Do-it-yourself stuffed animal for school. Shrovetide with your own hands - how to make a scarecrow at home

Shrovetide is an old Russian holiday, so both adults and children love it. The celebration symbolizes farewell to the cold, winter and a meeting with warmth, spring. And also on the Russian folk holiday they eat delicious pancakes, make a stuffed animal and, according to tradition, burn it. Let's figure out how fun and when to spend Maslenitsa in 2020 and how to make an interesting scarecrow with your own hands.

Maslenitsa is not only the most beloved folk holiday, but also the oldest Slavic, since its history dates back to pagan times. In fact, Maslenitsa symbolizes the end of winter and the onset of a warm, sunny spring.

By the way, the tradition of baking pancakes for Maslenitsa appeared for a reason! Hearty and hot kruglyashi symbolized the warm spring sun, giving people hope for new life and a good harvest in the future.

The holiday, which lasts seven days, used to be celebrated on a grand scale: cheerful games, cheerfulsongs, lavish treats. And even now, noisy folk festivals are often held in cities and villages in honor of the Russian folk holiday.

Every family can organize a playful farewell to the cold weather! It will be great to get together, invite relatives, friends, fry delicious pancakes, make a scarecrow a carefree company and burn it with songs.

The last day of Maslenitsa is dedicated not only to fun, but also to the forgiveness of insults. Indeed, on this day forgiveness Sunday comes, on which it is time to forgive old grievances, ask each other for forgiveness, and reconcile with loved ones.

Surely, many people know that the holiday does not have a specific date. It's different every year. Therefore, for many people, the question of what date to celebrate Maslenitsa in 2020 is relevant. As you know, it is celebrated 49 days before the bright and great Easter (in 2020 it is April 19). This year, Pancake week begins on February 24, which means the holiday itself, i.e. Maslenitsa will be celebrated on March 1, 2020.

And what can be done on Maslenitsa in 2020? Previously, during the pancake week, people had fun with all their hearts, and now you can repeat the traditions of our ancestors and also have a sincere holiday.

Entertainment for Maslenitsa, which will appeal to both adults and children:

• ride a sled;
• cook delicious and original pancakes;
• go to the city carnival fair or festivities;
• arrange festivities with a small company with relatives and friends: dance, jump over a fire, sing songs and dance;
• and, of course, make and burn a scarecrow.

Why and when they burn an effigy on Maslenitsa

The main tradition for Maslenitsa is to burn an effigy. This rite was great value for our ancestors, and now this tradition is more of a festive and entertaining character.

Let's now figure out why and why they burn an effigy on Maslenitsa? Since ancient times, people believed that along with the burning of a doll, various troubles, sorrows, and hardships leave their lives. That is, the effigy of Maslenitsa symbolizes the past year and everything old that burdens the soul and prevents moving forward.

In addition, the burning of an effigy personified a symbolic farewell to winter, thanks to which spring will come at the right time and help grow a wonderful harvest in the future.

In ancient times, such a rite was taken very seriously, with special respect and hopes were placed on it. Now people just like to support the Russians folk traditions and have fun.

When is an effigy burned for Maslenitsa in 2020? It is customary to burn the holiday symbol on the last day of the pancake week, that is, on Sunday. In 2020, the effigy of Maslenitsa will be burned on March 1.

Original pancakes

Pancakes can be cooked at least every day, but, as if by magic, it is on Shrovetide week that they seem especially tasty, and their preparation is cozy.

It is impossible to imagine Maslenitsa without mouth-watering homemade pancakes. Thanks to this wonderful tradition, you can experiment all week long by baking pancakes according to a variety of recipes.

And, of course, any pancakes will ideally complement a variety of toppings. Here are the fillers you can use to make pancakes for Maslenitsa in 2020:

• mushrooms and cheese;
• mushrooms, sour cream and herbs;
• boiled condensed milk and ground walnuts;
• homemade coconut paste made from coconut flakes and condensed milk.

Video: how to make original pancakes for Maslenitsa.

How to make a scarecrow at Maslenitsu

Making a scarecrow for Maslenitsa with your own hands is not at all difficult! It is enough to stock up on the necessary materials and follow simple instructions. To make the process of creating a stuffed animal for Maslenitsa in 2020 especially interesting and memorable, connect your family, children, friends to the creation of the doll.

