How to have fun celebrating Maslenitsa with children: games, crafts and history of the holiday

The holiday that children in Rus' loved more than any other is Maslenitsa. A modern child is closer to other holidays, but you can always add one more. And if you explain to your children exactly how Maslenitsa is celebrated in Russia, then you will have the opportunity to have a great time together and at the same time get acquainted with the original Russian traditions. Most modern Russians associate the ancient holiday only with the burning of an effigy, but the celebration of Maslenitsa can be greatly diversified: with fun gifts, competitions, games, costumes and crafts.

Content:

• When does Maslenitsa start 2022 Days of Maslenitsa week

When does Maslenitsa 2022 start?

Maslenitsa is not celebrated on a specific day; the holiday falls on a different date each year. The date of Maslenitsa is calculated as follows: another 56 days are subtracted from the day of Orthodox Easter. In 2022, the date of Maslenitsa itself falls on March 14 , coinciding with the onset of the second week of calendar spring. Accordingly, Maslenitsa week begins earlier - March 8 , International Women's Day.

Days of Maslenitsa week

Every day of Maslenitsa is special. It only seems that unbridled fun continues all week - in fact, every day on the eve of a long fast is dedicated to its own rituals and traditions.

1. First day (Monday) – Meeting. Day of the first pancake: on Monday the first pancake is baked and given to the poor or simply left on the windowsill. And on the day of the Meeting, women in Rus' taught their daughters to bake pancakes - this tradition can be observed in modern conditions.
2. Second day (Tuesday) - Flirting. The day when young people looked closely at each other, choosing a suitable pair. Guys and girls decided on their future couple by going down the slides together and having common holiday dinners.
3. The third day (Wednesday) - Gourmand. The very day from which the popular expression “to the mother-in-law for pancakes” came from. On Wednesday, sons-in-law went to treat their mother-in-law, and it was believed that the richer the mother-in-law set the table, the better she treated her daughter’s husband.
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4. Fourth day (Thursday) - Revelry. A day that fully lives up to its name - on Razgul in Rus', both adults and children had fun: they rode in sleds, danced in circles, played snowballs and captured snowy towns.
5. Fifth day (Friday) - Mother-in-law's evening. Mothers-in-law paid a return visit to their sons-in-law; the host's duty was to treat the mother-in-law and other guests whom she wished to invite. The tradition has served and can continue to serve to strengthen the relationship between the two families.
6. Sixth day (Saturday) - Sister-in-law's gatherings. The husband's sisters came to visit their daughter-in-law, who was supposed to bake pancakes for the girls. It was considered indecent to come empty-handed on this day - sisters-in-law gave their brother’s family a good gift.
7. Seventh day (Sunday) - Farewell. On the last day of Maslenitsa, it is customary to ask for forgiveness from loved ones and remember the departed. But the festivities still continue: with round dances, dancing and sledding. The last symbol of farewell to Maslenitsa - the burning of an effigy - occurs on the seventh day of Maslenitsa week.

What should you tell children about Maslenitsa?

In order for children to be interested and understand the idea of ​​the holiday in which the family is going to participate, it is necessary to tell in an accessible form about its content. You can read books to preschoolers, look at pictures on the Internet. And yet, an emotional, accessible story from an adult will help the child better feel the upcoming event. In this case, what can parents tell their children about Maslenitsa?

Maslenitsa is a holiday symbolizing farewell to a boring winter and a welcome to the long-awaited spring. The tradition of Maslenitsa days has always been wild fun and manifestation of generosity, as our ancestors considered this to be the key to rich harvests and abundance in the coming year. The holiday lasted for seven days, each day was named and celebrated in a special way. The main treat all week is pancakes, symbolizing the spring sun. A cheerful decoration for the event was the construction of a straw doll or stuffed animal, named after the Maslenitsa holiday. The scarecrow was placed on the main square where the festivities took place (you can give a preschooler a small straw doll). Calling on the sun, they tried to please Maslenitsa, shouting out calls:

Maslenitsa, Maslenitsa, Come visit us in the wide courtyard. Ride in the mountains, roll around in pancakes, amuse your hearts!

