Russkie Prostori congratulate you with the oldest holiday in Russia – Maslenitsa. It is the first day of the fascinating celebration that will last for a whole week. And each day here in Russia will be full of the most beloved events and ceremonies that we can organize for you any time you want.
The celebration in some ways corresponds to the Western Christian Carnival or to Mardi Gras. But the celebration is much older and has deep pagan roots. In Orthodox Christianity the celebration is the last week before the onset of Great Lent and the last chance to partake of dairy products and of parties, dancing and other distractions from the spiritual life. In Slavic mythology, Maslenitsa is a sun festival, heralding the imminent end of the winter. So if you want to welcome spring in Russian style the following amusements are for you.
Traditions and Rituals
Maslenitsa is celebrated during the week preceding the Lent. Every day of Maslenitsa was devoted to special rituals. These rituals are still alive; they exemplify the most appreciated traditions among Russians, but most importantly – their constant longing for fun! So if
Sleigh Riding and Tobogganing
On Monday Maslenitsa was welcomed. On that day people made the straw-stuffed figure of Winter, dressed it in old women’s clothing and singing carried it on sleigh around the village. Then the figure was put onto snow-covered slope that people used for tobogganing. It was considered that the one who came down the hill more than once was likely to have tall flax in summer.
Folk Festivals and Masquerades
From Tuesday on the whole village started all sorts of activities: sleigh riding, folk festivals, skomorokh (traveling actors) and puppet shows. The streets were full of people in carnival costumes and masks, who visited homes of their neighbors and organized impromptu concerts. Large companies rode troikas and simple sleighs. Trained bears amused the audience, imitating girls putting makeup are in front of the mirror or women baking pancakes.
Blini and Other Traditional Food
Wednesday opened feasts in houses with blini (Russian pancakes) and other dishes. Each household had tables with delicious food, baked pancakes, and brewed beer. Tents selling all kinds of food appeared everywhere. They sold hot sbiten (drinks from water, honey and spices), nuts, honey gingerbreads and poured tea from boiling samovars.
Fist Fighting
On Thursday the hottest fistfights took place. Fist fighting commemorates Russian military history, when soldiers supposedly fought each other in hand-to-hand combat, but this fist fighting is just in good fun!
Russian Hospitality
Maslenitsa was the time of mutual visits of families, which recently became related. On Friday sons-in-law arranged a feast for their mother-s-in-law. On the day before mothers-in-law had to send to their sons-in-law homes everything necessary for blini making: pans and ladles and fathers-in-law sent a bag of buckwheat and some butter.
Saturday was devoted to the visits of relatives paid to young wives.
Sunday of Forgiveness
Sunday was named “forgiveness”. On that day people asked each other for forgiveness for all grievances and troubles. On the last day of Maslenitsa comes saying goodbye to Maslenitsa – a solemn burning of the brightly dressed stuffed figure of winter – Lady Malenitsa or Kostroma. People threw the remnants of pancakes and food to the huge bonfire explaining their children that all the nourishing food disappeared in fire to prepare them for the Lent. The ashes were buried in the snow to “fertilize the crops”.
Maslenitsa ended with the first day of the Lent – Clean Monday, which was considered the day of purification from sin and fast forbidden food. On Clean Monday people usually washed in a bath; women washed dishes, cleaning them from grease and remains of forbidden food.
Maslenitsa Today
Russians are very keen to preserve their traditions especially the ones that bring so much fun. In the XXI century we still fully enjoy troika rides, sledding, theater, puppets and singing fireworks! On the main sights of almost every city in Russia people gather to watch flamboyant shows, participate in different kinds of entertainments and competitions and of course to eat blini and other rich traditional food. The favorite entertainment of all children is “storming” of a snow fort. Two teams build a fortress from snow and then try to invade each others territory by playing snowballs.
In 2012 Maslenitsa falls on 20-26 February.
We have a special program for Maslenitsa with favorite Russian entertainment!
Just contact us!
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