Straw scarecrow

To make a Shrove Tuesday scarecrow out of straw, you will need: two long sticks (or two wooden poles) to form the skeleton, straw, ropes (or long, strong strips of fabric), old clothes or bright fabric.

Making an effigy of Maslenitsa from straw takes place in several stages:

• Two sticks are taken and a cross is made from them. If you want to make the doll big, then it is better to use large wooden poles. The junction of two sticks or poles is tightly tied with a rope or wire. A long pole will stand upright and play the role of the torso, and a shorter one, parallel to the ground, will act as arms.
• Then you need to form the doll's body from hay. Attach the straw to the sticks so that you form the shape of the arms, head, torso. You can secure the hay to the base with ropes or long strips of fabric.
• Then proceed to create a face. There are two options for making a face for a Maslenitsa effigy with your own hands. In the first option, you can simply attach pieces of fabric to the straw face, resembling eyes, nose, lips, if you initially formed a straw head on a pole. And in the second, more popular case, you must first fill a bag of light natural fabric with hay, tie or sew it tightly at the bottom. And after that, attach the head - that is, you can simply put it on the pole with a hole in the bag. Then there is the opportunity to show imagination and, as your heart desires, gradually draw the face of a stuffed Maslenitsa. The pictures below will help you choose the right face image.
• Now you need to dress up the symbol of the holiday. For this, it is not a sin to use old clothes made from natural, non-synthetic fabrics. It is best if the clothes are colorful and colorful, so that the scarecrow is smart and bright. It is also advisable to use ordinary fabric and make it look like a blouse and a fluffy skirt.

Video: how to make a scarecrow for Maslenitsa from straw.

Scarecrow from a broom

Many needlewomen choose a broom to create a stuffed Maslenitsa with their own hands. Firstly, making a broom doll is very easy and simple, and secondly, making the product does not require serious time and financial costs. But how to make a scarecrow for Maslenitsa from a broom? You will need a broom, paper (or straw), ropes, old clothes or fabric.

Let's look at the step-by-step instructions for the implementation of the product:

• First we make the head. Make a small bag out of a light fabric, fill it with crumpled pieces of paper or straw. The head should be in the shape of a circle and be elastic. After that, put your head on the broom handle and tie it carefully. Now you can draw a scarecrow's face for Maslenitsa. From above it is useful to attach a bow, a scarf, to make impromptu hair from straw.
• Now take an old small blouse and stuff the sleeves with straw or crumpled paper to make arms. Tie the base of the arms and forearm so that the doll does not lose the paper or straw.
• Then you can put on a blouse on a broom. Do this so that there is room on the bottom wide part of the broom for the skirt. Tie bright ribbons or ropes around your neck and waist. The ribbons will hold the clothes.
• It is also worth choosing a beautiful skirt for a stuffed animal.. You can make for her as a real skirt in small sizes, or improvise from any fabric.

Video: how to make a stuffed Maslenitsa from a broom.

Burning an effigy on Maslenitsa is an old ritual that is interesting to carry out to this day. So that the festive process delivers only positive emotions, certain rules must be followed:

• Observe safety precautions: do not burn a scarecrow near houses, buildings, flammable objects.
• If there are kids at the party, be careful not to let them get too close to the fire.
• Also keep an eye on your pets.
• When making a scarecrow, do not use any synthetic materials! When burned, they will create the most unpleasant and harmful smoke, which can spoil the impression of the holiday.
• After burning an effigy for Maslenitsa, make sure that it is completely burned out and there are no embers left.

Photo gallery

You can make a scarecrow for Maslenitsa with your own hands without any effort. It is enough to give the process a little time and show imagination. The process will become especially interesting if you connect children to the manufacture.

For inspiration and ideas, you can see photos of a variety of Maslenitsa effigies:

Now you can watch and study the video on creating a stuffed Shrovetide with your own hands. Below you will find instructions, master classes:

Maslenitsa is a truly wonderful Russian folk holiday, in honor of which you can have fun all week and eat delicious, ruddy pancakes, as well as pancakes and pies, experimenting with fillings. Pancake week is another great occasion to meet with loved ones, to solemnly say goodbye to winter and, according to tradition, burn an effigy of Maslenitsa.

