Battle of Lent and Shrovetide

On the last day of the carnival, in the old days a comic battle between Maslenitsa and Great Lent was held in the Dutch towns and villages. They prepared for the street performance in advance, sewed costumes, arranged rehearsals, and prepared refreshments. In the picture in the center of the square, a comic battle flares up between the retinue of Maslenitsa and the fans of Lent. Shrovetide, a big-bellied fat man in a cap, sits on a large barrel of wine. He holds a spit in front of him with a pig's head and a chicken strung on top of it. The mummers are trying to move the barrel with Shrovetide. The incarnation of Lent is a thin man in a robe. He holds out his weapon towards Shrovetide - a shovel on a long handle, on which two herrings lie lonely. A monk and a nun with an effort pull the crew of Lent by the ropes - a board on wheels
Emaciated and sad Lent, crowned with a bee hive (a reminder of pure food of heavenly origin - the honey of fast days; the hive is a symbol of moderation, diligence and loyalty to the Christian church), goes to the clownish tournament with a baker's wooden spade instead of a spear. On a shovel are two herrings - the main dish of Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent) in the Netherlands. In his other hand, he holds a bunch of dry twigs, an image of infertility (or a rod, "to whip small children"
If, under the auspices of the Carnival (the left, "sinful" side of the picture, where gluttony and licentiousness reign) drink intoxicated potion, gorge themselves on meat and fatty foods, dance selflessly, gamble, indulge in love joys (kissing couple in the hotel window), play mischievous fancy plays, and no one pays attention to the cripples (fox tails are sewn on their cloaks - a symbol of the Brotherhood of the Beggars), then from the side of Lent on the right side of the picture a completely different mood reigns - a "Lent" mood. Everything is permeated with a godly spirit of strict abstinence and repentance. Here the customs of fast days are devoutly observed: they drink water (from a well), sell fish, i.e. are content with the most meager diet, which means mortification and moderation (fish dishes, salad, round cakes).