Shrovetide 2025: traditions, rituals and where to go in Ukraine

This year, Ukrainians have already started celebrating Shrovetide. Find out more about what customs have survived to this day, what you can and can't do during the holiday week, and where you can have a good time on Shrovetide 2025

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Maslenitsa (or Kolodii) is a traditional Slavic holiday of seeing off winter and welcoming spring, preceding Lent. It symbolizes the awakening of nature, fertility and family well-being.

Maslenitsa has deep pre-Christian roots and was an important stage in the calendar cycle of our ancestors. The main attribute of Maslenitsa is pancakes, which with their round shape resemble the sun, which gradually begins to shine longer after winter.

This holiday is celebrated with great joy and many traditional rituals. Its essence lies not only in the consumption of delicious food, but also in the purification of the soul before Lent, reconciliation with family and friends.

Ancient traditions and rituals of celebration

Since ancient times, Maslenitsa has been accompanied by fun, fairs, festivities, sleigh rides, songs and dances. In Ukraine, Kolodii was traditionally celebrated by tying a block to the hand of unmarried boys, hinting at the need to get married. Fights on ice slides, mass festivities, and competitions were also organized.

Traditional entertainment included:

Sleigh rides symbolized the passing of winter.

Puppet shows and theatrical performances that ridiculed the negative features of society.

Mock weddings and marriages - during Maslenitsa, young people met and got engaged.

Jumping over fire symbolized purification.

Fortune-telling evenings - girls told fortunes about the future and their future spouse.

Who is burned on Maslenitsa?

The culmination of the holiday is the burning of the effigy of Winter (Maslenitsa), which symbolizes purification from all bad things, farewell to the cold and the arrival of spring. This tradition has existed since pagan times and remains unchanged. Old things are thrown into the fire to get rid of the negative energy of the past.

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When is Maslenitsa 2025 in Ukraine: dates

Maslenitsa 2025 will last from February 24 to March 2. This is the last week before Lent, which begins on March 3.

What to do on Shrovetide: celebrations by day

Shrovetide lasts a week and each day has its own significance:

Monday - Meeting. The beginning of the holiday, inviting guests, baking the first pancakes, which were given to the needy to commemorate their ancestors.

Tuesday - Flirting. Young people are courting, there are shows, girls and boys participate in competitions.

Wednesday - Sweet tooth. A mother-in-law invites her son-in-law to pancakes to see how good he is to her daughter.

Thursday - Go wild. There are mass festivities, horseback riding, fist fights, and fire performances.

Friday - Mother-in-law's party. The son-in-law visits his mother-in-law, treats her and shows her respect.

Saturday - Daughter-in-law's party. Young daughters-in-law invite their husbands' sisters and give gifts.

Sunday - Forgiveness Sunday. People ask for forgiveness from family and friends in order to enter the fast with a clean soul. The holiday ends with the burning of the effigy.

What should not be done on Shrovetide?

Refuse to eat pancakes and treats, as this can bring trouble.

Swear, quarrel and wish evil, because this week should be full of joy.

Work on Sunday, as it is meant for rest and reconciliation.

Refuse to reconcile, because this can leave a negative feeling in your heart for the whole year.

Eat meat, because the Cheese Week begins on Wednesday.

Where to celebrate Shrovetide in Ukraine in 2025?

Kyiv: Celebrations at VDNKh, in the Mamayeva Sloboda Museum of Living History, the Pirogov Museum, and Feofaniya Park. Fairs, performances, folk festivals, and performances by folk groups.

Carpathians: Hutsul festivities in Vorokhta, Verkhovyna, and Yaremche. Tourists can combine the festivities with outdoor activities such as skiing and visiting thermal springs.

Poltava: Festivities in Dykanka and the Museum of Folk Architecture. Theatrical performances, competitions, and traditional fun.

Shrovetide 2025 is a great opportunity to plunge into ancient traditions, feel joy, spend the winter and welcome spring with fun and delicious food!

To make the celebration even brighter, take advantage of unique tours from Visit Ukraine. Especially for Shrovetide, Visit Ukraine offers the best routes with ethnic traditions, tastings, and entertainment throughout Ukraine. Choose tours that combine traditional festivities and cultural heritage and discover the magical Maslenitsa in a new format!

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