Saturday, March 16, 2013

Maslenitsa celebration.



It is Russian Maslenitsa now.
Monday.
On Monday Maslenitsa was welcomed. On that day people made the straw-stuffed figure of Winter, dressed it in old women’s clothing and singing carried it on sleigh around the village. Then the figure was put onto snow-covered slope that people used for tobogganing, which was considered not just fun, but the ancient rite, because it was thought that the one who came down the hill more than once was likely to have tall flax in summer

 Tuesday was called “zaigrysh” (game day). From that day on the whole village started all sorts of activities: sleigh riding, folk festivals, skomorokh (traveling actors) and puppet shows. The streets were full of people in carnival costumes and masks, who visited homes of their neighbors and organized impromptu concerts. Large companies rode troikas and simple sleighs.
 Wednesday - gourmand – opened feasts in houses with blini and other dishes. Each household had tables with delicious food, baked pancakes, and brewed beer. Tents selling all kinds of food appeared everywhere. They sold hot sbiten (drinks from water, honey and spices), nuts, honey gingerbreads and poured tea from boiling samovars.

3 comments:

josepopoff said...

Hello everyone, this is José Popoff from Honduras. Wow, I must say that Maslenitsa sounds like a lot of fun. It´s interesting that you get to do all that on the snow! I´ve never seen real snow myself, so maybe you can invite me over? ;) Blessings to you all and Happy Maslenitsa!

josepopoff said...

Hello everyone, this is José Popoff from Honduras. Wow, I must say that Maslenitsa sounds like a lot of fun! I find it interesting that you get to do all that on the snow! I have never seen real snow myself, so maybe you can invite me over? ;) Blessings to you and Happy Maslenitsa.

Unknown said...

You are welcome Jose any time of the year!