Meteņi

Traditionally Meteņi was associated with the lengthening of the days in the spring. With the coming of Christianity, it was linked to the beginning of Lent — it was celebrated seven weeks before Easter.

Pagan traditions call for magical customs to encourage the growth of the crops. It was traditional on Meteņi for children to go sledding; the faster and longer the sled would glide, the faster and higher the flax would grow.

Traditional cries during sledding would be:

"My father has tall flax!"
"My father's is taller!"
"My father's is taller still, and has a golden button on top!"

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This page created and maintained by
A. Steinbergs

Last revised September 19, 2008