Maslenitsa
Maslenitsa is an Eastern Slavic religious and folk holiday where people celebrate saying goodbye to winter and welcoming spring. This is the last week before Lent, when religious followers are allowed to eat butter, dairy products and fish, which the name Maslenitsa originated. Like Easter, Maslenitsa is a different day every year, in 2019 it will take place from March 4 to March 10. In Russia Maslenitsa is celebrated as a joyous celebration. The main traditions of the celebrations in Russia are blini (pancakes), snowball fights, sledding, riding on swings, sleigh rides, and dressing a scarecrow which is burned in the last day of Carnival on Sunday night to send off winter.
Carnival, Shrovetide, Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, Maslenitsa — whatever the name, these are all the same late-winter festival of eating, drinking and merrymaking.
Celebrate this by making some tasty sweet or savory blini!
Find great recipes for Maslenitsa here!