In contact with

The burning of an effigy is the main and final rite of Maslenitsa. According to pagan beliefs, the scarecrow personifies the goddess of cold and winter, Maru.

She was always depicted as a woman in a Russian dress. The effigy was burned on the last day of Maslenitsa week. It was a ritual of farewell to winter and meeting of spring.

If you want to spend the winter folk customs and make a carnival scarecrow on your own, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the important customs and stages of its creation.

HOW TO MAKE A SCARECROW FOR THE SHROVE TIME WITH YOUR HANDS

According to tradition, an effigy is created on the first day of Maslenitsa and kept in a secluded place all week. The ritual of farewell to Maslenitsa takes place on Sunday, the last day of the festival.

Shrovetide effigy was made of straw and wood to make it burn better. The basis of the doll was made of two elements - a long stick was the body, and a shorter stick was attached across the long one and depicted arms outstretched to the sides. Rags or straw were wound around the resulting cross. A simple dress was created from shreds and unnecessary rags for the doll. Usually a stuffed animal was made in human growth. A scarf was tied around the head, and either a pancake or a pan was attached to the arm, in which pancakes were baked all week.

A prerequisite for creating an effigy for Maslenitsa is that it should not have eyes, nose, or mouth. All ritual dolls in Rus' were faceless, and the Maslenitsa effigy is no exception.

Shrovetide scarecrow can be decorated with bright ribbons, beads and other decorations. It all depends on your imagination. If you want to make a scarecrow for Maslenitsa with a face, then draw it with your eyes closed.

In some parts of Russia, they used to make homemade Maslenitsa. It was a small doll, which was called the daughter of Maslenitsa or her younger sister. This scarecrow symbolized prosperity, good health and well-being. Home Maslenitsa was not burned, but was kept in the house in the most honorable place. She was considered a strong amulet of the home.

Looking at the burning Maslenitsa, imagine how all your problems, sorrows and illnesses burn with it. The very ritual of burning an effigy is aimed not only at seeing off winter, but also at parting with a negative past.

One of the most popular winter ceremonies is considered to be the burning of an effigy on Maslenitsa. An indispensable attribute of this ceremonial action is a Maslenitsa doll, an maslennik, or, as modern youth also calls it, a Maslenitsa effigy. And although the burning of an effigy is a pagan holiday, it is still popular today.

Maslenitsa is deservedly considered one of the most ancient holidays. All seven days people have fun, pancakes are baked, and tables are bursting with delicious dishes and drinks. These days everyone is at peace with each other. On the last day, the climax comes - the burning of the effigy of Maslenitsa. He is taken to the edge of the village or to the square. The procession is accompanied by crowds of people. Under the general enthusiasm, a fire is kindled and one of the most impressive moments begins.

Why are they burning a scarecrow?! Our distant ancestors personified Maslenitsa with something similar to the Phoenix bird: rebirth through death. All the hardships and misfortunes of the past left with the burnt Maslenitsa doll. After the procession, the ashes were scattered across the fields, and with the new harvest, that very revival came.

That is why people were so happy about the climax, they danced round dances and sang songs. All kinds of garbage, worn clothes, old and unnecessary things were thrown into the fire, so that all this would bring prosperity and prosperity to their home. At this moment, each participant in the ceremony was waiting for something new, bright and warm.

To this day, Maslenitsa is burned to form success, get rid of misfortunes, for a good harvest. And it doesn’t matter at all what will act as that very crop: money, grain, or a completely different value. Having made a scarecrow with your own hands, you can be sure that such ancient traditions are not prejudices and do not arise from scratch.

