Always on Sunday, eight weeks before Easter, Orthodox Christians mark Mesni Zagovezni or Meat Shrovetide. During the liturgy, the Church recalls the image of the Last Judgment through the texts in the Holy Scriptures. The themes of sinfulness and retribution in the afterlife are touched upon there, therefore the call to the faithful is to detach themselves from the daily grind and devote themselves to good deeds during the lent.
The day is marked in a family circle, as meat dishes (usually chicken or rooster) are present at the festive table. It is the last day before Lent, when it is allowed to eat meat. In folk traditions, this is also the last Sunday, during which young people can gather for dances and singing.
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