Masnytsya, Forgiveness Sunday

Imagine a time when winter is already tired of holding the earth in its embrace, and spring has just begun its timid whisper. In Ukraine, this period is called Masnytsya. It is a bright week-long celebration that prepares people for Great Lent — a time of deep spiritual calm and purification before Easter. Great Lent can be compared to a period of special asceticism, when a person refrains from rich food and loud entertainment in order to focus on inner peace.

Masnytsya is also known as Cheese Week. During this time, meat gradually disappears from the table, giving way to dairy dishes: cheese, butter, milk, and sour cream. That is why the main festive dish in Ukraine is not mlyntsy (thin crêpes), but soft varenyky filled with cheese and generously topped with melted butter. Their shape resembles the young moon and symbolizes prosperity and a new life cycle.

This holiday unites three dimensions of being. First, it is a connection with nature: we bid farewell to the cold. Second, it honors family: people visit relatives to strengthen family bonds. Third, it gives voice to the spirit: the week concludes with Forgiveness Sunday, when everyone asks loved ones for forgiveness in order to enter the new season with a pure heart.

The central ritual of Masnytsya is the making and burning of a straw effigy that represents winter. People gather together, sing songs, and light a large bonfire. The fire takes away everything old, sad, and cold, freeing space for warmth. This tradition lives in many parts of Europe. For example, in the Czech Republic and Poland, people also craft straw figures that are drowned in water or burned, calling upon the sun.

Japan has a remarkably similar ritual called Dosojin Matsuri, or the “Fire Festival.” In January, in many villages, the Japanese build huge towers of straw and bamboo, which are then ceremoniously burned. Like the Ukrainian Masnytsya bonfire, this fire holds cleansing power: it drives away evil spirits, brings health to children, and promises a good harvest. It reflects a shared human desire to find the path to spring and renewal through the light of fire.

Throughout the week, both adults and children are in constant motion, calling upon the sun: lively games, fast sledding, and endless visits filled with generous treats create a powerful whirl of living energy. This activity forms a symbolic impulse for nature, awakening the earth and laying strength for the future harvest. Here lies the beauty of Ukrainian tradition: we give all our energy to celebration so that, through this whirlwind of joy, we come naturally to the need for calm. Thus, loud folk festivities are harmoniously balanced by church preparation for Lent. After sincere laughter, the soul itself longs for quiet prayer and peace.

When the straw Winter burns and its ashes scatter in the wind, the heart feels light. Every varenyky eaten in the circle of family and every word of forgiveness prepares us for what matters most — the meeting of new life. This holiday opens a magical door into spring, giving faith that before beginning something great, one must cleanse the home and the heart, thank the past, and greet the first rays of the spring sun with a smile.