Shrove Tuesday (Vastlapäev) traditions in Estonia
March 4th is Shrove Tuesday.
Shrove Tuesday, called Vastlapäev in Estonian, marks the last day of feasting and fun before Lent.
Many branches of Christianity celebrate this holiday, which falls on a different day each year, seven weeks before Easter, either in February or March.
In some countries, it's called Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday. In the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and Canada, it is called Pancake Tuesday because a delicious meal of pancakes is served. In Estonia, as with many holidays, Shrove Tuesday celebrations revolve around the changing seasons and the agricultural calendar.
The expression “Shrove Tuesday” comes from the word “shrive”, meaning “to absolve”, and its meaning was to make a special point of self-examination by Christians – to consider what wrongs they need to repent of and what changes in life or areas of spiritual growth they especially need to “ask God’s help in dealing with”.
As Estonians have never been particularly religious – Estonia was one of the last corners of medieval Europe to be Christianised in the 13th century – Vastlapäev has always been associated with entertainment and the anticipation of spring.
One of the central traditions of Shrove Tuesday is sledding.
In the olden days, when most Estonians were farmers, it was said that the further you slid down a snowy hill on a linen bag or sled, the longer your flax stems would grow the following summer. Friendly competitions were held between neighbors to see who could go the farthest.
Buns, pea soup, and pig's feet
Traditionally, a pig was slaughtered and served during Christmas, so by late February or early March, all that remained were the legs. Boiled pig's trotters (seajalad) were served along with pea and bean soup, still a popular seasonal dish. It was said you should not lick the grease from your hands or face after eating the fatty pig's trotters, for it would protect you from being cut by anything sharp on this day.
The real treat of Shrove Tuesday is a sweet bun stuffed with whipped cream called vastlakukkel.
These fluffy baked goods are so popular that cafes begin to fill their display cases with them not long after the new year begins. Nowadays, bakers have begun experimenting, stuffing buns with jam, marzipan, pistachio paste, and other fillings, along with whipped cream. Others have gotten even more creative, replacing the bun with a croissant or other sweet pastry.
Vastlapäev provided a break for women, as spinning and knitting were prohibited.
Instead, women would go to the local tavern and have a red drink (like wine), which was believed to give them a clear complexion and rosy cheeks for the rest of the year. It was also believed that combing and cutting hair on Shrove Tuesday would ensure long, thick locks. However, cut hair should not be left lying around, as it could lead to memory loss!
