February 2012 : Maslenitsa

Mardi Gras, Carnival, Carnaval, Karneval . . . that’s Maslenitsa by any other name. And if you haven’t heard of it, no one would blame you because it wasn’t celebrated during 85 years in Russia (but families have continued to maintain it discreetly ...). Maslenitsa, like other religious festival, was prohibited during the Soviet communist period. It has been restored in 2002, being officially organized in the cities, and it is again becoming a mainstay of Russia's calendar.

Maslenitsa week began as a pagan ritual and has since been absorbed into the Eastern Orthodox religion. As it stands, Maslenitsa serves many purposes. Maslenitsa signals the exit of winter (I don’t believe it !) and heralds the coming of spring (2 months later …). As a part of pre-Lent celebrations, it is also a preparation to the upcoming fast. Because meat, and dairy would traditionally be forbidden (miassopoustnaïa nedelïa - мясопустная неделя), Maslenitsa is the time for feasting (especially on pancakes). Moreover, Maslenitsa is the last opportunity to do festivities before the Lent because after it will be forbidden. The name of the festival has its roots in the Russian word for butter or oil, “maslo.”
The date of celebration is changing every year : in 2012, Maslenitsa week was from February 20th to February 26th. 

Let's start with a song during Maslenitsa festival !

What should happen during the 7 days of Maslenitsa week ? (Honestly, they are many versions and it is not easy to select which is the right one !)

See source http://russiapedia.rt.com/of-russian-origin/maslenitsa/)

Monday – Meeting

Together with the grown-ups, children make a Maslenitsa doll out of straw and old women’s clothes. They set it on a pole and carried it around, singing. Then it is placed at the top of the snow hill.

Tuesday – Games

Most of the amusement activities begin on this day. Groups of friends drive around in sledges. Men are allowed to kiss any passing woman on the streets during this day (not seen ... and not tested !).

Wednesday – Feasting

This day opens the feast in all homes, when pancakes and other delicacies are prepared in quantities. Each housewife has her own pancake recipe and keep it as a secret. Pancakes are made in a great variety – from wheat, buckwheat, fine-ground barley and oats. This day sons-in-law go to their mothers-in-laws’ to eat blinis.

Thursday – Revelry

Entertainment is at its most extreme. This is the day when fisticuffs happen everywhere. Many strict rules apply : “Never hit a man when he is down” goes the Russian proverb, and it comes from Maslenitsa.

Friday – Mother-in-law’s eve

Mothers-in-law are invited by their sons-in-law to a gathering with pancakes. Newlywed couples put on their best clothes and rode on decorated sledges. This is a day to visit all those who have been the guests at a wedding.

Saturday – Sister-in-law’s gathering

Sisters-in-law and other relatives are invited for dinner by a young wife, where she is supposed to distribute gifts. After strolls and round dances, when darkness arrives Maslenitsa dolls are burnt in ritual fires, with cries and laughter. Pancakes are thrown into the fire with the words : “Burn, pancake, burn, Maslenitsa!”

Sunday – Forgiveness Day

People go to cemeteries and leave pancakes on the graves of their ancestors. Everybody asks one another for forgiveness. All the food that was left is eaten, along with a piece of rye bread and salt, as a reminder of the coming Lent. On this day the Maslenitsa dolls continue to be burnt ; after they have turned to ashes, young people jump over the fire, and this action ends Maslenitsa.

The last Sunday before Lent is called by the Orthodox Church the Forgiveness Sunday. 

The Sunday is performed a special rite of forgiveness : the clergy and parishioners are asked to mutually forgive each other, to enter into Lent with a clean heart, reconciled with all the neighbours, relatives and friends. Maslenitsa ends with Чистый понедельник (Clean Monday), the day which in the Orthodox canon is the first day of the Great Lent. 

We have seen any activities that occurred during this week like (photos mainly from Moscow and Yaroslav) :

• The blinis. Blinis are Russian pancakes, and they are essential to the celebration of Maslenitsa. Said to symbolize the sun—being warm, round, and golden—, they are an appropriate warning to the lingering cold weather. It might help to warm up the frozen earth ! Blinis are prepared with the ingredients authorized by the Orthodox tradition during Lent, with butter, eggs and milk. Blinis are given to friends and family all through the week and are topped with caviar, mushrooms, jam, sour cream, and of course, lots of butter. Traditionally, the first pancake goes to beggars to pay the tribute of the memory of deceased relatives.

Russians, in fact, always translate “blinis” as “pancakes” when speaking English, although the ultra-thin, slightly tart Russian blini is more akin to the French crepe and German "Pfannkuchen" than it is the thick, sweet American pancake. Even the Mexican tortilla is similar, as the blini is also often stuffed with filling and rolled before eating. The simplicity and versatility of the food has spread it across the planet, yet it is doubtful that Russia invented it.

• Fistfighting. Group fistfights are undertaken during the week of Maslenitsa. This may sound strange to Westerners, but it's all a part of the interesting absurdity of Maslenitsa. Fist fighting commemorates Russian military history, when soldiers supposedly fought each other in hand-to-hand combat, but this fist fighting is just in good fun.

• Performing games. In each park games are organized for children and adults, like http://video.yandex.ru/#search?text=масленица%20игры&where=all&p=2&filmId=22255594-03-12

• The Maslenitsa dolls. Many dolls could be bought during this week, dressed with bright colours. The fest is ending on the Sunday evening by burning the Maslenitsa dolls : if there are some more blinis, they are thrown to fire. The trashes of Dame Maslenitsa are buried under snow in order to fertilize the earth, everybody is asking for forgive : so, the big Lent is starting.

• Other activities. Troika rides, sledding, theater, puppets, singing, and fireworks are all a part of the Maslenitsa celebrations. There is usually a "storming" of a snow fort. That these traditions are still alive today is a testament to Russians' long memory and preservation of their heritage.

All in all, Maslenitsa is a good excuse to go out and have a good time, eat until you burst, and do something you wouldn't do any other time of the year.

Extra : how to prepare Russian blinis !!

To make sure that your blinis are not pancakes or crepes, you should make sure that they are made from buckwheat flour and yeast, the two things which set the Russian variant apart from most of its counterparts.

Ingredients (for 8 blinis) : 
1/4 litter warm milk, 1/2 tsp honey, 
1/2 pkt dry yeast, 
50 g melted butter, 150 g wheat flour, 
50 g buckwheat flour, 
1 pch salt, 
1 egg, some oil on paper towel for frying.

Preparation : Combine milk, honey and yeast in a medium bowl. Whisk together and let stand until foamy. Stir in cooled butter. In a separate bowl combine the flours and salt. Make an indentation in the center of the dry mixture and stir in liquid mixture, slowly, until blended. Add the egg until combined. Cover and let rise at room temperature for about 1 and half hour or until doubled in volume.

Cooking : Heat a thick-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Pour some batter in the pan and move the pan while pouring to help spread the batter. When the blini is golden brown on its underside (should happen in under 1 minute), flip over and brown the other side.

Presentation : Blinis are remarkably versatile and may be served with nearly anything from caviar to salmon to cottage cheese to sour cream to jam to honey. Place your filling in the center of the blini.  


Now, let's taste and enjoy blinis ! (we tested the recipe, for sure)