Do-it-yourself stuffed doll for Maslenitsa:

Maslenitsa or Shrovetide is quite easy to make with your own hands. Fortunately, you do not need to buy special materials, you will probably find everything you need at home. Below we will present several different options for Maslenitsa.

to kindergarten, photo

In kindergartens every year there is a fair dedicated to this unusual holiday. At such fairs, parents and children make interesting crafts. We bring to your attention several options for what you can create with improvised materials and with the help of children's imagination.

to school, photo

paper, options, photo

from straw, options, photo

from a broom, step by step with a photo

Maslenitsa from a broom look no less interesting. For DIY crafts, prepare:

• broom;
• synthetic winterizer;
• children's T-shirt or dress;
• children's tights;
• satin ribbons;
• markers (felt-tip pens);
• scissors.

We tightly stuff the stockings of tights with synthetic winterizer. These will be the scarecrow's hands.

Bandage the resulting handles in three places.

Make a small incision in the gusset of the tights, insert the broom handle into it, fix it with a thread or wire.

Let's get to the head. Stuff the upper part of the tights tightly with synthetic winterizer. Rewind the top with tape, leaving 5-6 centimeters.

Cut the free part of the top into small strips. This will be the hair. You can also attach a bow or other accessory.

It remains to put on only a dress or a T-shirt, tie it with a ribbon and draw Maslenitsa's face with markers or felt-tip pens.

A large scarecrow of Maslenitsa with your own hands, options, photos

How to make a Shrovetide scarecrow for burning, step by step with a photo

There is a saying: “Until you spend the winter, you won’t see spring!”. It is customary for us to see off the winter with songs, pancakes and the burning of a Maslenitsa scarecrow. However, first you need to create the same scarecrow. There are many options for homemade Shrovetide, and we suggest you make one of the simplest. In addition, all the components of the doll are easy to find in the city. You will need the following materials:

• newspapers or magazines;
• two wooden bars;
• straw or hay (you can buy at any pet supply store);
• cuts of fabric or old things;
• light plain fabric;
• yarn, threads, ribbons;
• scissors;
• scotch;
• screw / wire;
• paints;
• needle with thread.

Fold the bars in a cross and fix with a wire or screw.

Sew a bag from a light fabric, stuff it with hay. This will be the scarecrow's head. Draw a face. To do this, you can use paints and felt-tip pens and markers, everything that is in the house.

Let's start collecting stuffed animals. Wrap the arms and torso of the future Maslenitsa with old newspapers. Attach newspaper cords to the belt with adhesive tape. You need to do this so that they stick out to the sides.

We collect clothes from pieces of fabric. We fold a piece of fabric along the length that was intended for the hands of the doll, make an incision in the center and put it on the doll, fix it with thread or tape. Then we make a skirt from a piece of fabric, attach it with tape in the same way. We put on the head of the doll and fix it with ribbons or threads.

For decoration, you can use old threads, after making a braid from them and sticking them to your head, then cover your head with a scarf. Bright ribbons, for example, can decorate a belt. Scarecrow is ready. Before setting it on fire, douse it with gasoline.

Scarecrow for a vegetable garden, 15 options, photo

Video: how to make a scarecrow for a vegetable garden?

Craft for Shrovetide in kindergarten photo, step by step

Making crafts with children is an exciting process that brings a lot of pleasure to both adults and small children. It is not necessary to think through everything to the smallest detail, the main thing is your child's imagination and a little help from you. So, for example, to make a small Shrovetide doll from threads, you will need:

• scissors;
• cocktail tube, you can also use any stick;
• threads of 2 colors, it is better to use contrasting ones.

We make the body of the doll. To do this, wind the thread around your hand 20 times. You should not wind it tightly, because the doll will turn out to be small, in addition, you will have to suffer a lot in order to remove the threads from your hand.

We remove the threads from the hand and tie with a short thread of the same color.

Let's start creating the head of the doll. With a thread of a different color, we tie the resulting ring in such a way that we get a head.

Next, we carry out the same procedure for the arms as for the torso. We reduce the number of skeins to 15. We remove it from the hand and tie it on both sides with a contrasting thread to make a “candy”. Next, cut the threads at the bottom of the body and fold back part of the threads. Insert hands.

We lower the folded threads and form the waist of the doll with the same contrasting threads as the head. Shrovetide doll is ready.

With great pleasure, children work with paper. So to make a paper sun, you will need:

• computer disk;
• glue;
• colored paper, preferably double-sided yellow and orange;
• scissors.

