4 семестр / IDZ4

There are many holidays and festivals in Russia. But Maslenitsa is the most original Russian festival. It lasts the whole week (from Monday till Sunday) and includes many events. Furthermore, according to archeological evidence Maslenitsa may be the oldest surviving Slavic holiday.

Maslenitsa originated from pagan times. This holiday symbolized the beginning of spring. The Slavs welcomed the Sun and made pancakes. They believed that a hot pancake is a symbol of the sun. Later Maslenitsa became a Christian holiday. The festival starts right before the Great Lent, so it is the last chance to bask in worldly delights. During the Maslenitsa week people enjoy almost any food, except meat.

Historically the festival was devided in two parts. The first three days were called a Small Maslenitsa. During this time people worked, cleaned, cooked pancakes and prepared for the main events of Maslenitsa. On Thursday the Wide Maslenitsa came and brought a lot of amazing entertainments. Everybody took off work and spent the day ridding on horses, sledding, fighting snowballs and etc. Of course, all people also ate pancakes with caviar, sour cream, jam or others fillings. On the last day of Maslenitsa people burnt the Lady Maslenitsa (a doll of straw and rags). In this way the Slavic said goodbye to winter and greeted a warm spring.

Nowadays Maslenitsa is not celebrated so wide. But the main treat of Maslenitsa (different pancakes) and tradition to burn a dummy have survived to this day.