Traditional for the holiday was participation in folk entertainment, competitions, and round dances. People sang, joked, and made fun of Maslenitsa. On the last Maslenitsa day, a straw doll was burned, rejoicing in the upcoming spring days. Simple but exciting entertainment: sledding, taking snow forts - attracted both children and adults.

The history of the holiday in Rus' and the traditions of Maslenitsa

Our ancestors, the ancient Slavs, came up with the idea of ​​celebrating Maslenitsa. Then, as now, the holiday was a symbol of farewell to winter. But Maslenitsa was celebrated in Rus' not at different times, but always at the same time - on the day of the spring equinox, after which the day becomes longer than the night. The ancient Slavs said goodbye to winter and welcomed the beginning of spring, trying in every possible way to appease the sun that rarely peeked out. Therefore, the history of the holiday is closely connected with various round shapes that reminded people of the sun: the ancient Slavs baked round pancakes and launched wooden burning wheels from the mountains.

The traditions of Maslenitsa are easy and pleasant to observe: in Rus', during the days of Maslenitsa week, it was customary to go on a visit, ride a sleigh, build ice and snow fortresses, and organize street competitions. On the last day of the holiday, a straw effigy was necessarily burned - this ritual was considered the main sign of the passing of winter.

Signs

The main sign of Maslenitsa is, of course, associated with pancakes. Each family baked as many pancakes as possible, and it was believed that if the pancakes turned out smooth and beautiful, then the family would have a successful year. Failed, burnt pancakes indicated that the year would be difficult.

It was considered a good omen to arrange matchmaking during Maslenitsa week, and ideally, to have time to have a wedding before Maslenitsa was over. The Russian people have noticed that couples who unite during the period of farewell to winter live in love and harmony.

Other folk signs for Maslenitsa:

• throwing everything unnecessary out of the house means letting in something new;
• you cannot quarrel, swear and do bad things;
• It’s a bad omen to skimp and not treat your loved ones and friends to Maslenitsa.

Signs related to weather:

• frosts on Maslenitsa - for a hot summer;
• rains - an abundance of mushrooms;
• a lot of snow during Maslenitsa week means early spring.

Christian rituals

Despite the fact that in Orthodoxy Maslenitsa is tied to Easter, the ancient holiday is not mentioned in the church calendar. The tradition of celebrating farewell to winter continued even after the adoption of Christianity in Rus', but the holiday itself has changed a little. Now Maslenitsa week precedes Lent, and at this time believers no longer eat meat - only dairy products are allowed.

Christians have preserved the ritual of burning effigy on the last day of Maslenitsa week. On this same day - Forgiveness Sunday - all Orthodox people ask each other for forgiveness for all possible insults and insults.

How they celebrated then and how they celebrate now

The traditions accompanying each day of Maslenitsa week have not survived to this day. In Rus', they strictly observed the customs of visiting mothers-in-law, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, and choosing a beloved on a certain day of Maslenitsa. Now, of all the traditions of seeing off winter, only folk festivities have been preserved.

Modern Maslenitsa is celebrated in cities and villages: in parks, squares and on main streets. Adults and children dress up in costumes of parsleys and buffoons and participate in theatrical performances and competitions. Until now, as in former times, they organize funny folk games: tug-of-war, play snowballs, throw felt boots into the distance and, of course, burn a scarecrow.

What do they give for Maslenitsa?

Maslenitsa has always been and remains a family holiday, and gifts can only be given to the closest people. Traditional gifts for Maslenitsa, which were customary to give in Rus':

• tableware: sets of wooden utensils, butter dishes, jars for honey, caviar dishes;
• sweet treats: lollipops, buns, gingerbreads, rolls;
• decorations: scarves, ribbons, hairpins, shawls;
• costumes corresponding to the theme of the holiday;
• handmade crafts.

You can also choose a more modern gift option: ceramic dishes, refrigerator magnets, pancake makers, baking dishes, crystal, themed souvenirs.

“How to tell children about Maslenitsa and introduce them to the traditions of the national holiday!”