Cut paper into strips. Glue the ends, thereby forming the rays.

Turn over the disk. Cut out a small circle and glue it to the center of the disc. This will be the face of the sun. Previously, on the circle, you can draw an interesting face. The sun is ready.

How to make crafts for Shrovetide to school photo step by step, options

Older children can already make their own crafts for the school fair or just to decorate the classroom. It can be dolls, straw crafts, and paper crafts. We offer several options for what a child can do with his own hands for a school holiday.

To make a funny doll you will need:

• yarn of bright color 1.5 meters;
• multi-colored threads;
• cardboard blank 10x10 cm;
• scissors.

The size of the dolls directly depends on the size of the cardboard square. If you want to make the doll bigger, then you should change the size of the cardboard blank. We wind the threads tightly layer by layer on cardboard. The threads should overlap tightly to make the chrysalis voluminous.

Carefully remove the threads from the cardboard, then tie them tightly with a thread in the center. Cut the ends of the threads.

Trim the cuts with scissors. Fold the resulting winding in half. Form the doll's head, tie with a thread.

Now you can proceed to the next step. We form the hands of the doll. To do this, wind the threads on the cardboard, in the same way as in the first step. Hands should not be thick, so use 3 times less thread.

Place the handles between the halves of the body, then fix and pull the thread well. Thus, you will get a waist. Then decorate the doll as you wish. For example, a braid can be attached to the doll's head, and various decorations can be attached to the torso.

To make a Maslenitsa doll from fabric, you need to prepare the following materials:

• red threads;
• a piece of cotton wool;
• triangle of fabric with the largest side 12 cm;
• 2 squares 20x20 cm of bright colored fabric;
• square of white fabric 20x20 cm;
• 2 squares of white fabric 10x10 cm.

We make a head for a doll. To do this, from cotton wool (synthetic winterizer, cotton pad, foam rubber and anything), we form a ball and put it in the center of a white square 20x20 cm, fix it with a thread.

From two squares of white fabric 10x10 cm, we twist the arms (diagram in the picture).

Rewind the ends of the hands with red thread. Between the folds of the skirt, put the handles, then fix with a red thread.

Next, we proceed to the manufacture of the skirt. Fold two squares of colored fabric diagonally to make triangles. Put the triangles at a right angle, twist the skirt, fix it with a thread.

It remains to tie a scarf on the doll's head. Ready.

As mentioned above, the Shrovetide scarecrow is an indispensable attribute, so you simply cannot do without it if you want to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the holiday. Even a child can make such a craft. In the article, we presented several options for making a stuffed animal. However, you can add your own twist. The main thing is not to be afraid to experiment and show imagination. Good luck!

The soul of the Russian people is broad. Songs, festivities, gypsies with bears, balalaika and vodka - that's what foreigners have, although we know that this is far from the case - at least now and on weekdays. At all times, Russian people loved to celebrate their holidays: from Easter to Shrovetide. Time passed, the rituals were modernized, changed in accordance with the eras, hidden, but remained in our hearts. And the holidays that came from hoary antiquity are still the most beloved. Even the most fashionable hipsters can't resist grandma's pancakes, and people who are obsessed with health treat themselves to Easter cakes with pleasure. All this is an occasion for corporate events: they are loved both at school and in the office. Currently, the Internet is replete with articles and scenarios. You can gather every day for a coffee break corresponding to the theme of the day, or you can spend the whole week on one last day of Maslenitsa. And if you decide to start holding a holiday, then you need to study its history, basic traditions and customs, and also figure out how to make a scarecrow for Maslenitsa.

