Maslenitsa

giant lady Maslenitsa in front of Red Square

Maslenitsa, or Pancake Week as it's often referred to, is a Russian holiday that dates back to pagan times. It's meant to celebrate the end of winter and to welcome the upcoming spring. It's also tied in to Orthodox Easter, as it's celebrated the week before Lent. However, since holidays are observed based on the Julian calendar - this year Maslenitsa fell on February 8 to 14 - and we're certainly not at the end of winter yet! I found it rather amusing that it was snowing for the past two days - the biggest days of the festival! Traditionally, on the last day, a big straw Maslenitsa doll (see picture below of the smaller ones they sell at the festivals) is set on fire, to burn away the last of winter. They used to do this at the festival on Red Square, but due to safety reasons they've stopped. Since I didn't stay until the end of the festival tonight, I'm not sure what they did instead... so it will have to remain a mystery! It was cold, and I didn't feel like staying out so late :) 

Maslenitsa celebrations are held in all of the big parks in Moscow. The festivities include singing and dancing performances from folk groups, carnival style games, drinking medovukha (honey mead), and of course eating lots and lots of pancakes (blini, as they're called here)!

Maslenitsa dolls. These dolls were being sold as all of the Maslenitsa celebrations around the city. They're made from straw, and are meant to symbolize the sun.

A blini stand in Red Square. In honor of Maslenitsa, I made sure to eat at least 1 blini per day :) I figured that was a good excuse to eat lots of them!!! I also tried sample as many as I possibly could at all of the fesitivals! I tried them with many different kinds of jam and honey. They were all delicious 

Maslenitsa ice sculpture. Russians seems to love their flashing lights, and this was no exception. She alternated between glowing blue and purple, and the red heart in the middle appeared to be beating.