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How to tell children about Maslenitsa and introduce them to the traditions of the national holiday

History of the Maslenitsa holiday in Rus'

You can tell preschoolers about Maslenitsa already in the middle group. The teacher tells older preschoolers new details, deepening the concept of the holiday. As you know, Maslenitsa is an ancient Slavic holiday that arose in ancient times. Maslenitsa is one of the most joyful and bright holidays in Rus', which has been celebrated for a very long time. This is a cheerful farewell to winter, anticipation of the spring sun, the long-awaited renewal of nature.

The name of the holiday is associated with an ancient legend. In the far North there lived a girl named Maslenitsa, the daughter of Frost and Snowstorm. One day people wandered into these places and were swept away by a snow storm. The Maslenitsa girl helped them get out, and then suddenly turned into an adult, rosy-cheeked woman and fed the guests pancakes, and also amused them with her songs and dances. People had fun for a whole week.

Maslenitsa in Rus' has always been celebrated on a grand scale - hence the stable definition of the holiday “Broad Maslenitsa”.

Russian people sang, danced to cheerful jokes, ditties, and danced in circles. The jesters and buffoons made everyone laugh until they cried. There were endless performances in street theaters and booths. Masquerades were held right on the street. The main festivities began on Thursday and continued until Sunday (at the beginning of Maslenitsa week, people prepared treats for the holiday). Young people rode sleds down hills, played burners, blind man's buff and other winter fun, there were fist fights and tug-of-war competitions, and snowball fights. Adults and children built snow forts and staged entire performances: one team attacked buildings, captured them, and the other defended them.

A traditional pastime was trying to climb a high ice pillar. It was specially doused with cold water, and valuable gifts were hung on the icy surface at a certain distance from each other. The winner was the daredevil who managed to climb to the very top.

Many gaming traditions have survived to this day. Nowadays, traditionally, festivities are held in the squares of all cities and towns - farewell to winter. This happens on Sunday - the last day of Maslenitsa week. The people are offered various fun and competitions - only men climb not on an ice pillar, but on a regular one. Maslenitsa in folklore

Naturally, such a colorful holiday as Maslenitsa is reflected in Russian folklore.

People came up with many proverbs, sayings, riddles, and jokes on this topic..

Proverbs (the meaning of the proverb must be explained):

• It’s not all about Maslenitsa, there will be Lent too.
• Not life, but Maslenitsa.
• Maslenitsa is afraid of bitter radishes and steamed turnips.
• Pancakes, pancakes, pancakes, like the wheels of spring.
• They don't like pancakes and kisses.
• Maslenitsa - go around, save money.
• Maslenitsa does not last forever.

Maslenitsa songs:

• Maslenitsa has arrived! Madam-Boyarina Maslenitsa! With cheese, butter, and pancake, And rosy pie!
• Hello, annual Maslenitsa, our dear guest! Come on black horses, On painted sleighs, So that the servants will be young, They will bring us expensive gifts, And pancakes, and kalachi Swords through our window!

Ditties and songs at Maslenitsa are usually sung by mummers

• And we saw off Maslenitsa, sighed heavily for it; Oh, Maslenitsa, come back, cling to the white birch tree, reach out to the red summer. And we spent Maslenitsa, lost our dear one, We thought she would be seven years old, But she stayed for seven days. Oh, Maslenitsa, come back! Show up in the new year!

Puzzles:

• Adults and children love it, with or without filling, everyone wants to eat it, it’s round, crispy, shiny from the butter. (Crap).
• My holiday Only once a year, I will come to you for a week, I will bring joy to everyone and treat you to pancakes. (Maslenitsa).
• On Holy Sunday, we all have to ask everyone for forgiveness and answer: ... (“God will forgive!”).
• We welcome our dear guests and treat them to sweet tea. An old copper one is steaming on the table... (Samovar).

What is Maslenitsa week?

Preschoolers must be told that among the people there was a name for each day of Maslenitsa week:

1. Monday is the “meeting of Maslenitsa”. Adults and children began to build slides and forts, swings and booths, etc. Boys, guys and men compared strength in fist fights - according to age and weight category. The housewives began to bake pancakes, and the first one was usually given to the poor - to commemorate the dead.

