Dear Sir or Madam,
Having stumbled over your magazine’s suggestion about recalling a festival we have been witness to, I straight away decided to join in and tell you about one flamboyant event yearly held in my country.
Anyone travelling in Russia is bound to see one of the most fun winter events heralded as the farewell of winter and the dawn of spring – Maslenitsa. Having come from pre-Christian times, this holiday is still of a great interest for people of different ages, as apart from its entertaining purpose, it is a wonderful time to pig out on the main symbol of this holiday – pancakes. During the celebration time, which in fact lasts the entire week, pancakes, or blini – the way they are called in Russia, are presented with fillings of all kinds letting you find the ones to your taste – sweet, with caviar, meet and many others.
The rituals of Maslenitsa dating from the time when the Slavs were pagans also take place letting you get acquainted with the most interesting and unusual customs. For those craving entertainment or having some fun, there are charades and games like climbing onto an icy pillar for a pair of boots or fistfights with any other daredevils. You can also see both adults and children wearing national Russian costumes, having barn dances and singing along, which makes this festival even more atmospheric and bright. By the end of the week – and festival accordingly - the straw-stuffed figure of Winter is erected to be burnt afterwards, which implies the end of the wintertime and the beginning of the spring.
The only thing to bear in mind is that this festival falls on the late February, which is quite severe period in terms of weather. Make sure you get the right clothes on to enjoy this one of the most amazing festive time in Russia.
Yours, sincerely, Anna
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