Since long ago there is a tradition in Russia to say “goodbye” to winter and “hello” to spring. The holiday of seeing off of the winter is called Maslenitsa. The concert is held in our city on this matter, the artists sing age-old songs, chastushkas and organize practical jokes. People take part in different competitions, ride horses and drink hot tea with pancakes not to be frozen. The pancakes are the main attribute of this festival because a pancake is a symbol of the sun. The festival always ends in burning of a big man of straw. The Lenten fast begins after Maslenitsa for orthodox believers. On Forgiveness Sunday in the morning my whole family goes on a visit to my grandmother. She bakes the most delicious pancakes with different fillings. In the afternoon I meet with friends and we go to the central square and see street festivities. I consider that this festival brings people together and let them enjoy themselves and meet the spring together.
If you want to see one of the original festivals of Russia, then you should visit Russia during the Maslenitsa Week. Maslenitsa is one of the Orthodox Church favorite and merry festivals. Maslenitsa is a preparation for Lent week. Meat is traditionally forbidden but fish, diary and butter are allowed. The Russian word for butter is “maslo” hence it appears Maslenitsa. Maslenitsa is the time to say farewell to winter and hello to the coming of spring. In heathen beliefs hot yellow pancakes symbolized the sun. From high antiquity the Slavs made blini (the Russian for pancakes) as symbol of the sun and they believed in eating the blin to eat a bit of the sun.Blini are made every day especially much from Thursday up to Sunday during The Wide Maslenitsa. It is required to visit and receive guests when Maslenitsa. Each mistress of the house has her own particular blini recipe. There is a great variety of blini to amaze visitors in all restaurants. Restaurants serve blini topped with fish, honey, jam, and lots of butter and blini with caviar for gourmet treat. One can taste mead and “zbiten” (a hot drink made of water, honey and spices).