On Monday, people built snow slides, fortresses, etc., and housewives began baking pancakes

1. Tuesday - "Flirting". The youth began to ride on sleighs; they were decorated with colorful rags, bells, and bells. The horses were also decorated with multi-colored harnesses and arches. Having ridden the sleigh, the young people went to treat themselves to pancakes. During the flirting, it was also possible to choose a bride for oneself - the fellows invited the girl they liked to ride down the hill in order to take a closer look at each other.

On Tuesday, young people usually went sleigh rides, and boys traditionally looked for brides.

1. Wednesday - "Gourmand". Married men went to their mothers-in-law for pancakes (other guests were also invited) - the treat symbolized the mutual sympathy of the husband and wife's mother, because for a long time the relationship between son-in-law and mother-in-law was difficult and became the subject of jokes and anecdotes. This tradition still exists today: Maslenitsa Wednesday is also called “mother-in-law pancakes.”

On Gourmet Wednesday, married men traditionally went to their mothers-in-law's for pancakes

1. Thursday - "Revelry". The beginning of mass celebrations. All day long the straw effigy of Maslenitsa was rolled through the streets, accompanied by mummers. The Russian people went out into the streets singing and dancing. The main fun on Thursday was the capture of the snow fortress, while the winning team had to swim in the ice hole and drink wine with honor.

On Thursday, mass celebrations begin, the main fun is the capture of the snow fortress

1. Friday is “mother-in-law’s party.” This time the mother-in-law went to visit her daughter’s family, and her son-in-law invited her personally, bowing from the waist. The wife's mother brought with her various utensils necessary for preparing pancakes (plates, frying pans, etc.), while the father-in-law passed on flour and milk. All these actions symbolized harmony in family relationships, honor and respect.

On Friday, the mother-in-law comes to visit her daughter’s family for pancakes

1. Saturday is “sister-in-law’s get-together.” Newly-made wives invited their husband's sisters (as well as other relatives) to visit. If the sister-in-law was unmarried, she could take her friends with her; the daughter-in-law also invited unmarried girlfriends. According to tradition, the newlywed gave gifts to her husband’s sister, treated her to pancakes, and after the treat, everyone went to the festivities.

On Saturday, young wives invited their husband's sisters to visit and gave them gifts.

1. Sunday - “farewell to Maslenitsa” and “Forgiveness Sunday”. The Maslenitsa doll was again carried around the village, and then taken out to the outskirts and burned to the tune of songs, round dances and other fun. Then the people went home. On Sunday it was (previously and now) customary to ask each other for forgiveness for all the insults brought.

On Sunday it is customary to ask each other for forgiveness for insults caused; also on this day the effigy of Maslenitsa is burned

To this day, in response to a request for forgiveness, it is customary to answer “God will forgive.” In Orthodox churches on Forgiveness Sunday, during the evening service, a special rite of forgiveness is performed - the priest asks for forgiveness from other church ministers and all parishioners. The believers present in the temple do the same. The meaning of this action is, again, preparation for Lent, when you need to devote yourself to friendly communication with loved ones, forget grievances, anger, etc.

Why are pancakes baked on Maslenitsa?

Children will be interested to know that pancakes are considered the main symbol of Maslenitsa.

In ancient times, they personified the sun - they were just as round, yellow and hot. People believed that together with the pancake they absorbed a particle of the sun's heat and power, which gives life and strength to all life on earth.

The people, yearning for warmth, used delicious pancakes to invite the sun, as if they were “buttering” it. This, by the way, is another interpretation of the origin of the name “Maslenitsa”.

Pancakes symbolized the sun - they were just as round, yellow and hot.

The hostesses baked a variety of pancakes: with butter and sour cream, honey and jam, with caviar and mushrooms, with sturgeon and stellate sturgeon - for every taste. Wheat or buckwheat flour was used. The most delicious pancakes are freshly baked, piping hot.

