Unique Russian Festivals

Russia is an amazing holiday destination. It is best visited during the festival season. The Russian festivals reveal the rich cultural tradition and fascinating customs of its people. While the festivals stem from the Christian legacy Russia shares with Europe and America, the manner of celebration is really unique. Maslenitsa (Pancake week) is the only purely Russian Holiday that dates back to the pagan times. It is dedicated to parting with winter and welcoming of spring. The essential element of this festival is Bliny a pancake. It is a symbol of the sun. It is as round, gold and warm as the sun. Bliby is served hot with either butter, or sour cream, or caviar, or mushrooms, or sturgeon - to any exquisite taste. Besides, every hostess has her own recipe how to cook it. Actually, Russian pancakes are more like French crepes – they are thin, unlike American thick pancakes.
Maslenitsa also includes masquerades, snowball fights, sledding, riding on swings and plenty of sleigh rides. Each day of Maslenitsa has its traditional activity.
Monday – “meeting”,
Tuesday – “fun”,
Wednesday – “sweet tooth”,
Thursday – “feast”
Friday – “visiting mother-in-law”
Saturday – “visiting sister-in-law”
Sunday – “farewell” “Forgiveness day”.
The mascot of the celebration is usually a brightly dressed straw effigy of Lady Maslenitsa, formerly known as Kostroma. As the culmination of the celebration, on Sunday evening, Lady Maslenitsa is stripped of her finery and put to the flames of a bonfire. Any remaining blintzes are also thrown on the fire, and Lady Maslenitsa's ashes are buried in the snow to fertilize the crops!

The last day of Maslenitsa is called the Forgiveness Day. Everybody asks one another for forgiveness in order to redeem themselves from their sins before the Great Lent. They bow to one another and say, “God will forgive you”. Maslenitsa is over and so is the winter giving way to the spring.
Maslenitsa is usually celebrated in February – March.
Next Pancake week celebration starts on the 8th of February.
Make it a point to be there!
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