fat week

It started out quite quietly. Ice and snow entertainments were being prepared for Monday, participation in which was strictly obligatory if one did not want to spend old age in grief and a cripple. The daughter-in-law went to her parents, and in the evening the elders discussed who to call and what to treat. The first pancake was given to the poor. All the fun began on Zaigrysh - eat from the belly, have fun, have fun, joke and get accustomed to the brides ... And the next day, the son-in-law went to his mother-in-law - for a glass, and for pancakes too. These relatives were the main characters of all performances. It was not for nothing that this day was called Gourmand - after all, on Wednesday they indulged in gluttony with might and main. On Thursday, unbridled fun began with fisticuffs, fun and games. The effigy of Maslenitsa had already seen the light and was rolling around the streets. On the fifth day of the week, mothers-in-law and their friends paid return visits to their daughters' husbands - like a son-in-law loves and respects a mother-in-law. And on Saturday, visits and festivities continued. The daughter-in-law invited guests, mostly her husband's relatives. All this was accompanied by the presentation of gifts and delicious dinners. The peasants went to church. On this day, it was customary to apologize to everyone whom a person inadvertently harmed in order to enter into Lent with a clear conscience. Gradually, the fun subsided, half-eaten pancakes and delicacies were burned, dishes were rubbed to a shine. And of course, an effigy of Maslenitsa was burned as a symbol of death and rebirth.

Traditions today

Despite the fact that the week is not a day off, the fun is still held. Of course, everything has changed since those times: pancakes and a stuffed Maslenitsa, and even then not always - that's what we associate with Fat Week. Each hostess has her own recipe, with which she pleases her family and guests at least a couple of times during a hearty week. The scarecrow of winter on Maslenitsa is no longer so common. In conditions big city the burning ritual is weakly possible. But if you want to revive traditions, then from this article you will learn how to make a scarecrow for Maslenitsa and beat its appearance.

Main character

So, they love to celebrate this event in schools. There are all kinds of morning parties. And then parents have to puzzle over the question: “How to make a scarecrow?” And not just make it, but also include it in the holiday. As a rule, all days of the week are played on one evening, on one stage. How to make a scarecrow on Maslenitsa the main character of productions? Put it in the center of the stage: periodically refer to it in the transitions between fragments of the script, dance in circles, and so on. Making a stuffed Maslenitsa is not a very laborious task. And then we will get acquainted with this process.

Craft "scarecrow", made by hand

First you need to correlate the size of the place where you will burn the scarecrow, and the size of the doll itself: after all, if you hold a celebration in an open field, then the larger the figure, the better. Then find the base: it can be a stick or a wooden pole, high enough and strong enough. Then it's up to the little things. It is best to use straw for filling stuffed animals. Next, take an old grandmother's sundress or an unnecessary tunic and turtleneck, which is already small for your child. You will have to sew your hands from fabric - choose natural and light ones. So, stuff your jacket with straw so that Shrovetide is really good, magnificent, so that everything is with her. Do the same with mittens or linen tassels. Sew them to the sleeves. Put on a sundress or tunic on top so that the scarecrow is in maxi. Sew the head yourself - like a flat round pillow. Stuff it with the same straw. You can wear a wig or at least a couple of curls so that they are knocked out from under the scarf, which would close the transition from the torso to the body. Put the main part of the scarecrow on the pole, then the head. Hide the transition with a scarf. Point beauty on the face of the scarecrow: cheeks, eyes lined with charcoal. Be sure to go to open space, observe safety precautions! Create a small hole for the stick, light it up... Have a round dance! Be sure to prepare something for every fireman (in the literal sense): sand or water.

The option with dry branches is also suitable - they can be arranged as in a motanka doll, common among the people. It can be made larger, and a bright outfit is made of paper. A broom is also suitable for the base: disassemble it, that is, pull out all the strings. The wide part of the broom is a skirt. Take part of the rods and set them aside, cutting off the ends with which you sweep. Next, insert these rods just above the middle of the dense part. Bandage the broom at the base of the wide part, fasten the "hands" as well. Now dress the scarecrow in something bright. You can make an outfit out of paper, then leave a maximum of "wooden" space and do not draw the face of a scarecrow. Or make the head yourself, as described in the previous method. On a very small scale, make Maslenitsa from pencils. Take the pencil cross as a basis, and then - as in the previous methods. You can stuff a stuffed animal with cotton. You can make a paper cone so that it reaches the intersection of two pencils. This cone is a skirt. Next, sew an outfit from bright shreds.

How to make a scarecrow for Maslenitsa in the office?