A variety of pancakes were baked for Maslenitsa - with butter, sour cream, jam, caviar, etc.

Interestingly, the pancakes baked at different lengths of Maslenitsa had their own names:

• on Monday - pancakes;
• on Tuesday - pancakes;
• on Wednesday - pancakes;
• on Thursday - pancakes;
• on Friday - blinks;
• on Saturday - pancakes;
• on Sunday - royal pancakes.

Rich people started baking pancakes on Monday, while poorer people started baking pancakes on Thursday or Friday. They ate this food from morning to evening, occasionally alternating with other dishes. On the street, pancakes could be purchased literally on every corner; they were served in taverns and restaurants. We washed down the Maslenitsa symbol with hot tea and milk. Sbiten, a Russian drink made from water and honey with spices, was also popular.

Of course, in kindergarten no one will allow the children to eat pancakes every day during Maslenitsa week. But so that preschoolers can become more deeply imbued with national traditions, the teacher can choose a day and ask their parents to bake and bring pancakes. As an option, you can conduct an applique class - cut out a pancake from paper and decorate it with a fantasy ornament (in the middle group you can distribute ready-made blanks in the form of circles).

To maintain the festive mood, on one of the days of Maslenitsa you can treat preschoolers with pancakes that their parents will bake

The role of the Maslenitsa doll in the holiday

Another symbol of Maslenitsa is a large stuffed doll, which was solemnly burned on Sunday.

This was the climax of the holiday (as it is now) and symbolized the fact that winter had been defeated, was leaving, and spring was coming. Traditionally, funeral food was thrown into the fire - pancakes, flatbreads, eggs.

The burning of the Maslenitsa effigy was the culmination of folk festivities before and now

The doll was made of straw - human height or even larger, dressed in colored rags, a scarf was tied on its head, and bast shoes were put on its feet. She was depicted as a woman or an old woman (her prototype is the ancient Slavic goddess of winter and death Morena). The scarecrow had been installed on a pole and carried through the streets since Thursday: it was a whole Maslenitsa train with many horses, mummers galloping nearby with jokes and jokes.

They've been carrying the Maslenitsa stuffed animal through the streets since Thursday - walking around

At the same time, in each house the owners made a small Maslenitsa doll. It, in turn, was not burned, but was kept for a whole year as a talisman that wards off evil spirits and other misfortunes. The doll was placed in front of the entrance to the hut or in the red corner (the main corner of the Slavic house, located diagonally from the stove). When the next Maslenitsa came, the doll was burned on a ritual fire or floated down the river.

All actions during the making of the doll were filled with meaning. So, people tried not to use needles and scissors; the fabric had to be torn rather than cut. Maslenitsa’s face remained white: this way she became inaccessible to the infusion of evil forces. The materials for making the amulet were straw and pumpkin, but there had to be a tree, which personified the violent power of nature. People hung ribbons on the doll’s hands while making wishes.

In kindergarten, children can also make such amulets dolls for themselves (of course, the children will not burn them, but will take them home). Preschoolers will surely enjoy this kind of creativity; they will be imbued with the holiday atmosphere. Depending on the age of the students, the teacher can offer them crafts of different complexity from different materials.

During a fine arts lesson, preschoolers will happily make themselves amulets dolls from various papers, fabrics and other materials.

National traditions must be supported, so the child must be introduced to the Maslenitsa holiday already in preschool age. The story should be constructed emotionally and figuratively, without overloading the kids with unnecessary details or detailed religious explanations. It is better to show more bright pictures, drawings, works of famous artists, bring interesting facts, apt proverbs and sayings.

How to celebrate Maslenitsa with your children

You can celebrate Maslenitsa with your child so that he will forever remember what the holiday is dedicated to and the customs associated with it. Before you go to the mass celebrations, tell your children about the history of Maslenitsa - the story can be supplemented with Russian folk poems and songs dedicated to Maslenitsa.

Speaking of festivities, check to see if your city hosts children’s programs dedicated to seeing off winter. If there are no events for children, perhaps you should refuse to attend a general holiday, where drunk people will probably be present.

