Editing Meteņi (section)

== Name in other languages ==

In [[Livonians|Livonian]] populated regions and Riga, this celebration is known as [[Fastelavn]] (possibly originating from German ''Fastnacht'' - hunger night). Elsewhere, it is also called Lastavāgs, Aizgavēnis, Miesmetis, Buduļi Eve, and Pie Day. [[Lithuanians]] call it ''[[užgavėnės]]'', while [[Estonians]] call it ''vastlapäev''. To [[Russians]] and other [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christian]] peoples this festival is known as [[Maslenitsa]] ([[Russian language|Russian]]: Масленица, [[Belarusian language|Belarusian]]: масьленіца, [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]]: масниця).

Elsewhere in Europe and America, this festival coincides with the carnival time and referred to as Shrove Tuesday ([[French language|French]]: ''Mardi Gras'', [[German language|German]]: ''Fastnachtsdienstag'', [[Italian language|Italian]]: ''Martedì grasso'', [[English language|English]]: ''Shrove Tuesday'' {{Citation needed|date=April 2019}}) or "''Pancake Day''".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tradic.ija.lv/meteni/|title = Meteņi}}</ref> In Latin countries, it is called ''carnival'', ''carnaval'' or "meat balls", and it is the holiday of overeating, after which comes Lent. It is also has a connection with [[Roman Empire]]'s time to celebrate traditions of ''[[April Fools' Day]]'' on April 1. During it happens a mask parade (''masquerade''), all sorts of performances, and immoderate blowout and drinking. To bid a farewell to Winter, they burned a year-old allegorical serpent or dragon, straw dolls, and logs, whose ashes are spread across the land so that the New Year would be fruitful.