Naturally, office employees will not succeed in such a wide walk, but you can also have fun. Choose one day when you bring all together pancakes, gingerbread, jelly and so on. Familiarize yourself with traditions or play skits with colleagues: stock up on old and ridiculous clothes for this. For Maslenitsa to be a success, you need a scarecrow - but how to make it, let alone burn it? There are different options for this. Make your scarecrow out of waste paper, which is enough in the office. Go outside - and only there, in the smoking area, burn your effigy. Attention! Safety precautions must always be taken into account. Make an origami baba out of sticker paper. Do you remember how in childhood you made "snowballs" out of paper for a matinee? Blind a woman from the same wads of paper - here's a scarecrow for you. If it is necessary to burn completely but pay tribute to traditions, as well as destroy a scarecrow, then make a woman out of a chicken or something edible. For example, you can dress up a chicken with a delicious crust in vegetables, plant potatoes around your neck and tie a napkin with a handkerchief. The main thing is a beautiful design, and then the farewell to winter will go off with a bang. Make a scarecrow out of balloons and stuff them into the same old sundress and scarf - and “pop” them.

Scarecrow piñata

To hold a "hot" Maslenitsa, you can use the idea of ​​a stuffed animal made of papier-mâché. But we won't burn it. Play a piñata - a game that consists in hitting a scarecrow with a blindfolded stick as hard as possible, in which sweets and other small surprises are hidden. Children especially enjoy this, but adults also enjoy playing such fun.

Away with flaws!

With a stuffed Maslenitsa, you can spend not only winter. Saying goodbye to winter, we say goodbye to what bothers us the most. So, for example, you can send our shortcomings downwind with a scarecrow. To do this, write down what you do not like or prevent you from fulfilling your dream. Make a bag for the scarecrow, stuff wishes papers into it. The effigy will burn, and with it lightness will come, the main thing is to believe in yourself and the help of Fat Week.

Wide week

Maslenitsa is a mixture of pagan rituals. Today, it no longer bears such a burden, because we do not ask the earth and ancestors for fertility. However, everyone loves to eat pancakes, and that's great. After all, traditions are not forgotten, which means that we will bring them into the future, and our children will be even happier. And what is not a reason to have fun just like that, among

It is not difficult to make a stuffed Maslenitsa with your own hands if you stock up on the appropriate materials. According to ancient Russian tradition, the custom of burning a dressed-up doll personified farewell to winter and a meeting of spring. Our ancestors represented it in different ways, but the meaning of the ritual and the peculiarities of preparing for it remain unchanged for many centuries.

What does the scarecrow symbolize on Maslenitsa and why is it burned

Farewell to winter ends on Sunday, the last day of Maslenitsa

An entertaining action personifies the onset of the New Year, the coming of spring. So figuratively see off the winter, and with it all the failures, illnesses and problems. Previously, the beginning of the year was considered to be the month of March, which coincided with the day of the spring solstice. Ancient people believed that when a ritual doll was burned, the life force prevailed over the force of destruction and death. Thus, with the advent of spring, nature came to life, a new life was born.

And for it to come, it was necessary to get rid of the old, obsolete. The ritual of burning is also connected with the order of committing the bodies of dead people to the fire element. By burning a doll symbolizing winter, they opened the way for a new one - spring and rebirth.

When the doll is burned in 2018

Every year the date of the Maslenitsa holiday changes. It is associated with Great Lent. Shrovetide this year falls on February 12-18. The effigy is given to fire on the last day of the festive epic - Forgiveness Sunday. In 2018, the burning of Shrovetide is held on February 18.

What materials are needed and what size should the scarecrow be?

Main material - hay or straw

Usually natural materials are used for its manufacture. It symbolizes our connection with nature. At the same time, the size of the doll should be no less than the height of an average adult or slightly higher - approximately 1.6–2 m in height.

The basis for it is always wooden - in the form of a column that can be dug into the ground for the stability of the product. The body is made of straw, bast or brushwood. From above, clothes made of natural fabrics - cotton, linen, chintz, wool are put on.

If the doll is made in kindergarten or school, then this has some features:

• It is advisable for children to bring something from their old things, then everyone will definitely feel like a participant in the process.
• You can not take synthetic materials. This is not only a violation of tradition, but also the risk of inhaling acrid smoke when burning artificial fabrics.
• The face of the stuffed animal should be only made of white matter, without painted eyes, mouth and nose. Otherwise, it will no longer be considered a talisman.
• The image of the product should be similar to a real Russian woman - in a headscarf, a floor-length dress with long sleeves and an apron.