To avoid losing your child in the crowd at mass celebrations in honor of Maslenitsa, install the “Where are my children” application. With it you can accurately track the child’s location and route, quickly contact if necessary and listen to what is happening around!

You can have a fun Maslenitsa with your child without attending a city festival: bake pancakes together, make a scarecrow figurine, play on the street and invite guests to Maslenitsa pancakes.

In kindergarten

You can introduce children to beautiful Russian rituals from a very early age - even kids will remember this interesting holiday, and Maslenitsa will not become for them just a day when they are supposed to eat pancakes.

Every day of Maslenitsa week in kindergarten can be made special by telling in an accessible way about the history and traditions of Maslenitsa. An approximate holiday plan is in the table below:

At school

Maslenitsa is an emotional holiday, in which there is a competitive spirit, and schoolchildren are willingly involved in organizing the farewell to winter.

With small children - primary and secondary students - it is better to celebrate the holiday within the walls of the school. How to celebrate Maslenitsa in the classroom:

• prepare the room: make room, decorate the classroom with balloons, crafts in the shape of pancakes and the sun;
• show invited parents a performance - theatrical or puppet - according to a pre-rehearsed script;
• arrange a tea party and entertainment with dancing, games and competitions.

After the holiday is over, you can play in the school yard and go down the slides.

It will be more interesting for high school students to celebrate outside of school: parents can organize a trip for adult children to a cafe that serves pancakes. After hanging out together, the guys will probably linger longer - they’ll want to go down the slides or just take a walk. Make sure your child's phone or smartwatch is charged in advance - and don't worry unnecessarily.

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Maslenitsa game ideas for children

As you bid farewell to the winter, you can teach your children to play ancient, almost forgotten games. For example, in these:

• “Burners”: children stand in a “stream”, the driver’s task is to catch one of the first pair running away, the one who did not get a pair continues to drive;
• “Sun”: the driver in the center depicts the sun, the rest of the children dance around it, narrowing and expanding the circle, on the fourth round the driver says “I’m burning!” and tries to catch one of the players;
• “King of the Hill” is perhaps the most fun winter game in the fresh air: one child climbs onto a snow mound and announces that he is the king of the mountain, the task of the other children is to pull the “king” off the mountain and take his place.

Ideas for Maslenitsa competitions for children

On Maslenitsa you can play fun outdoor games with your children in the classroom or on the street:

• tug of war is the most popular Maslenitsa pastime: the guys are divided into two teams, a line is drawn in the middle between them, and the task of each team is to pull the rope towards themselves. The team whose member crossed the line loses;
• “Bathhouse” - for the game you will need small brooms, which you can make yourself during technology lessons from branches and colored paper: the task of each team is to beat colored paper decorations from their brooms onto the backs of their opponents;
• “On three legs”: children are divided into pairs, the right leg of one of the pair and the left leg of the second are tied, and in this way the participants get to the established line and return. The fastest pair wins;
• “Jump rope” - for the competition you will need two adult participants: adults twist the rope, children take turns jumping over it. The one who has jumped the most times wins;
• “Balloon fight” is a safe analogue of fist fights: children from two teams are given balloons on long handles, and they fight with these “swords” until all the balloons of one of the teams burst.

Entertainment during Maslenitsa holidays

Traditional entertainment will keep children interested and willing to participate in fun activities.

Important: when organizing Maslenitsa games for children, the main thing is to choose the right game actions according to the age and capabilities of the child.

Fathers and mothers will bring great pleasure to the children, who will also take an active part in fun and competitions. This achieves a great educational effect, unity between parents and children, which can be difficult to achieve. Therefore, adults should take the opportunity to communicate, play, compete with their children, and reward them for their achievements. In folk pedagogy there are exciting games and competitions that can be organized at home if, for some reason, parents do not go with their child to mass entertainment. Preschool children attending kindergarten know and love traditional fun; parents teach children at home during family leisure time. On holidays like Maslenitsa, it is simply necessary to use the creative potential of the people (ditties, nursery rhymes, songs) to expand knowledge about traditions, enrich vocabulary, and develop children's memory.

