Russian Maslenitsa
Maslenitsa is celebrated right before the Great lent - or 7th week before Russian Orthodox Easter. During the Lent, things won't be fun for quite a while - and that's why we need to throw sort of "bachelor's party" to sweeten the pill!
During that week, meat is already forbidden, but there's a delicious "workaround" - namely, pancakes! We eat them with caviar, jam, butter, and even with meat! Not everyone is orthodox Christian, you know!
Maslenitsa is Pagan in origin. When the sun grows from the little boy Kolyada to Yarila, Russian pagans threw a feast to celebrate the coming of Spring.
Russian national pancake week as it used to be. By Boris Kustodyev, a famous Russian painter.
Yep, Maslenitsa was "borrowed" from pagans - just like many other holidays. Even pancakes were "stolen", as they are the symbol of the sun! Just look at them when they're fresh - so bright, so warm, so...alive! And the shape, of course, resembles the source of life perfectly!
The pagans actually believed that by eating a pancake, they absorbed a part of sun's life energy. I have to agree you do feel refreshed after you eat some - especially if you were hungry!
The Christians changed a lot, though - dates, rituals - and even the name. "Maslenitsa" comes from the word "maslo" - butter, one of few products allowed to true believer.
The holidays lasts for a week, and each day has got its special name and meaning
Monday is "Vstrecha" - "Meeting". All the street attractions and fares must be finished to this day - the celebration is coming!
Tuesday is "Zaigryshi" which can roughly be translated as "games". Young people have fun on swings and carousels, and call their relatives to join!
Wednesday is "Lakomki" - "gourmands". Every good son-in-law must visit his mother-in-law to eat pancakes together with other guests.
Thursday is called "Shirokii razgul" which means "show time!" There's one big party all around, with street shows, caviar, pancakes, swings, carnivals, horseback riding - and even fist-fights! Well, not that kind of fist-fights - they are friendly, in fact.
Friendly fist-fights, hmm...must sound pretty weird for you. But that's what Russia is all about - this country is one big controversy!
Anyways, on Friday, which is called "Teschiny Vecherki", mothers-in-law get to visit their sons-in-law - a good chance to fix relationships which are, frankly, often far from perfect....
Saturday is "Zolovkiny posidelki" - newlywed wives visit their sisters-in-law, and bring them some gifts.
Sunday is *the* most important day of all - "The Forgiven Sunday". Get ready - everyone will be asking you to forgive them. In that case, you must answer "Bog prostit - i ya proschau", which means "God will forgive - and I do, as well"
Oh, and don't forget to ask for forgiveness by yourself - that way, you'll enter Great Lent completely cleansed!
On Sunday, Lady Maslenitsa figurine gets burned, and her ashes thrown on the soil to fertilize it - that way we'll be sure the spring is finally coming!
But why do we need all these days? Why bother? Well, as I see it - they're meant to restore any broken relationships between friends or relatives. Sort of routine maintenance, Maslenitsa is forcing you to visit and forgive anyone you had a quarrel with - and strengthen the bonds even more!
Russian pancake week is very popular these days. Every city celebrates it - and Moscow is no exception. If you're in Russia, be sure to get out during that week - there will surely be plenty of shows around! Plus, it's a great chance to buy rare souvenirs like valenki and special editions of nesting dolls.
Don't eat a lot in the hotel - you'll have a chance to taste delicious Russian pancakes with caviar.
...just like in the movies!
Related posts:
- Victory Day in Russia
- Victory Day in Russia 2009. City of Chekhov, Moscow region.
- Russian Orthodox Easter
- Celebrating Russian Orthodox Christmas
- Russian New Year - a complete guide!
- Russian holidays page 3
- Russian holidays page 2
- Russian Holidays
- International Women's Day in Moscow, Russia