In all other respects, you can show imagination and creativity.

DIY step by step instructions

When creating a ritual product, certain materials and tools are used. Options for the finished figure may be different, but each of them necessarily resembles a person in appearance.

Master class №1

To make a straw doll, you will need the following materials:

• a pair of wooden bars;
• nails;
• straw;
• tight rope;
• brooms;
• long dress, scarf.

Performing a scarecrow is impossible without a set of tools. Prepare in advance:

• hammer;
• sledgehammer;
• scissors;
• axe.

Now you can start the process itself. Everything happens in the following sequence:

When making a stuffed animal, it is undesirable to use a needle.

Master class number 2 with photo

As a basis for a ritual doll for Maslenitsa, you can use a bast - flexible tape from the inner layer of wood deciduous trees- lindens, birches. You can make a product from the following materials:

• wooden stick 1.5–2 m long;
• bright patches of fabric;
• bast;
• cardboard;
• cotton wool or soft paper;
• ropes.

The set of tools here is small. Scissors are sufficient if the fabric or rope does not tear without their help. You will also need a hammer or sledgehammer to drive a stick into the ground. It is advisable not to break off small twigs and not plan the stick so that it looks as natural as possible.

The step-by-step process of creating a doll looks like this:

1. The head is formed from white fabric. Inside you need to put cotton wool, crumpled paper or remnants of matter. The main thing is that its shape should be round, and it should be dense to the touch, after which it is put on a wooden base, tied tightly.

   

   Creating a workpiece head

2. We wind the bast to the stick, create the torso.

   

   Shaping the head and body

3. We make pens. We wrap cardboard 1–1.2 m long into a tube, wrap it with a patch of bright colors, and fasten it with a rope along the edges. We put this blank under the bast, fix it with ropes.

   

   Handles are attached to the workpiece

4. The ceremonial doll appears in the form of a buxom, portly woman, so it is difficult to imagine her without feminine charms. We create the chest in the same way as the head, only the blanks will be smaller in volume. We tie them tightly to the body. We wrap the rope crosswise to tightly fix this element.

   

   Body parts and outfit are tied on straw

5. We dress up the Russian beauty. There is already full scope for creativity, but the outfit must be long. If you want to make it lush, you need to add petticoats, folds. A bright sundress will complement well an apron with ruffles in a contrasting shade. From above we tie a colored belt that will hold the apron.

   

   The finished product is left without a face

6. We weave a thick braid for a scarecrow. Three strips of bright matter will come off as hair. We tie with a rope, carefully fix it on the head. We put on a scarf.

For beauty, you can put colored beads on the doll, tie a bow on the braid.

Master class number 3

A textile scarecrow burns well and is easily made with the necessary set of tools. You will need:

• scissors;
• needle;
• hammer.

We will create it from the following materials:

• a square of white cloth;
• filler - cotton wool, straw, old rags;
• ropes, dense threads, ribbons, braid;
• wooden stick - 2 pcs.;
• square patches for dresses and shirts;
• matter for the petticoat;
• apron fabric;
• handkerchief.

The performance of the ritual figure takes place in a certain order. This step by step guide will help you:

You can tie ribbons of different colors on your hands, while making wishes. It is believed that after the burning of the doll in the fire, they will certainly come true. If you impregnate the finished figure with a mixture of saltpeter and water and dry it, it will burn well even in inclement weather.

Is it customary to give a Shrovetide doll a name

Our ancestors did not call him by name, but could affectionately call Madam-Zimushka. According to tradition, a ritual doll cannot be given a name or make a face, otherwise evil forces they can get into it. Naming an item by a human name and then burning it could bring trouble to those whose name it bears.

Making an effigy for Maslenitsa is an exciting and fun process that has a sacred meaning. A ceremonial doll is easy to make with your own hands, if you carefully follow step by step instructions and stock up on the necessary supplies. A joint lesson unites the souls and hearts of people, whether they are classmates, friends or completely unfamiliar personalities.