Maslenitsa, Maslenitsa, we can’t praise you enough, Come visit us in the wide yard, play with the children, ride on the slides!

"Pancakes in a frying pan"

Children of all ages enjoy the entertainment. Adults take an active part in it; preparation is minimal: draw a round playing field (frying pan). The participants hold hands tightly and try to push each other into the circle so that the pancake player is “baked” in the frying pan. The winner is the participant who is never in the circle. At the end of the game, everyone is treated to pancakes.

"Merry buffoons"

In this theatrical action, parents prepare hats and learn a song, for example, based on a poem by L. Orlova:

I am a cheerful Buffoon! Look, I'm not bad. For a penny (preferably five) I will jump and dance. I won't let you get bored! Who's ready to be naughty?

The players wear buffoon hats; you can simply sew bright balls (bells) to the child’s hat. To the chorus, children imitate the lolling habits of a bear at a fair, the important gait of a cockerel, and the fight of goats with their foreheads. It's good to use fun background music.

"Hurdy organ"

A theatrical game with the participation of children of different ages. To carry out the fun, an adult needs to dress up as an old organ grinder, pick up a monkey or parrot toy, a music box like an organ grinder, and write notes for children pretending to be “customers.” The entertainment will be more interesting if you prepare souvenirs for the participants, which need to be hidden in different places. The presenter sings a song about a barrel organ or reads a nursery rhyme:

I never part with my old barrel organ anywhere, it gives everyone joy and drives away sadness!

An adult, pretending to be an organ grinder, shouts: “Happiness is for sale!”

Children-"buyers" pull out notes, the organ grinder reads out their contents, for example: "Look for your happiness under the Christmas tree", "Your happiness is behind the bench."

"Let's ride the carousel"

A classic outdoor game for preschoolers of any age, well known to children in kindergarten. The leader (an adult or a senior preschooler) raises a stick with multi-colored ribbons tied to it. Participants choose a ribbon, the presenter spins in place, depicting a carousel. The players perform rhythmic actions, singing along with the leader:

Barely - barely, barely - barely The carousels were spinning. And then, then, then Everybody run, run, run! Hush, hush, don't rush, stop the carousel. One-two, one-two, the game is over.

"Blow up, bubble"

Classic old-time entertainment, familiar and loved by all preschoolers. The round dance game is often played in kindergarten. For the game action, you need to stand in a circle and perform certain movements in accordance with the words:

Inflate, bubble, Big, big, (participants gradually expand the round dance, the “bubble” inflates) Stay like that and don’t burst! He flew, flew, flew (players hold hands, run in a circle) And he touched a thread. The thread fell, (everyone stops) The bubble is gone! Bang! Burst: shh-sh-sh (the circle narrows, the bubble “bursts”)!

"Old Malanya"

Fun for all the kids, it makes those playing very happy. It’s good if adults take part, whom children can imitate. At first, the parent is chosen as the driver (“Malanya”), then the role can be transferred to an older preschooler. The players stand in a circle, the driver is in the center. To the words of the nursery rhyme (it can be sung in chorus), the driver performs various funny actions, the rest of the participants reproduce them:

At Malanya's, at the old woman's, they lived in a small hut, Seven daughters, seven sons, All without eyebrows (the eyebrows are covered with their hands). With such eyes (“Malanya” shows funny little eyes, the players copy), With such ears, with such noses, (the driver makes mischievous faces), With such a mustache, with such a head, with such a beard. They didn’t eat anything, they sat all day, they looked at her, they did something like this... (depicts a cheerful pose that all players copy).

The participant who shows “Malanya” the most fun wins and receives a prize.

"Dudar-dudarishche"

This ancient entertainment will fit perfectly into family leisure time and will create a cheerful mood for adults and children. Maslenitsa is the right time for such ancient fun. First you need to tell the children who the dudar is (plays the pipe) and what a deck is (a thick cut down tree). An adult first becomes the leader, and then the role is transferred to the children. Entertainment requires a large area, so they play on the playground. Participants dance in a circle and rhythmically say or sing:

Dudar, dudar, dudarishche, old, old old man. It's under the deck, under the damp, under the rotten one. Dudar, dudar, what hurts?

