Asian Geographic - 01.01.2018

95

WHEN

February 12–18, 2018

WHERE

The brightest festivals are held in the older

Russian cities, such as Suzdal, Vladimir,

Rostov, Veliky Novgorod and Moscow. At the

Kremlin, a competition is held to stack the

highest possible tower of pancakes

HOW

Trains are the best way to get around Russia,

as the network is well developed, and you can

get to the remote parts of the country

DOS AND DON’TS

• Do eat and drink and be merry. It’s key to the
  festive spirit


• Don’t be disrespectful when dining with
  Orthodox Christians during Lent: No meat
  is good practice

EXPERIENCE

MASLENITSA FESTIVAL

The Maslenitsa Festival is celebrated
in the eighth week before Easter,
also known as the Orthodox Pascha,
held during the last week before the
beginning of Lent. This Eastern Slavic
religious celebration is thought to be
the oldest of its kind still going today,
with historians tracing the tradition
back to the 2nd century BCE. It has its
origins in the pagan worship of Volos,
the god of the earth, waters, forests
and the underworld. Believers held
this ancient sun festival to usher in the
spring. One of the main events of the
festival still involves the pagan ritual
of burning a straw effigy – the “Lady
Maslenitsa” – representing winter, in
the hope of bringing a good harvest.
In keeping with Christian practice
during Lent, indulgence is forbidden,
so Maslenitsa is the last week eggs
and dairy products are permitted,
which has earned the festival its other
names: Butter Week, Crepe Week, or
Cheesefare Week. The iconic food of
the festival is the blini, a local pancake,

combining all the rich foods that

believers will be denied in the ensuing

weeks. They are drenched in toppings

that include cream, caviar, and jam –

and lots of of butter! Even the not-so-

humble blini is another nod to pagan

tradition: They’re round and warm –

symbolic of the sun. It’s tradition for

the first pancakes to be given to the

less fortunate.

It’s also the time of fun and games

and parties, with much dancing and

music ahead of the more sober weeks

when such frivolities are denied.

Skomorokhi (clowns) take to the streets

with their gusli (harps) and petrushka

(traditional puppets), the streets teem

with folklore enactments and vendors

selling souvenirs.

While everyone looks forward to

the onset of spring, it’s also a chance

to indulge in the last of the winter fun

with sleigh rides and snowball fights

and general merriment. Some of the

traditions are bit more on the wild side:

Organised fistfights and dancing bears

FESTIVAL MUST-SEE: MASLENITSA FESTIVAL

Ru s s i a

have been reported as part of some

festival programmes. The indulgent

party comes to a head on the Sunday,

when it’s time for the repentance of sin

ahead of the long fast.

IMAGES © SHUTTERSTOCK