celebration of Maslenitsa in Ukraine begins on February 20 and will last until February 26.

Even in the pre-Christian era, Maslenitsa was timed to coincide with the spring equinox and, as it were, served as a transition from winter to spring. Pancakes are the main symbol of the holiday.

Pancake week contains seven symbolic days. Pancake baking always started on Monday. On this day, the parents of the young people met in order to discuss the planned wedding, and an effigy of Maslenitsa was also built, which was carried through the streets on a sleigh.

Tuesday was called "flirt" - on this day the brides were held. Family traditions in general were of decisive importance on Maslenitsa. On Wednesday, the son-in-law came to his mother-in-law for pancakes. On Thursday, general celebrations and entertainment began: fisticuffs, jumping over a fire, song-dances, horseback riding and so on. The next day, on Friday, already the mother-in-law came to the son-in-law with a return visit for pancakes, this day was called "mother-in-law's evening." On Saturday there were gatherings - the daughter-in-law invited her husband's relatives to visit. Finally, on Forgiveness Sunday, everyone asked forgiveness from each other, commemorated those who were no longer around, and at the end of the day they burned an effigy of Maslenitsa.

Of course, many traditions eventually become a thing of the past, and now Shrovetide week is no longer a series of “pancake” days tied to matchmaking. However, the holiday is still loved and revered by many, and at least one day, but the vast majority of people still allocate it to drink tea with pancakes.