Dudar says plaintively, pointing to any part of the body, for example: “My finger is sore.” The players laugh and grab the neighbor’s finger and move on.

Or: “Little hand hurts,” they hold hands, continuing the round dance with the words: “Dudar, dudar, what hurts?”

Dudar cries: “The barrel is sick,” the participants laugh and grab each other’s sides, the game continues.

The fun ends with the words of the dudar: “Nothing hurts!”

Everyone runs away, the leader catches them.

DIY costume for Maslenitsa

Spectacular and easy-to-make costumes for Maslenitsa - buffoon for boys and Spring for girls.

How to make a buffoon costume with your own hands:

1. A colorful women's robe that fits in size is cut off from the bottom and hemmed - it turns out to be a future shirt for the buffoon.
2. Slits are made on the sleeves of the shirt so that the sleeves hang down a little.
3. The lower part of the costume is made from pants that are too big for the child, sewing in an elastic band at the waist.

Creating a headdress for a costume is also quite simple; watch the master class on making a hat for a buffoon with your own hands here:

How to make a Spring costume for a girl:

1. Choose a flared dress in a suitable color - preferably green.
2. Glue or sew paper or fabric flowers onto the dress.
3. Place beads on the girl’s neck and a wreath on her head.

A beautiful wreath of artificial flowers can be made like this:

If you have no free time at all, but want to make a costume with your own hands, choose one of the simplest options:

• Spring look for a girl: over any spacious flared sundress, wear a tight, fitted sleeveless vest;
• bear costume for a boy: put a fur coat on your child turned inside out and complete the look with a bear mask;
• goat costume: attach beads and bells to the fur coat, make horns from cardboard.

You can create an image suitable for Maslenitsa even simpler: put on a boy any mask or false beard, and add themed accessories to the girl’s regular clothes, for example, a bright scarf, a sash, or beads made from bagels.

Crafts for Maslenitsa

The most popular craft for Maslenitsa is, of course, a stuffed animal. It may be difficult for small children to make a stuffed animal - with kids it is better to make a talisman doll or a sun.

How to make a scarecrow for Maslenitsa - step-by-step instructions

Nail two wooden sticks (one longer, the other shorter) to each other to form a cross - this will be the basis for the scarecrow.

1. Tie the resulting figure with straw.
2. Make the head from crumpled newspapers, cotton wool or dry grass, wrap the resulting round shape with a bright scarf or a suitable piece of fabric.
3. Make a face for the scarecrow: mark the eyes with buttons, the mouth, nose and cheeks with red lipstick.
4. Tie the finished head tightly to the craft figure.
5. Dress the stuffed animal in old clothes.

A slightly more complex option for creating a scarecrow:

How to make a talisman doll - step-by-step instructions

Take a piece of fabric measuring 20 by 20 cm, place a small piece of tightly rolled cotton wool in the center of the fabric;

1. Fold the fabric evenly diagonally.
2. Using a long thread of the same color as the fabric, form the doll’s head: wrap a piece of cotton wool several times and secure with a knot (the main function of the doll is to protect the owner, so make the number of wraps even), do not cut the thread.
3. Using your hand, form the waist and wings of the craft, bring the thread to the front of the doll, wrap the waist crosswise several times, and secure with a knot.
4. You can use a thread of a different color to make a halo for the doll.

Another option for making a talisman doll:

How to make sunshine with your baby on Maslenitsa - step-by-step instructions

1. Draw an even circle on a piece of thick white cardboard.
2. Make the sun's face: draw with pencils, finger paints, or use Easter products - stickers, safe dyes.
3. Cover empty spaces on the sheet with glue.
4. Immediately add millet before the glue dries.
5. Wait for the glue to dry and shake off any excess millet.

You can also make the sun like this:

Become your child's best playmate: play together in the yard, take part in competitions, bake pancakes for the whole family. Do not doubt - your children will remember the unusual holiday, and in the future they will preserve the tradition of celebrating Maslenitsa in their families.

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