Maslenitsa Festival

Maslenitsa (масленица) is the oldest of all Russian holidays. It began as a spring equinox festival called Jarilo, named for the Slavic god of the vegetation and spring. Later it became a Christian holiday, starting on the Monday ten days before Lent- the Russian version of Carnival, with eating, drinking, sledding, games, and costume parades. Even now, though, all of its events focus on driving away the winter and re-awakening nature.

On the first day of Maslenitsa, the young people of each town make a straw effigy doll, dress it in bright clothing with ribbons, and take it around with them all week, for sledding and parties. The party atmosphere grows from day to day, and from Thursday through Sunday noone is allowed to work.

The last day of the festival- Sunday- is Forgiveness Day. Everyone visits their relatives, even those in cemeteries, and bows to them to seek forgiveness for the wrongs of the past year. (The proper response is “God will forgive you”.) On Sunday evening, the whole town gathers to throw the effigy doll onto a huge bonfire. The doll symbolizes winter, and they hope that all their problems will leave along with winter.

Agenda this week:
1. Journal:
I celebrate this week in a muted way- I don’t live in an area that has big Carnival parties. In keeping with my theme this month of stillness, thought, and study, I will take some time this week to rest, and contemplate the coming season of Lent.

How can I best shake off the doldrums of winter?
What might I fast from, or do without, in order to prepare for the joy of spring?
Who do I need to ask forgiveness of this week?
 
2. Make an effigy doll:
The Maslenitsa doll is a representation of Jarilo's sister, named Morena or Marzanna, the goddess of death, winter and nightmares. The symbolism is of death and rebirth- burning away the winter so that spring can return.

I sometimes burn a Maslenitsa doll, but I’m not going to this year because we had such a nice Imbalc fire just last week. The Slavs of Poland also have a custom of burning an effigy of Marzanna, but later, at the spring equinox. I have decided to make a doll now, but wait until the equinox to burn it.

In fact, I'm going to make my doll a bit at a time over the next six weeks so it's ready on the equinox.

The effigy can be any size, from a small doll to a life-sized statue. I'm making a small doll this year.

Supplies: 2 sticks, string

1. Cut two sticks any size.

2. Tie them tightly together, side by side.

3. Open them to make a cross, and tie again.

I will add a new material each week: Week 1- sticks, 2- straw, 3- herbs, 4- cloth, 5- yarn and beads, 6- feathers

3. Make Blini Pancakes:

Blini with whipped cream

The name Maslenitsa comes from the word maslo, which is Russian for butter. During this week, Russians fast from meat, but eat a lot of rich, buttery blini (pronounced blee-NEE) pancakes. Once Lent begins people will eat even simpler foods, so this is the last chance for feasting!

In Russia, blini are eaten for remembrance of the dead, and also as a symbol of the spring sun.

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 c. milk
• 1/3 c. butter
• 1/2 c. warm water
• 1 package of active dry yeast
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 Tbsp. sugar
• 1 c. white flour
• 1 c. buckwheat flour
• 3 large eggs
• oil
• toppings: berries, sour cream, whipped cream, jam, maple syrup, or caviar

1- Scald the milk. Add butter and stir until it melts. Cool to lukewarm.

2- Pour warm water into a large bowl, and sprinkle yeast over it. Stir, then let it sit for about 5 minutes, until it gets bubbly.

3- Combine the milk mixture and yeast. Add salt, sugar, white flour and buckwheat flour. Beat for 2 minutes with a spoon.

4- Divide eggs. Add yolks to the batter and beat for 3 minutes more. Cover the bowl, and put it in a warm place until double, about 30 minutes.

5- Beat the egg whites until they form soft peaks. Stir the batter down, and gently fold in the egg whites. Let stand 10 minutes more.

6- Lightly oil a griddle or frying pan, and heat to medium. Pour in a 1/4-cup of batter and spread it out with a spoon (good blini must be very very thin). Cook until the top is bubbly, then turn and cook the back.

7- Serve with berries, sour cream, whipped cream, jam, maple syrup, or caviar. Place the filling in the center of the pancake and roll it up.